Which potting soil do I choose for my houseplant?

Which potting soil should I choose for my houseplant?

The right potting soil is important for houseplants, as it is from potting soil that they get their nutrients, which they need to grow. Potting soil consists of decomposed natural material, so it is possible that mould or fungi may occur in potting soil. There are three reasons why it is important to buy the right and good quality potting soil

• The limited space, because a houseplant in a pot does not have all the room to develop, it is important that the space is used optimally. So the potting soil should have the right nutrients so that the soil does not take up valuable space of the houseplant.
  
• The second reason is the durability of the nutrients. You don't replenish the potting soil for your houseplant every week or month. So you can imagine that after some time the nutrients will run out. The better the quality of the potting soil, the longer the nutrients will last.
  
• The third reason is the structure of the soil, a proper structure has a positive effect on the temperature.
  

Different types of potting soil

You need potting soil but you don't know which one? There are so many different types these days, we can help you!

• Universal potting soil
  

This potting soil is actually suitable for all indoor plants. It is the basic potting soil and contains the basic nutrients. There are certain types of plants that need extra nutrition, such as cacti. If you opt for universal potting soil, make sure you choose quality potting soil. As said, good quality potting soil has many advantages!

• Potting soil for flowering houseplants
  

Flowering houseplants often need a rich nutrition with, among other things, garden peat, peat litter and coarse peat blocks. The soil should have a somewhat coarser composition so that the roots can grow optimally through the space.

• Potting soil for Mediterranean plants
  

Citrus trees, Olive trees and Fig trees prefer to stand in a light soil but with clay. The clay allows the soil to retain water better. These Mediterranean plants can remain in the same soil for years.

• Cactus potting soil
  

The cactus is naturally used to arid and nutrient-poor substrates. When looking for the right cactus potting soil, the only thing to look out for is the RHP quality mark. This quality mark means that the soil is airy, has good drainage and is permeable to air. Furthermore, this quality mark means that the right nutrients for the cactus are present.

New potting soil

The potting soil contains the nutrients that allow the plant to develop properly. You can imagine that these nutrients are not inexhaustible. So the right potting soil is important for your houseplant, but fresh potting soil is also important. Fresh or new potting soil should always be added in spring or summer. Carefully remove the plant from the pot and throw away the potting soil that remains. Fill the pot with fresh or new potting soil and your houseplant can go on for a while. Should you find this a bit too much work, you can also remove only the top layer of potting soil and fill the pot further with new potting soil. A disadvantage of this is that the roots often do not get the new nutrients because the roots are deeper in the pot than the fresh potting soil.