The quality of your soil can make or break the plant you want to grow indoors. So how do you find the best ground for indoor plants? In this article, we list some of the best brands for keeping your plants healthy and happy.
The process of growing plants indoors confuses a lot of people. One of the critical mistakes a lot of people make is not choosing a soil the compensates for the lack of minerals that the plants get from not being outside.
So how do you go about finding the best soil for indoor plants? In this article, we go over some important considerations you should keep in mind when growing indoors. We also list some brands that should work for your growing needs. Let us check them out!
Indoor Soil Frequently Asked Questions
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Before we get into the nitty-gritty details regarding the best soil for indoor plants, let us learn a little about it. Here are some frequently asked questions new growers usually ask about their planting soil.
1. What types of things should I look for in my soil?
The specific things you want in soil depends on the type of plant you grow. For example, succulents prefer dryer soil while seedlings need a moisture-retentive product. However, in general, there are some things you should look for when shopping for land.
Make sure your soil contains some amounts of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. Also, make sure your soil contains organic components. If they do not, then you will need to add them separately.
2. Is fertilizer necessary for indoor plants?
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Most of the time, you do not need to add fertilizer to your house plants, but it can help. If you do decide to use it, then only add a little. It is easy to over-do it.
How Reviewed the Soil on This List
We review the soil on this list by looking at three critical factors. Specifically, we look at effectiveness, ingredients, and overall price. For each of these factors, we ask a series of questions that help determine the strengths and weaknesses associated with each product. At the end of the article, we then list our favorite soil brand that represents the best combination of the factors. Here are some of the questions we ask:
- Effectiveness — Does the indoor soil actually work? What types of plants work well with it? Good pH levels?
- Ingredients — What types of material does the soil brand use? Are the ingredients organic?
- Overall price — How much does the soil cost? How does the company justify charging this price? Does the product represent a good value?
Overall Price Range
The overall price of indoor potting soil depends on how many packs you actually order. However, most single bags usually fall within a price range of between five and twenty dollars.
Indoor Soil Buyer’s Guide
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Before you begin looking for the best soil for indoor plants, you must know a little bit about what you want. One of the most important things is the pH level of your land. Soil contains acidity, and your pH level is a measurement of the acid. A score of 0 ranks high on acidity and a score of 14 ranks high on alkaline. Generally, you cannot go wrong with a level of 6 to 7, but this rule is not cut and dry. Individual plants prefer different levels of acidity, so find out before you commit to a product. It is also essential to gauge the level of compaction your plant needs. Some succulents use a lot of compact space, while herbs usually require a loose ground. Find this information out and then seek the identical product.
The Top Four Best Soil for Indoor Plants
Now that we know what to look out for when it comes to indoor plant soil let us take a look at some of our favorite brands out there. We do not rank the soil brands in this part of the list, but we do name our favorite one at the end of the article.
FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil
The FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil ranks among some of the best indoor soil. If you do not mind the high price, then you get a great product that will make anyone a green thumb.
Plus, you save some money on organic components. You can find it at the link here.
Pros
- Contains bat guano and crab/fish meat
- Few bugs
- Works well in dry and hot environments
- Resists moldOutperforms many other soil brands
Cons
- Expensive
- Not ideal for lots of plants
- Bag sometimes contains fewer quarts
Key Features
The FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil company makes their product out of a blend of premium bat guano, earthworm castings, crab meal, and fish.
It also features some composted forest humus, sphagnum peat moss, and sandy loam. It comes in a twelve-quart bag.
Pricing
The FoxFarm soil comes in twelve court packaging, but you can buy them in multiple packs. As such, they cost between fourteen and fifty-four dollars, depending on how much you get.
Where to Buy
You can find FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil at retailers like Walmart, Ace Hardware, Target, and Amazon.
Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil
If you live in the Western United States, then you should give Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil a shot. The product contains organic matter but remains an affordable price. You can also grow all types of plants from flowers to vegetables. Check it out here.
Pros
- Works well in western environments
- Loamy and deep brown color
- Contains earthworm castings
- Affordable price
- Can grow vegetables and herbs
Cons
- Some complaints about bugs
- Can get moldy
- Does not work as well in eastern environments
Key Features
The Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil company makes their product out of composted or aged bark, Canadian sphagnum peat moss, compost, RESiLIENCE, cinders, horticultural grade perlite, earthworm castings, pumice, and organic grade fertilizer.
All these ingredients, particularly the pumice, let the soil breathe easily instead of remaining stuffy. It is a vibrant and loamy mixture. The product comes in an eight-ounce bag.
Pricing
You can order either one package of Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil, or two. These orders fall between a price range of six and twenty-two dollars.
Where to Buy
You can find Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil at retailers like Amazon, Ace Hardware, and Walmart.
Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix
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If you find that most types of soil do not deal well with your succulents, then odds are you are not using the right brand. Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix corrects this issue.
The company makes its product out of soil specifically geared for minimum water retention. That way your conservative water plants do not get overwatered and die. You can find the product here.
Pros
- Works excellent of cactus and succulents
- Good for aloe plants
- Affordable price
- Nice life span
- Proper pH balanced
Cons
- Not nutritious enough for other plants
- The mix might be too hydrophobic for some succulents
- Instances of bugs and mold
Key Features
The Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix works with both desert and jungle succulents and cacti. It also contains a balanced pH level of 6 and includes four quarts of soil.
All the ingredients in the product help the drainage of water from the product. The Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix make their product out of Canadian sphagnum peat moss, reed sedge peat, perlite, sand, and limestone.
Pricing
You can purchase the Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix in one, two, or three product package deal. This price range falls between four and thirty dollars.
Where to Buy
You can find Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix at retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Sears.
Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix, 8 Quart
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The Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix offers a similar amount of usability as the Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil in terms of usability. You can use it for vegetables, herbs, and flowers. It also contains rich plant food for pushing growth along. Check it out here.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Holds the water for a long time
- No bugs or mold
- OMRI certified
- Naturally aerates itself
Cons
- Too much water retention for some plants
- Bad for outdoor plants
- Challenging to grow for some people
Key Features
Not only does Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix work well at growing things, but it is also environmentally sustainable. The coconut coir material that the company uses provides little impact.
The container for the Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix contains eight quarts of material. It also retains water well, which makes it ideal for young plants with thirsty roots. However, we do not recommend it for succulents or cacti.
Pricing
One eight quart package of Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix costs around ten dollars at retail value.
Where to Buy
You can purchase Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix, 8 Quart at retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Home Depot.
Comparison of Table
In this section, we organize some of the main selling points raised by each indoor soil type. That way you can get an at-a-glance look at all the essential information.
Soil for Indoor Plants
FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil
Organic?
Yes
Main ingredients
Forest humus, sandy loam, moss, and organic matter
Size options
Twelve quarts container
Best use
Any indoor plants
Soil for Indoor Plants
Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil
Organic?
Yes
Main ingredients
Loam mix with perlite and pumice
Size options
Eight quarts
Best use
Herbs
Soil for Indoor Plants
Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix
Organic?
Yes
Main ingredients
Canadian sphagnum peat moss, perlite, sand, reed sedge peat, and limestone
Size options
Four quarts
Best use
Cacti and succulents
Soil for Indoor Plants
Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix
Organic?
Yes
Main ingredients
Coconut coir
Size options
Eight quarts
Best use
Flowers
The Verdict: Best Soil for Indoor Planting
In our opinion, the FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil earns the award as the best soil for indoor plants. You pay a little more for the product than some of the other products on the list, but it comes with a noticeable difference in quality.
The amount of organic content that comes with the soil gives it a big nutrition boost. This feature means that your plants will increase without much assistance. We recommend this brand the most for new growers who find that their plants keep ending up dead.
We hope this article helped you find some of the best soil for indoor plants. Make sure you do your research about the plant you want to grow before you land on a model. Good luck growing!
