Finding the right soil for your plants isn't as easy as you might think. Most of the soil mixes that you get in the garden center are not well suited for your houseplants such as monstera, philodendron and co. But what is wrong with the store-bought soil and how do you get better soil?
Why isn't the traditional earth good?
The finished soil from the garden center or hardware store consists of many fine components. As a result, the earth can hold a lot of water and, above all, for a long time. Doesn't sound bad at first. This water "stands" at the bottom edge of the pot. In this zone, the air is almost completely displaced. The result is that your plants can no longer breathe and the roots die off. Root rot occurs. In addition, the quality of the finished soil is often poor. There may be fungi or other pests in the soil, which you then bring home with your healthy plants. If you don't want to bake your soil before each repotting, you should mix your soil yourself. And we'll tell you how. Our substrate mix is suitable for all indoor plants such as philodendron, ivy, alocasia, monstera and Co. The best way to find the components required for the airy substrate mix is on the Internet, as most garden centers or hardware stores do not have all the components in their range.
coarse ingredients
These include pine bark or coconut chips made from the coconut fibers. These are coarse-grained and ensure better air circulation in the soil. They also improve root formation and, thanks to their coarse surface, ensure thicker and stronger roots.
Medium coarse ingredients
The medium-coarse components include perlite, pumice and expanded clay. You can use any of all three or choose just one ingredient. That's a matter of taste, because all three work. They also improve air circulation and allow your plants to breathe. Because they can't absorb and store much water, your soil will dry out faster than with regular soil. This prevents waterlogging and your roots don't rot.
fine ingredients
Fine ingredients include coconut soil and worm castings. The coconut soil also ensures an airy soil mix, as it is not as mushy as normal soil. So that your mix gets a few more natural nutrients, it is best to mix in vermicompost. This is rich in nutrients and has been obtained through composting. Otherwise, peat also works, although we do not support the extraction of peat, as it emits a lot of CO2 and destroys the moor ecosystem. Our recommendation here is to use one part coconut soil and one part vermicompost.
the right ratio
In a large container, you mix together 5 parts your large ingredients, 2 parts your medium ingredients, and 2 parts your fine ingredients (we recommend 1 part coco soil and 1 part vermicompost). The individual components are interchangeable. You should only make sure that the ratio of coarse, medium-coarse and fine components remains the same. Remember to soak the coconut soil in water beforehand. The substrate should fall apart again immediately after being squeezed in your hand, then it is airy enough. And your self-mixed substrate is ready.
Important: The right nutrient supply for your plant
Ready-made potting and potting soil is already pre-fertilized, which is why it is particularly important to ensure sufficient fertilization right from the start with the self-mixed substrate! But no matter what substrate or soil your plants are in, plants absorb the nutrients from it through the roots and at some point they are used up. Then it's time to fertilize so that your houseplants can grow great. In the growing season from March to October it is advisable to use an organic fertilizer every two weeks. You can find the right organic liquid fertilizer for your indoor plants in our shop. If your indoor plants do get too big or too bushy, you can cut them back in the spring. This encourages new growth and the cut shoots can be placed in water to develop new roots.
