Elevate your container gardening game by mastering the art of making customized DIY potting soil.
Time 1 - 2 hours
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$51–100
Introduction
Create the perfect habitat for your potted plants with this easy guide on how to make potting soil from scratch.
I love plants and quickly realized that my plants do better when I make my own potting soil. It is part science and part green thumb instinct — not brain surgery!
I used to purchase potting soil in a bag off the shelf, and after some plants failed, I decided to get a soil meter. The pH balance of potting soil out of a bag was often too high or too low. I found that by mixing my own soil, I can better control the pH balance in my dirt and help my potted plants thrive in the elements where I place them. After getting a soil meter, I quickly learned I could change the pH by adding acidity in the form of coffee grounds. First, let me share how I mix my potting soil, along with some green thumb tips to help your leafy friends thrive.
These are gardening hacks for mixing potting soil for plants needing more moisture and/or repotting for plants requiring less moisture, such as succulents and cacti. Small adjustments in each recipe make all the difference in the world to your plants. Different plants prefer different pH balances or acidities in the mixture. Take the time to research the plants you will pot and what they prefer. Adjust ratios and eliminate or remove materials as you see fit to create the best potting soil for your plant.
Tools Required
- Garden shovel
- Gardening Gloves
- mixing trough
- Soil Meter
Materials Required
- Bone meal
- Charcoal
- Cinnamon Powder
- Lime (for gardening)
- loam soil or gardening soil
- Organic fertilizer
- Perlite
- Sand
- Sphagnum Peat Moss or Coco Coir Fiber
- Vermiculite
- Worm Castings
Watch How To Make Potting Soil
Project step-by-step (3)
Step 1
DIY potting soil recipe:
- 1-part loam soil, commonly called garden soil
- 2-parts sphagnum peat moss or coco coir fiber
- 1-1/2-parts perlite
- 1/2-cup of sand
- 1/2-teaspoon of lime (only if you are using peat moss)
- 1-teaspoon of granular organic fertilizer
- 1-teaspoon of bone meal
- Worm castings – follow the recommended ratio from the manufacturer
- 1-part vermiculite (for succulents and cactus)
Step 2
How to make your own potting soil
Using a large mixing trough or bucket, combine all ingredients according to the recipe. Mix well with a garden shovel or your hands. If you plan to plant seedlings or very young small plants, you may consider sifting the potting soil through a screen to achieve a fine consistency. This allows young and fragile roots to find their way easily through your soil mixture.
After the potting soil is mixed and you’ve planted your plant of choice, spread a thin layer of charcoal across the top of the soil to help filter toxins and prevent plant diseases. Follow that with a thin dusting of cinnamon. Cinnamon is a chemical-free way of controlling fungi and deterring insects such as aphids, ants and gnats. Less fungus = fewer gnats. Cinnamon has also been credited with stimulating root growth.
Any excess potting soil may be stored in a dry paper bag where it is not exposed to light and where moisture will not be trapped.
Step 3
FAQs
Does potting soil go bad?
In most cases, no, unless it becomes damp and moldy. It should be noted, however, that some of the ingredients in the potting soil will begin to decompose, making older potting soil less effective in growing and nourishing plants. Once it has been opened, a properly stored bag of potting soil can remain fresh for up to a year.
Is there a difference between organic soil and regular soil?
Organic soil is always chemical-free, which is something to consider when growing fruits and vegetables or anything that will be ingested by humans or pets. This will change as you add different elements to your recipe. There are also organic fertilizers. Check labels as you make your purchasing decisions.
Can you reuse potting soil?
Potting soil can be reused, but I recommend doing so only if the plants living in it are flourishing. Whenever a plant looks rough or diseased, or the soil contains insects, it is best to use fresh potting soil for the next plant.
