Aroid Potting Mix

Aroids are a large plant family that includes monstera, pothos, philodendron and many of the most popular houseplants. In the wild most of them grow on or around trees, with roots that cling to bark and drape through leaf litter. Those roots expect air as well as water, and standard bagged compost, dense and peaty, gives them too little of the first and too much of the second.

This is the mix we blend for our own aroids in the greenhouse. It holds enough moisture to keep roots happy but drains fast, and its chunky texture keeps air pockets open for months.

What is in it

• Pine bark chips, for structure and air.
• Coco coir, which holds moisture and rewets easily.
• Coarse perlite, to keep the mix open and free-draining.
• A little worm castings, for a gentle supply of nutrients.

At a glance

• Bag sizes: 4 quarts and 10 quarts.
• Price: $12 and $24.
• Good for: monstera, pothos, philodendron and most other aroids.

Which plants it suits

It was made for monstera, whose thick roots rot quickly in heavy soil. It suits pothos and philodendrons just as well. It is too chunky for seedlings and fine-rooted plants such as ferns, which do better in a finer, more moisture-retentive mix.

Using it

Use it straight from the bag. Because it drains so freely, the first watering after potting can run straight through; water slowly, in two or three passes, until the mix is evenly damp. Expect to water a little more often than in dense compost, and expect the roots to reward you for it. Store any leftover mix in its bag with the top folded over, so it stays slightly damp and easy to use next time.

When moving a plant into a fresh pot of this mix, follow our step-by-step repotting guide, and gently loosen the old soil from the roots so they can grow out into the new mix.