Soil Bar Mixes Explained: Tropical, Arid, Chunky and More
Our Soil Bar is one of our favourite corners of the shop. Instead of one-size-fits-all bagged soil, we blend mixes for different kinds of plants, and sell the ingredients so you can tweak your own. Here's what's what.
Tip: bring your own container to fill in store and save 10% on all Soil Bar products.
The mixes
Tropical Potting Mix
For: most leafy houseplants. Pothos, calathea, maranta, ferns, peace lily, dracaena, fittonia.
What's in it: peat moss, coco coir, bark, perlite and worm castings for nutrients. It holds moisture evenly but still drains well.
Chunky Monkey Potting Mix
For: aroids and epiphytes. Monstera, philodendron, anthurium, hoya, scindapsus.
What's in it: coco coir croutons, bark, chunky perlite or LECA, and worm castings. The big chunks leave lots of air around the roots, which is exactly what these climbing, tree-dwelling plants want. It dries faster than Tropical Mix, so it's forgiving if you tend to overwater.
Arid Potting Mix
For: cacti, succulents, snake plants, ZZ plants, jade.
What's in it: peat moss, pumice and fir bark, sourced from local growers who specialize in arid plants. It drains fast and dries out quickly between waterings.
Carnivorous Blend
For: Venus fly traps, sundews, pitcher plants and butterworts.
What's in it: sphagnum moss, peat moss and fine perlite. No fertilizer and no minerals, because carnivorous plants get their nutrients from bugs and are sensitive to anything else. Water them with distilled or rain water.
Which mix should I use?
| Plant | Mix |
|---|---|
| Pothos, calathea, ferns, peace lily | Tropical |
| Monstera, philodendron, anthurium, hoya | Chunky Monkey |
| Cacti, succulents, snake plant, ZZ | Arid |
| Fly traps, sundews, pitcher plants | Carnivorous |
Make it your own: amendments
- Perlite and Chunky Perlite: lighten a mix and help it drain. Add a handful if your soil stays wet too long.
- Bark: adds air pockets and drainage; also a nice top dressing.
- Coco Coir and Peat Moss: hold moisture for thirsty plants.
- Coco Coir Croutons: chunky and airy, great for aroids and orchids.
- Worm Castings: gentle, natural nutrients. Mix in when repotting or sprinkle on top every few months.
- Biochar: helps discourage fungus and bacteria in the root zone.
- LECA: clay balls for drainage or for growing in semi-hydro. See our LECA Starter Guide.
- Sphagnum Moss: for propagation, moss poles and carnivorous plants.
Need a hand?
Not sure which mix your plant needs? Bring a photo (or the plant!) to the shop and we'll help you choose. We can also repot it for you. See How to Repot a Houseplant. Browse everything in the Soil Bar.