Most houseplant problems in Canadian homes come down to roots that stay too wet. Winter light is low, heating dries the air but not the pot, and a lot of bagged soil holds water for weeks. The fix is usually not a new watering schedule. It is a better match between the plant and its soil.
Why one bag does not suit everything
Houseplants come from very different places. A cactus grows in gravel, an orchid clings to a tree trunk, a monstera climbs, and an African violet grows in shaded, moist, humus-rich pockets. In a pot, their roots still expect those conditions.
Standard potting soil is made for the average plant and a gardener who waters often. It works for some leafy plants, but orchids, succulents and aroids do better with something chunkier.
What to look for in houseplant soil
Whatever the plant, check three things:
- Drainage. Water should flow through in seconds, not pool on top.
- Air. Bark, perlite and pumice keep gaps open around the roots.
- Moisture balance. Peat, coco and vermiculite hold some water so the pot does not dry out too fast.
How much of each depends on the plant. The more it grows on trees or rocks, the more air it needs. The more it grows in forest floor shade, the more moisture it tolerates.
Which mix for which plant
Orchids
Phalaenopsis, cattleya, dendrobium and oncidium grow on trees. Their roots need bark and air. Use our Orchid Mix. Never use it for plants that grow in soil. Step-by-step help is in our guide on how to repot an orchid.
Succulents, cacti, snake plants, ZZ plants
Anything that stores water in its leaves or stems wants a gritty mix that dries within days. Use the Succulent & Cactus Mix. It suits aloe, jade, haworthia, snake plant and ZZ plant. See the best soil for snake plant for more detail.
Christmas cactus is a forest epiphyte and likes a chunkier blend. Read our Christmas cactus soil guide.
Monstera, philodendron, pothos and other aroids
These climbing plants like loose, bark-rich mix that drains quickly but holds a little moisture. Use the Aroid Mix. It suits monstera, philodendron, pothos, alocasia, anthurium and syngonium. Read about the best soil for monstera.
African violets and other gesneriads
African violets have fine, shallow roots and prefer a light, evenly damp mix that is never soggy. Our African Violet Mix is peat, perlite and vermiculite, and also suits streptocarpus and other gesneriads.
Seedlings
Seeds do best in a fine, light mix that holds even moisture. Our Seed Starting Mix is made for starting seeds indoors in spring.
Bonsai
Bonsai trees live in shallow pots and need fast drainage with some structure. Our Bonsai Mix is for indoor and outdoor bonsai.
Quick reference
| Plant | Mix |
|---|---|
| Phalaenopsis and other orchids | Orchid Mix |
| Succulents, cacti, snake plant, ZZ, aloe, jade | Succulent & Cactus Mix |
| Monstera, philodendron, pothos, alocasia | Aroid Mix |
| African violets, streptocarpus | African Violet Mix |
| Seeds in spring | Seed Starting Mix |
| Bonsai | Bonsai Mix |
Signs your soil is wrong
- The pot is still heavy and wet a week after watering.
- Leaves yellow from the bottom up.
- The surface grows mould or fungus gnats hover around the pot.
- The soil shrinks away from the edge of the pot and water runs straight down the side.
- Roots smell sour or look brown and soft.
Repotting basics that apply to everything
- Repot in spring or early summer, when plants are actively growing.
- Choose a pot 2 to 5 cm wider than the old one, with drainage holes.
- Remove old soil from the roots and trim anything soft or dead with clean scissors.
- Set the plant at the same depth as before and fill in gently.
- Water according to the plant. Succulents should wait 5 to 7 days, most others can be watered right away.
Each mix page has a “How much do I need?” calculator: enter your pot diameter and it gives litres and bags.
Pots and watering matter too
Even a good mix fails in a bad pot. Always use a pot with drainage holes, and match its size to the root ball, not the plant’s top growth. Water until it runs out the bottom, then empty the saucer. Letting a pot stand in water brings back all the problems the right mix is meant to prevent.
Check the mix before you water instead of watering by schedule. Push a finger about 5 cm into the pot. Succulents should be dry all the way through, aroids dry in the top few centimetres, and African violets should only just start to dry.
When ordinary potting soil is fine
Not every plant needs a specialty blend. Many common foliage plants, such as spider plants and peace lilies, do well in a good all-purpose mix, especially with a handful of perlite added. The plants that suffer most from standard bagged soil are orchids, succulents and cacti, and aroids like monstera, because they grow in places where roots dry out quickly in nature.
Making it yourself vs buying it mixed
You can mix everything yourself from bulk components, and that is the cheapest route if you have a lot of plants. The catch is that components come in 30 to 50 litre bags, and every plant type needs a different recipe. If you have five different plants, that is five different shopping lists and a lot of bags in the hall.
Our mixes come hand-mixed in light 3-litre bags at $22 CAD each, and ship across Canada by Canada Post (not to Quebec yet). Rates are on the shipping page, with free shipping from $60.
None of the mixes contain fertilizer, so you will need to fertilize your plants on a regular schedule in the growing season.
More growing guides are on the guides page.
