Making your own potting mix is not only budget-friendly but also environmentally conscious, and yes, you can make a better mix than the bag you buy from the garden store.
Most plants grow happily in a homemade potting mix because when the right ingredients are mixed in the right quantities, the potting mix comes out to be lighter and airy providing an ideal medium for plants to grow.
Honestly, making your own potting mix is not rocket science; it is easy. Also, there is no one right way to make it. You can have your own recipe for making it.
In this article, I will share the two best methods (that I believe are the best) for making your own potting mix. So, let’s dive into it!
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What You’ll Need
- Face Mask and Safety glasses
- Gloves
- Shovel
- Metal Colander or garden sieve
- Empty bag to store the potting mix for later use
Characteristics of a Good Potting Mix
Regardless of the recipe you follow, your potting mix should be:
- Firm enough to support a plant life
- Be airy enough to drain the water while locking a little moisture inside.
- Be free of pathogens, harmful pests, and weed seeds.
Now, let’s explore the two best recipes to make your potting mix at home.
Recipe # 1 To Make Your Own Potting Mix
Ingredients
- Garden Soil (well-draining)
- Fully composted organic matter
- Grit sand
Step 1: Collect garden soil
Gather some soil from around your garden. This way, you wouldn’t have to dig from one part. Avoid overly compact soil types, as they won’t support drainage. Make sure the soil does not contain weeds. Now, sift it to separate any stones or unwanted debris.
Step 2: Collect Organic Matter
Use well-aged compost, leaf mold, or manure as they provide nutrients to support plant growth. Fully composted material is essential for proper nutrient release and a balanced pH level. If you do not have them at home, you may bring them from your local garden store. Make sure there are no lumps in the matter, as it makes the drain difficult.
Step 3: Mix the Ingredients
Combine 70% garden soil with 30% compost to make your potting mix. This is just to give you an idea: You can use three parts of the soil with one part of the organic manure to prepare it.
If you feel like the mixture is dense, add grit sand to balance it. Grit sand is airy, so it is used to improve drainage for the plants.
Step 4: Store the Leftover Potting mix
Store the leftover potting mix in a bag, label it, and store it in a dry place.
Interesting fact: You don’t need to make a new potting mix every season because you can reuse the old one. Here’s how!
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Recipe # 2 To Make Your Own Potting Mix
This lightweight mix is ideal for indoor plants and potted flowers, which require good moisture retention without becoming waterlogged.
Ingredients
- Coconut Coir
- Perlite
- Compost
Step 1: Set Aside Coconut Coir instead of Peat moss
Coconut coir is sustainable and excellent at retaining moisture, making it ideal for houseplants. Use coconut coir instead of peat moss as it is a great alternative and has no environmental concerns. It is made from the ground coconut hus fibers. It is an excellent ingredient to be used in potting mix since it holds the moisture well. So, you can use this recipe for growing houseplants.
If you bought coir in a bloc, you would need to hydrate it before using it.
Step 2: Set Aside Perlite Or Vermiculite
Perlite is a light volcanic rock that is used in potting mix recipes and helps with aeration and drainage. It helps making the mixture balanced to hold moisture for tha plants.
You may also use vermiculite instead because both serve the same purpose.
Step 3: Gather Fully Composted Organic Matter
If you’ve compost at home, that’s perfect, if not, you may buy it. Make sure to sift it before using it because it should be free from chunks. You can add worm castings to give your compost a boost.
Step 4: Mix the Above
Combine 2 parts of coconut coir, one part of perlite or vermiculite, and one part of compost to make your potting mix. Give it a good mix.
One part can be anything – a pot, a gallon, or something else.
The recipe works best for ferns, pothos, philodendrons, and other moisture-loving houseplants.
Fact Check: We are not using soil in this recipe because we are using coir instead. If you want to use soil in place of coconut coir, it is advisable to sterilize the soil first (bake the soil in a tray at 200 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven).
Step 5: Store the Leftover Potting mix
Store the leftover potting mix in a bag, label it, and store it in a dry place.
My DIY Potting Mix Tips
Here are a few useful tips that I use while making potting mix for my garden.
- Make potting mix in a large open bucket that has handles. It will make it easy for you to carry your mix anywhere in your garden.
- If you are following recipe # 2 to make the potting mix, soak the coir in hot water to speed up hydration.
- Once you have used the potting mix in your plants’ pots, make sure it does not dry out.
These are my favorite recipes to make my potting mix at home. Which recipe would you prefer to prepare yours? Share your thoughts!
FAQs
How can I adjust the potting mix for different types of plants?
To adjust your mix, consider your plants’ water and drainage needs. For succulents, add extra grit sand to recipe #1 for faster drainage. For moisture-loving plants, increase coconut coir in recipe #2 to retain water longer.
How can I prevent mold in my potting mix?
Store your mix in a cool, dry place and avoid overwatering. If mold appears, add fresh compost and allow the mix to dry out between waterings.
What’s the best way to maintain the potting mix between seasons?
Refresh the mix with new compost and aerate it before each planting season to keep nutrients balanced and the structure ideal for root growth.
