If you are new to the world of houseplants, trying to figure out what type of soil is best for your plants can be confusing and overwhelming. There are so many different options and it is not always clear what is good or bad for certain plants. The wrong soil can have a detrimental impact on your plants, whether that is buying a poor-quality mix riddled with pests and disease or not using the correct mixture for the type of plant which can quicky cause root problems and stunted growth.

Since teaming up with Grow Tropicals a few years ago, I have finally found a company that specialises in houseplants and offers a great selection of soil mixes and substrates for all of your plant needs. In this article, I’ll be talking about my favourite mixes, how they work, and why they make a difference to your plants and the environment.

Simply Range

For beginner houseplant enthusiasts, I would recommend the Simply Range by Grow Tropicals. This range of houseplant soil was made for general purpose use and provides a great result for a large selection of indoor plants. It is ideal for beginners who might have a few plants but do not know which types they are or the growing conditions they require.

This soil mix also has an added boost of NPK nutrients mixed in to give plants the best start. NPK stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, which is essential for healthy plant growth. Cheese plants, peace lilies, philodendrons, spider plants, and many more tropical plants will grow well using this range. It is also less expensive than premium ranges, priced at £4.99 for 2.5L bag and £12.00 for their 8L bags, making it an ideal option if you have lots of plants to re-pot or want a more affordable option without losing quality.

Premium Jungle Mix

The Jungle Mix created by Grow Tropicals is a peat-free mixture made for all types of tropical plants such as Monstera, Philodendron, Syngonium, and Anthurium. The soil is very light and chunky which allows great drainage and aeration but it can still retain moisture which is crucial for tropical plants’ success. Soil without adequate drainage can quickly become waterlogged and cause plants to suffer from root rot, encouraging the spread of pests and disease, so using this type of mix will prevent this from happening. Worm Castings have also been mixed into the Jungle Mix to add extra nutrients and organic matter to improve the soil.

As well as the Jungle Mix, Grow Tropicals also has a range of specific plant mixes created for plants such as Hoya, Alocasia, Anthurium, Monstera, and Philodendron. Cacti and succulents, orchids and terrarium mixes are also available from the company. Each of these groups of plants require slightly different growing conditions and so the composts have been tailor-made.

Terrarium Mix

I have been using the Grow Tropicals Terrarium Mix for my terrarium workshops for many years now and can not recommend it enough. It was originally created for the Atlanta Botanical Gardens before becoming a mainstream soil mix and is perfect for creating terrariums and vivariums that require a specific combination of soil substrates to allow plants to thrive in containers with little or no drainage.

Once planted, a terrarium can live for decades, which is why this soil was made to last for many years. It has excellent drainage whilst still being able to retain moisture, as terrarium plants do not like to dry out. If you are planning on creating your very own bottle garden, I would use this mix to ensure your terrarium thrives and for many years.

Soil Components

Although Grow Tropicals has created their own mix of houseplant soil, you can also create your own using their range of soil components There are lots of different soil components available.

Peat Free

Grow Tropicals avoids the use of peat in their soil mixes. Peatlands, where peat is harvested from, help the ecosystem by storing excess carbon dioxide within the bogs. Disturbing this environment to create soil has had a detrimental impact on the environment by releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere and disturbing vital wildlife habitats. Using a peat-free alternative soil for your indoor plants will help to stop the production of peat and create a better alternative for the future.

You can find the full range of Grow Tropicals soil mixes and components at Plantique Glasgow where I will be more than happy to offer advice and help you choose the correct mix for your plants.

Jordan Trainer is a Glasgow-based plant enthusiast and business owner of Plantique. With a passion for houseplants, he has been growing and collecting them for almost 10 years.

In his column for Scotland Grows, Jordan recommends his favourite houseplants for beginners.

Keep up with Jordan on his Instagram and Facebook feeds, or pop into his shop at 286 Dumbarton Road, Partick, G11 6TD.