How to prepare soil for houseplants

The chemistry of your soil decides the overall health of your plants. A well draining,  nutrient rich soil does wonders for your plant babies. Just like we cook our own food at home, we can make potting soil at home by adding all the ingredients. And the good thing it is always cheaper than the store bought potting soil.

Here is what all you need to add to your potting soil/mix:

Garden soil

It is the top layer of soil which you actually find in your garden. If you don't have access to garden or a lawn you can visit parks or construction sites. You will find ample of soil lying there. You can even ask the nurseries for a bag full of garden soil. Garden soil itself does not contain any nutrients so we will add other ingredients to make it fertile. 

Coco peat

It is a growing medium made from coconut husks. It increases the water holding capacity of soil. It can be mixed in equal proportions with garden soil. By adding coco peat we make the garden soil sterile and ready to use. It improves aeration & adds fluffiness to the overall soil mix. 

Compost/Vermi-compost 

It is a nutrient rich plant food in our potting soil. It helps plants to grow stronger. Mixing compost with potting soil can enhance its nutrient content, improve soil structure and increase moisture retention. A common ratio is to mix one part compost with three parts potting soil. This allows for a good balance of nutrients without overwhelming the plants.

Perlite

It helps drain water quickly from the soil. It is important for plants like succulents that don’t like to sit in wet soil. Perlite keeps the soil light and fluffy. It stops the soil from getting too packed down, which helps roots grow better.