Most houseplants come home in the same generic potting mix, and most would rather not. Matching the soil to the plant is one of the highest-leverage things you can do. These four recipes use a handful of cheap ingredients and take minutes to mix.

The Ingredients

  • All-purpose potting mix — the base: holds moisture and nutrients.
  • Perlite — white volcanic grit: adds drainage and air.
  • Orchid bark (pine bark chunks) — chunky aeration that also breaks down slowly.
  • Coarse sand or fine grit — sharp drainage for succulents (use horticultural sand, not beach sand).
  • Horticultural charcoal — optional: absorbs impurities and keeps mixes fresh.

Recipe 1: Standard Houseplant Mix

2 parts all-purpose + 1 part perlite. The workhorse mix for pothos, philodendron, dracaena, peace lily, and most general foliage plants. The perlite keeps it from compacting into a soggy brick.

Recipe 2: Aroid Mix (Monstera, Philodendron, Alocasia)

1 part all-purpose + 1 part orchid bark + 1 part perlite. Aroids are epiphytes that want chunky, airy soil with lots of oxygen around their roots. This mix drains fast and is hard to overwater.

Recipe 3: Succulent and Cactus Mix

1 part all-purpose + 1 part coarse sand or grit + 1 part perlite. Succulents need the mix to dry out completely between waterings. If you can squeeze the mix into a ball that holds its shape, it's too heavy — add more grit.

Recipe 4: Orchid Mix

Mostly bark + perlite + a little charcoal (roughly 4:1:1). Orchid roots need air; they suffocate in soil. This mix should feel loose and chunky, with nothing fine enough to pack down.

General Rules

  • Drainage beats everything: a great mix in a pot without drainage holes is still a swamp.
  • Moisten before potting: dry mix repels water. Dampen it slightly before repotting so it absorbs evenly.
  • Replenish over time: mixes break down and compact. Refresh the top layer yearly and repot when the mix turns to dense sludge.

Repotting season and unsure what your plant needs? Identify it with the AI Planter analyzer — the care plan includes the right soil type for 250+ species.