Has it happened to you? When repotting a houseplant, you notice an opened bag with leftover potting soil. Now the question is whether potting soil is suitable for houseplants or not? Read the answer with tips & tricks here.
Can you use potting soil for houseplants?
Yes, potting soil can be used for houseplants as long as it is a high-quality universal potting soil that is rich in humus, peat-reduced and contains the appropriate additives. Special soil is required for special plants such as orchids or cacti.
Can you use potting soil for houseplants?
Basically, you can use commercially available potting soil for houseplants, because the plant soil isuniversally applicable However, you should not use just any potting soil, because there are significant differences in quality and composition. For magnificent plant growth, a universal potting soil should have these properties:
- Rich in humus.
- Peat-reduced or peat-free.
- Start fertilizer for 8-12 weeks.
- Additives such as sand, lime, perlite, expanded clay, lava granules.
- Peat substitutes, such as coconut or wood fibers.
- Houseplants-favorable pH value of 5.5 to 7.0.
Can you use potting soil for any houseplant?
You cannot use potting soil for every houseplant. Universal potting soil is not suitable for houseplants withspecial requirements, such as orchids, cacti or azaleas. These plant species depend onspecial soil, such as pine bark substrate, succulent soil or rhododendron soil.
Do not use potting soil for sowing
You should not use potting soil to sow your houseplants. Universal potting soil contains a concentrated load of nutrients that makes seedlings grow taller. If special potting soil (€6.00 on Amazon) is too expensive for you, you can enrich potting soil with sand or coconut soil.
Tip
Alternative to potting soil for houseplants
Using potting soil for houseplants has disadvantages such as mold and pest infestation. By using an alternative to potting soil, you can avoid these problems. Just try it: Next time you repot your houseplants, use clay granules instead of potting soil.
