How to Choose the Best Soil For Potted Plants

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Emily Fazio | Last updated Mar 2, 2024 7:05 AM ET

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Sol Soils isn't like other soil providers you've trusted from your local store; this company is a game-changer in the world of plant care. To improve how plants grow and thrive, Sol Soils looked closer at plant health and what it takes to achieve premium plant root health under the soil—after all, root rot is the number one killer of potted plants. There's a reason that the blend of materials they use are ranked as some of the best soil ingredients for container plants.

Unlike dense garden soils that are compact and risk suffocating root systems, we were really impressed how these soil mixes of organic materials and inorganic matter created a growing medium that welcomes oxygen and supports excellent drainage. It's a great choice for gardeners looking for a blend of potting soil with moisture control that'll suit their plants needs. Use it for indoor and outdoor containers, and enjoy how the soil amendments can

MSRP: Starting at $12.99

Houseplant Chunky Mix is an all-purpose soil, but far from the traditional potting soil you know. Tailored for potted plants, this perfect soil mix for houseplants is fast draining to prevent root rot and ensures optimal oxygen intake. It's also a great alternative to peat moss—plus, without peat moss, its soil structure creates an undesirable environment for fungal gnats. The product is enhanced with unique organic ingredients to ensure healthier growth and vibrant foliage.

What's in it?

Coconut coir, coconut husk chips, recycled forest products, pumice, calcined clay, perlite, expanded clay
No chemical fertilizers

Use it for these types of plants:

Jungle Plants or Aroids like Anthurium, Alocasia, Dieffenbachia, Monstera, Philodendron, ZZ plants, as well as Calatheas, String of Hearts or Turtles, Dracaena Dragon Trees, Hoyas, Palms, Pothos, etc.
Also recommended for the ever-popular winter indoor plant, the Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)

Growing orchids or bonsai? Check out their other soil formulas instead.

MSRP: Starting at $12.99

Succulent Gritty Mix satisfies a wide variety of succulents and other dry-weather plants. It contains more organic matter than cactus soils, and these additional soil ingredients improve nutrients and enhance moisture retention. Succulents aren't cacti, y'all.

What's in it?

Coconut coir, coconut husk chips, recycled forest products, pumice, grey granite, calcined clay, expanded clay, perlite

Use it for these succulent plants in pots:

Aeonium, Aloe, Cotyledon, Crassula Jade, Echeveria, Portulacaria Afra Elephant Bush, Graptopetalum, Haworthia, Kalanchoe, Sansevieria Snake Plants, Sedum, Sempervivum Hens & Chicks, Senecio String of Bananas Dolphins or Pearls, etc.

MSRP: Starting at $12.99

Cactus Mix is a fast-draining soil that’s perfect for the cacti in your life. It's specially formulated to mimic natural desert conditions, providing ideal drainage and aeration to prevent waterlogged soil.

What's in it?

Coconut husk chips, recycled forest products, pumice, calcined clay, granite, expanded clay

Use it for:

Agave, Golden or Blue Barrel Cacti, Cereus, Echinopsis, Euphorbia, Fairy Castle, Mammillaria, Myrtillocactus, Prickly Pear Opuntia, or Totem Pole Cacti.

Note: "Christmas Cactus" is not a desert cactus and won't want to be this dry. Use the houseplant mix for that!

MSRP: Starting at $9.99

LECA is an innovative, lightweight expanded clay aggregate that has surged in popularity for container-grown plants. It's designed for root aeration and water retention, making it ideal for hydroponic systems. It also serves well as a decorative top layer, offering functionality and visual appeal to your plants in containers.

You can also use it to line the bottom of your planters to promote extra moisture drainage.

MSRP: Starting at $9.99

Chunky Perlite is a great, lightweight additive to soil that keeps potting mixes lighter to promote better drainage. It's popular with leafy plants—and, especially, orchids.

More Reasons to Like Sol Soils

Each bag of soil sold also contributes to global reforestation, with a tree planted for every purchase. (More than 110,000 to date!)
Winner of the 2023 Cool New Product Award at Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE)
Many of their products use coconut chips and coir, an otherwise wasted byproduct of the coconut industry

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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