Which potting soil should I choose for my houseplant?

The right potting soil matters for houseplants, because the soil is where they get the nutrients they need to grow. Potting soil is made up of broken-down natural material, so moulds or mushrooms can sometimes appear in it. There are three reasons why it is important to buy the right, good-quality potting soil:

Limited space. Because a houseplant in a pot does not have unlimited room to develop, that space has to be used as well as possible. The potting soil must hold the right nutrients, so that the soil itself does not take up space the houseplant needs.
The second reason is how long the nutrients last. You do not top up the potting soil for your houseplant every week or every month, so you can imagine that the nutrients run out over time. The better the quality of the potting soil, the longer those nutrients will last.
The third reason is the structure of the soil: the right structure has a positive effect on the temperature.

Different types of potting soil

You need potting soil but you are not sure which one? There are so many different types these days, so let us help you out!

Universal potting soil

This potting soil is suitable for pretty much every houseplant. It is the basic potting soil and it holds the basic nutrients. Some types of plant need extra amounts of particular nutrients, the cactus being one of them. If you go for universal potting soil, do choose a good-quality one. As we said, good-quality potting soil has plenty of advantages!

Potting soil for flowering houseplants

Flowering houseplants often need a rich diet, including garden peat, peat litter and coarse peat blocks. The soil needs a slightly coarser make-up, so the roots have the space to grow as they should.

Potting soil for Mediterranean plants

Citrus trees, olive trees and fig trees prefer an airy soil, but one that contains clay. The clay helps the soil hold on to water better. These Mediterranean plants can happily stay in the same soil for years.

Cactus potting soil

The cactus is naturally used to dry, nutrient-poor ground. When you are looking for the right potting soil for a cactus, the only thing to check is the RHP quality mark. That mark means the soil is airy, drains well and lets air through. It also means the right nutrients for a cactus are present.

New potting soil

Potting soil holds the nutrients that let a plant develop properly. As you can imagine, those nutrients are not inexhaustible. So the right potting soil matters for your houseplant, and so does fresh potting soil. You should always add fresh or new potting soil in spring or summer. Carefully lift the plant out of its pot and throw away the potting soil that is left behind. Fill the pot with fresh or new potting soil and your houseplant is set up for a while. If that feels like a bit too much work, you can also remove just the top layer of potting soil and top the pot up with new soil. The drawback is that the roots often do not get the new nutrients, because they sit deeper in the pot than the fresh potting soil does.