How to Use Soil Amendments in your Houseplants

Houseplants can be tricky, and even the greenest of thumbs can struggle keeping their houseplants alive for a long time. The key is consistently knowing what they need when they need it. One of the most important aspects for healthy plant growth is using appropriate soil and maintaining the balance. Because your houseplants probably vary from what you’d normally plant in your yard (such as drought-tolerant native plants), their soil type and composition probably vary a lot too.

Soil Amendment Options

Using soil amendments is common in both landscape planting and with indoor plants. Soil amendments are materials added to soil for the purpose of changing physical properties to better meet the needs of a plant. They can help with moisture retention, drainage, pH levels, and more. Most ready-to-go potting soils will already come with amendments that are helpful to the majority of houseplants, but it isn’t always a one-size-fits-all solution. Before potting your indoor plant, read about what that specific plant loves to make sure you’re using the right amendments. Some common amendments include:

• Perlite – A very common amendment, perlite’s main purpose is to help improve drainage. Plants that are vulnerable to root rot and overwatering do well with some added perlite.
• Wood chips – Wood chips or small pieces of bark will help hold on to limited water while also allowing drainage due to their high permeability and medium/low water retention qualities.
• Sand – With low water retention, sand also helps with water drainage. It’s easy to find and use as works well for desert plants.
• Vermiculite – This almost shiny, lightweight mineral gives soil a slightly moist condition without being soggy. It helps with water retention and is great for plants who need to stay a little damp but not wet.
• Lava Rock – A good amendment for cacti, succulents, and other desert plants, lava rock is permeable and holds little water. This helps avoid the possibility of overwatering. Many desert plants do well with a large percentage of lava rock in the soil.
• Peat Moss – A low-permeable material, peat moss is fibrous and great at holding onto moisture. Plants that like more acidic soils do well with peat moss added because it helps reduce the pH levels in soil.

The Why and How

All-purpose potting soils are intended as a great start for most plants, but they shouldn’t be relied upon to provide all that your plant needs. By using some amendments specific to your plant’s desired environment, your plant will be much happier and live much longer in your home. Amending soil doesn’t need to be an exact science, so don’t stress about getting it spot on. Typically, a one to three or one to four ratio of your amendment choice is going to be fine. Give your plants some time to adjust and if you notice browning leaves or too-wet soil, gradually make adjustments. It can take plants several weeks to adjust to repotting. For help getting the best amendments for your houseplants (and landscape plants!), chat with an expert at The Dirt Bag.