Having plants inside is a great way to bring nature into your home. Home plants, like all living things, need care and food to stay healthy and grow well inside. Using the right compost or potting mix is one of the most important things. It can be hard to figure out which compost is best for indoor plants because there are so many choices. This complete guide will tell you everything you need to know to choose the best compost for your indoor garden.
How Compost Affects Indoor Plant Health
Choosing a quality compost designed for indoor use makes all the difference for houseplant health and growth. Here’s an overview of the key ways compost impacts indoor plants:
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Nutrition – Compost is the source of essential macro and micronutrients that plants need to grow The right nutrient levels prevent deficiencies while avoiding toxicity
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Moisture Retention – Compost holds moisture and provides it to plant roots between waterings. Good moisture retention prevents drought stress.
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Aeration – Compost must allow air flow to the roots Aeration provides oxygen for respiration
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Support – Compost anchors plant roots and keeps them upright and stable in pots,
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Drainage – Excess water must drain from compost to prevent soggy, compacted roots.
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pH – The ideal pH range for most indoor plants is 5.5 to 7. Compost affects pH balance.
Using a quality compost designed for indoor growing optimizes all of these factors for lush, vibrant plants.
Key Properties to Look For
When evaluating composts for indoor use, there are several important characteristics to consider:
1. Nutrient Content
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Lower nutrient levels prevent overfeeding compared to outdoor gardening composts.
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Look for composts formulated specifically for indoor plants and containers.
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Slow release fertilizers provide a steady supply of nutrients over time.
2. Moisture Retention
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Compost should hold moisture but still drain well. This balance prevents extremes.
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Ingredients like peat, coco coir, and composted bark help retain moisture.
3. Drainage and Aeration
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Coarse materials like perlite, vermiculite, sand, and coconut coir provide air pockets.
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Excess water must be able to drain freely from containers.
4. pH Between 5.5 – 6.5
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This is the ideal pH range for most common indoor plants.
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Composts specially blended for indoor use aim for a pH in this range.
5. Lightweight and Clean
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Dense, heavy composts are difficult to handle when repotting.
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Compost with few large pieces allows for neat, uniform planting.
6. Organic and Sustainable
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Avoid compost with synthetic chemical additives and fertilizers.
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Renewable materials like coconut coir and composted bark are more eco-friendly.
Types of Compost for Indoor Plants
Because there are so many kinds of compost, it’s helpful to know the differences between the most common types of compost for houseplants:
Potting Mixes
- Blended for indoor container gardening. May be labelled “indoor potting mix.”
-Usually contain peat or coconut coir, perlite or vermiculite, and sometimes fertilizer.
- A versatile, general purpose compost suitable for many indoor plants.
Potting Soil
- Formulated specifically for growing plants in containers.
-Similar ingredients to potting mixes. May have higher organic matter content.
- Provides balance of moisture retention and drainage.
Cactus & Succulent Mix
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Fast drainage from high perlite/sand content mimics dry, desert-like native conditions.
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Helps prevent soggy soil and rot for cacti/succulents.
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Usually contains some organic material for nutrients.
Orchid Composts
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Coarse, chunky blends allow high airflow to roots. Orchids require excellent drainage.
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Ingredients like bark chips, charcoal, and sphagnum moss provide air pockets.
Peat-Free Composts
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Use renewable materials like coconut coir as alternative to peat.
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Offer similar moisture retention to peat-based mixes.
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More eco-friendly and sustainable than peat-based composts.
Organic Composts
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Made from natural materials without synthetic chemical additives.
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Common ingredients include coconut coir, worm castings, composted bark or green waste.
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Provide nutrients through organic matter rather than chemical fertilizers.
How to Choose the Right Compost
Follow these simple steps to select the ideal compost for your indoor garden:
1. Identify your plants’ preferred soil type and pH range. This determines whether you need a more general purpose or specialized compost.
2. Look for compost designed specifically for indoor container use. Avoid outdoor gardening composts with excessive nutrient levels.
3. Select a sustainably sourced, organic compost when possible. Coconut coir, composted bark and worm castings are great options.
4. Ensure the compost provides a good balance of moisture retention and drainage. The ingredients should create lots of air pockets.
5. Consider blending your own custom mix if you want full control over the ingredients and nutrient levels.
6. Always start plants in fresh compost. Re-potting into new compost every 1-2 years replenishes nutrients.
Choosing the right houseplant compost helps set your indoor plants up for success. Follow these guidelines to give your indoor garden the proper foundation to thrive. Vibrant plant growth awaits!
Frequently Asked Questions About Indoor Plant Compost
What type of houseplant compost is best for indoor plants?
A general purpose indoor potting mix is good for most houseplants because it has the right amount of nutrients, drainage, and moisture retention. Look for compost labelled for indoor use.
What should you avoid in indoor plant compost?
Stay away from compost that has synthetic chemicals added to it, too much fertilizer, a dense or heavy texture, or that was made to be used outside and has very high nutrient levels.
How often should you re-pot indoor plants into fresh compost?
Re-potting into fresh compost every 12-24 months replenishes nutrients and encourages new growth. More frequent re-potting can cause undue transplant stress.
Can you use homemade compost for indoor plants?
Homemade compost can work well but may be too dense or nutrient-rich for indoor plants. Blend with perlite, vermiculite or coconut coir to create a custom indoor mix.
Is vermiculite or perlite better for indoor plants?
Both help create air pockets for drainage and oxygenation. Perlite is more porous and neutral while vermiculite offers more moisture retention. Blending them provides balance.
Using quality compost designed specifically for indoor containers is one of the most important factors in maintaining thriving, vibrant houseplants. Take time to understand the properties to look for and select a compost tailored to your indoor garden. Your plants will flourish with proper nutrition and growing conditions through healthy compost.
Indoor Plant Care | Care Techniques
Good soil is like the softest bed for your plants. It should be fluffy enough for roots to breathe, full of healthy nutrients, and able to drain excess water (no soggy roots!) A top-notch mix usually has potting soil, a sprinkle of perlite or vermiculite, and some rich compost or peat moss. Get this combo right and your leafy mates will flourish!.
Sure, its far easier to buy pre made plant potting mixes, we sell lots of them. But with a little know-how, you can make custom blends perfect for your plants and save some cash. Lets break down what goes into great soil, and how to tailor it to your leafy pals.
Why DIY Soil is Awesome
- Just Right: That bag of Orchid Mix might not be the best choice for YOUR orchid. When you make your own, you can change it to fit the needs of the plant.
- Find Out What’s In It: Some less expensive mixes have fillers like sand in them that make them heavy and muddy. Mixing yourself means quality control!.
- Eco-friendly: A lot of potting mix has peat moss in it, which is taken from ecosystems in ways that hurt them. DIY lets you use more sustainable materials.
- Its Actually FUN: Okay, maybe a little geeky. However, taking care of your plants at this level is satisfying!
The Building Blocks of Good Soil
- Most of the time, sphagnum peat moss, coco coir (coconut fiber), or a mix of the two makes up the base. Peat Moss: Traditional, but controversial due to how its harvested. Holds water well, slightly acidic. Coco Coir: Sustainable, better drainage, and more neutral pH. Comes in bricks you soak to rehydrate – kinda fun! .
- Drainage Boosters: Perlite or vermiculite are the usual suspects. Perlite: Chunky white bits. Improves drainage and keeps soil from compacting. Vermiculite: Brown flakes. Better if your plant likes a little more water because it holds water and nutrients longer.
- Microorganisms: Adding compost gives your plants a slow-release food source and good bacteria that help them stay healthy.
“Recipes” to Start With
- Mix together basic houseplant mix: 25% peat moss or coco coir, 25% perlite, and 25% compost. Great starting point for most plants.
- Aroid Mix: Monsteras, philodendrons, etc, often like richer soil. peat/coco coir (2040), perlite (2020), compost (2030), and worm castings (2010) are all extra-good things to use.
- Drainage is very important for succulents and cacti. Use peat or coco coir, perlite or pumice, and coarse sand (not fine beach sand).
Pro Tips for Soil Mix Success
- Small Batches: Especially if you only have a few plants. Soil degrades over time, even if its stored correctly.
- Don’t feel like you have to use a fancy mix with 10 different things in it. The above basic mix is great for many common houseplants.
- Plants are flexible, so a slightly off ratio probably won’t hurt them. If it’s very heavy and wet or drains very slowly, the recipe needs to be changed.
- Learn about YOUR plants. The more you know about where a plant comes from, the better you can make the soil for it (a rainforest epiphyte needs different things than a desert succulent!).
Houseplant.co.uk is Your Soil Mixing HQ
Were not just plant sellers – were obsessed with ALL aspects of plant care!
- Good Ingredients: We look for eco-friendly options and bits that are hard to find, like pumice or worm castings.
- Guides Just for Plants: You can search our site by plant name to find specific soil suggestions.
Types of house plant compost
You probably spent a lot of time choosing where you live. And, as a good plant parent, you need to do the same for anything you put in a plant pot!.
There are many types of house plant compost, from general-purpose to specific formulas. Some of the most popular are:
• Bio-compost – made from food waste with a mega meal of nutrients
• Compost for acidic-loving plants – these include asters, begonias and coleus
• Cactus compost – cacti thrive in an alkaline soil. Cactus compost is alkaline and contains plenty of nutrients for healthy plants.
• Flower compost – a general purpose compost that is good for most plants. It’s a good all-round compost for indoor plants.
• Organic potting mix – a general purpose compost for potted plants. It’s usually a combination of compost, perlite and vermiculite.
• Potting compost – a compost specially formulated for potted plants.