When the theory of evolution received widespread recognition, we became aware that all living beings were intricately made with the utmost precision. Everything we needed to grow has already been inscribed in our genes, and all it takes to achieve perfect growth is a bit of help and nutrition from our side.
The same goes for plants. To maximize their potential, plants need water, nutrition, and of course, sunlight. And as time passed, we learned that we could control the plants' growth artificially, with the help of potting soil.
The ingredients that the potting soil consists of are crucial in providing the must-have nutrients for growing plants, and so, we combined the list of the best potting soil on the market that you can use for indoor and outdoor plants.
Take a look at our list and the buyer's guide and see for yourself!
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Table of Contents
- Top 3 Potting Soils: A Comparison Chart
- The Different Types of Potting Soil
- The Best Organic Potting Soil - Top 7 Reviews
- #1. Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix - Anti-Fungal
- #2. Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, 16-Quart - Indoor and Outdoor Use
- #3. Espoma AP8 Organic Potting Mix - Water-Saving Formula
- #4. Burpee Organic Premium Growing Mix, 8 Quart - Coconut Coir
- #5. Espoma AP4 Organic Potting Mix - Drought Stress Reduction
- #6. Black Gold SUGRBG16QT All Organic Potting Soil - Organic Fertilizer
- #7. Fox Farm Happy Frog Potting Soil Mix - Soil Microbes
- Choosing the Right Fertilizer Mix - Buyer's Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions About Potting Soils
- Final Thoughts - Summary
Top 3 Potting Soils: A Comparison Chart
Before we rush into it all, here are our suggestions for you to look at!
The Different Types of Potting Soil
1. Commercial Potting Soil
Commercial potting soil is the most common and popular type of potting soil because these are scientifically designed to reduce the chances of plant disease transmissions.
However, the only downside to this kind of potting soil is that they are more expensive than the others.
2. Potting Soil Basics
These potting soil basics are the kind of potting soils that don't contain any real soil. They are merely mixtures of different kinds of components.
Most potting soil basics are a combination of sand, perlite, peat moss, compost bark, and mushrooms.
3. Homemade Potting Soil
Who says making your potting soil is difficult?
Well, in fact, it's not because these are simple to make. You just need to bake the compost with water and expose it to the sun's heat. You then add fertilizers, compost, and manure to make the mixture more nutritious for your plant.
Not only does it assure you that it's all natural and fully organic, but you'll also save a lot of money because you don't have to buy those expensive and branded soil products in the market.
Read more —
The Best Organic Potting Soil - Top 7 Reviews
We'll start our list with the very best potting soil for indoor plants, the Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix.
One of the common problems with growing plants are gnats, little flying insects that pose no threat to humans, but they can cause serious harm to plants and vegetables. That's why a good potting soil needs to be able to protect potted plants with utmost care. This mix takes care of this by having no compost bark, which protects gnats.
This soil mix's design is blended for a variety of container plants, which makes it excellent for any type of plant you plan on growing indoors. Also, it's incredibly easy to use, even for beginners that don't have green thumbs.
You fill 1/3 of the container with the potting soil, loosen the root ball and place the plant inside, and then you add another inch of the mix and press lightly. Then, you just add water and additional mix every thirty days, and your plants will be set for!
You can find some more affordable mix on the market, but this one is worth the money because your plants will be greener than ever.
- Anti-gnats
- Nutritive value
- Easy to apply
- The best indoor potting soil
- Not suitable for outdoor plants
Up next is another fantastic product, the Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, 16-Quart.
The great thing about this line of potting soils is that you can use them for both indoor and outdoor plants. It is from the same manufacturer as our last product, Miracle-Gro, one of the best potting soil brands and most adjusted companies that produce gardening equipment.
If you don't have a fruitful garden that simply cannot produce the right results, this artificial way will go a long way in your gardening career. It is the best potting soil for herbs because it provides a firm foundation with the right amount of nutrients for your herbs to grow.
Unlike unfed plants, this soil mix will give color to your blossoming plants and make them twice as big if used correctly. It is a bit more expensive compared to other potting soils, for example, potting mix Bunnings, but it will get everything done in a great way.
Not only does it provide spectacular results, but it's also easy to apply. Just remember to add water and let it drain, and you're good to go!
- Trustworthy manufacturer
- Made from organic materials
- Adds coloration for your plants
- The best potting soil for weed
- Price
When it comes to potting mixes, Espoma is a company that you don't want to miss out on. We give you the Espoma AP8 Organic Potting Mix.
What makes this product attractive to anyone who takes up gardening is the water-saving formula that Espoma designed. This innovation consists of a blend of endo & ectomycorrhizae. For those of you who are not entirely sure what this means, it's really simple.
Endo & ectomycorrhizae represent a symbiotic relationship between a plant and a fungus, where plants are in the upper hand. This type of relation promotes more extensive plant growth than regular potting, increases fertilizer utilization, and decreases water intake by 30% than regular potting does.
It works well with both outdoor and indoor plants and has proven to be an excellent soil mix when it comes to plants that don't require a lot of water to be sustained.
Aside from all this, it is Amazon's Choice product that many gardeners and experts use in their everyday lives, and it comes at an excellent price. Don't miss the opportunity to give your plants what they deserve - the best!
- Water-saving formula
- Increases fertilizer utilization
- Water intake
- The best potting soil for succulents
- Too fine
If you're on the market looking for a good potting soil for organic vegetables, you've come to the right place. We present to you the Burpee Organic Premium Growing Mix, 8 Quart.
When you're looking for potting mixes that can sustain vegetables, it must have enough nutrients that will be distributed over time, evenly. That is why this soil mix provides a slow release that feeds the plants up to three months, depending on the type of plant you're growing.
Furthermore, it has coconut coir, a renewable resource that maintains moisture after you've watered the plants. It is a long-known fact that coconuts have a way of preserving water even during dry spells - a natural way of staying healthy. So, if you miss a deadline, your tomatoes, cactus, and succulent will remain healthy.
Just make sure to secure your plants and put them in a safe place if you plan on using this organic potting soil outdoor. It does not offer perfect protection against gnats - a common problem that occurs during plant growth. Aside from this, you'll get an excellent product with fantastic nutritive value that your potted plants will love.
- Even distribution of nutrients and water
- Coconut coir – great for cactus and succulent
- The best potting soil for tomatoes
- Maintaining water
- Gnats
Moving on, we've prepared for you another fantastic product, the Espoma AP4 Organic Potting Mix.
As we've already mentioned, Espoma is one of the leading companies when it comes to potting soils, and it's no surprise that this product is one of the customer-favorites.
As was the previous product, this one also has a myco-tone water saving formula that consists of a blend of endo & ectomycorrhizae that speed up the plant's growth. It also reduces drought stress and improves moisture retention, which makes it excellent for all vegetables and herbs.
You can use this potting soil mix outdoor and indoor, depending on the plant that you're planning to grow, and it will work like a charm if you follow the instructions and add water correctly.
It also has earthworm castings and kelp meal fertilizer that provide nutrients that influence healthy growth in plants. Moreover, these types of fertilizer materials have proven to boost NPK levels of soil, which are the vital requirements for substantial root growth.
All in all, you won't regret investing in this organic potting soil!
- A blend of endo & ectomycorrhizae
- Trustworthy
- The best potting soil for cannabis
- The best potting soil for marijuana
- Earthworm castings and kelp meal fertilizer
- Strong smell
Are you tired and sick of fine potting soils that can not provide enough nutrition for your vegetables? Try the Black Gold SUGRBG16QT Potting Soil and relax.
It's no wonder that Black Gold gets a spot on this list, considering that their potting soils have undoubtedly proven to be one of the best on the market. They are ideal for vegetables, herbs, flowers, and plants in general - in gardens and inside your homes.
The reason lies within the soil itself, which is filled with nutrients and fertilizer that enable your plants to grow. It is enriched with organic fertilizer, pumice, earthworm castings, and perlite - all essential organic materials that pave the way for healthy growth.
It is an OMRI listed product, which means that it is verified at the Organic Materials Review Institute as beneficial and non-dangerous soil for your plants.
It does come at a price, but it'll surely not disappoint you. Just make sure to apply it regularly, and you're good to go!
- The best potting soil for vegetables
- A mix of fertilizer materials
- OMRI product
- Price
Finally, for the last product on our list, we give you the Fox Farm Happy Frog Potting Soil Mix.
Even though it's the last potting soil up for review, it certainly does not mean that it's inferior in comparison to the previous ones. This product is amended with soil microbes that improve plant and root growth, as well as blossoming of the plants.
The microbes in the soil form a bond with the plant and encourage nutrient uptake, which results in a healthy lifespan. They also help regulate the pH level in the soil itself, thus making it not too acidic for the plant to grow.
The Pearsons protective gloves are a cute addition in this set that you'll get for free if you order this product. They go a long way in protecting yourself and your plants when you're changing the soil and cutting off the dead leaves.
Fox Farm is a well-established company, so it's no wonder that their premium products come at a specific price, but trust us, it's worth it. Not only will your plants have a long lifespan, but you'll rest assured knowing they're in good hands.
- Soil microbes
- Healthy environment
- pH level
- Pearsons protective gloves
- Price
Choosing the Right Fertilizer Mix - Buyer's Guide
It's certainly not an easy job to find the best potting soil mix for your plants. Some many requirements and factors should weigh in on your decision, and of course, the price is always on everyone's mind.
But don't worry because we're here to help!
Take a look at some of the most important things that should resolve your dilemma right now.
1. The Number of Nutrients
The best potting soil is only as good as the ingredients that are used in creating it. For example, peat moss is a dead fibrous material that forms when living material in general and moss deteriorate.
Gardeners have come to know that peat moss is an excellent addition to soil mixes because it improves the growth and enables your plants to be healthy.
Also, earthworm castings and coconut coir are nowadays a must-have in potting soils because of the enriched environment they provide with the addition of water preservation.
So, when you're choosing the brand that fits you the most, try to look for products that have these components in their blend. They will optimize the mix in a way that your plant will undoubtedly love!
2. Gnat-Protection
As we've mentioned above, gnats can pose quite a problem to a still-developing plant.
They are usually most active around water and wet soil, which makes potting soil a perfect environment for them to localize and feast.
The ultimate potting soil should contain no compost bark, which protects gnats and offers them a suitable environment.
3. Specific Soil
If you're an expert gardener, you know that not all potting soils and mixes are universal and ideal for just any plant. If you have a cactus or orchids, a different type of fertilizer and soil will be needed to maximize their growth.
Luckily, manufacturers pay attention to this and often include a list of some plants that can benefit from their product. Bear this in mind before you rush off to buy potting soil.
Frequently Asked Questions About Potting Soils
Which is Better - Potting Soil or a Potting Mix?
In all honesty, potting soil is just a term used for any type of soil that contains dirt and enables plants to grow.
However, potting mix is specifically designed to help plants prosper and grow into full maturity with the help of organic fertilizer and materials.
What is the Best Soil for Potted Plants?
It should contain a lot of healthy nutrients that provide enough space and room for a plant to grow.
For example, a combination of peat moss or sphagnum moss with perlite is always a safe bet.
Just make sure what you'll be using your potting soil for since peat moss is very acidic compared to sphagnum, which has a neutral pH value.
What is the Best Soil?
In nature, your best bet is to look for plants that have grown in sandy loam. It consists of a mixture of the primary three types of soil - sand, silt, and clay.
Final Thoughts - Summary
As we evolved, we learned of agriculture and a way to harvest plants to our benefit. Even though we struggled, we managed to find the best way to cultivate them, and we've reached a point where we can do it efficiently with the best soil for potted plants. According to current products on the market, that has to be the Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix.
It has just the right level of nutrients that maximize the plants' growth, and it has a way of keeping nasty gnats at bay. It comes at a fair price and proves to be an excellent potting soil for all gardeners out there.
- Blended for a wide variety of container plants
- Feeds up to 6 months
- Designed to be less prone to gnats (contains no compost or bark, which are known to shelter fungus gnats)
- Contains coconut coir, which holds and releases water and helps soil easily re-wet
- For use in containers
There's no need to wait around and let whether, and natural conditions dictate the way your plants will grow. You can control it with potting soils that make your life easier in so many ways.