Pothos plants are one of the most beautiful plants you can buy. But if you want your plant to thrive, then you need to choose the correct soil mix for pothos plants. In this article, we discuss the most appropriate soil mix, how to make your mix, and which soils to avoid…
What is the Best Soil for Pothos?
The best soil for pothos is nutrient-rich, well-draining, and features some form of aeration. I recommend taking some indoor potting mix, and then adding a mix of perlite and sand for improved retention of water and aeration. Garden soil should be avoided with pothos plants due to it being too heavy.
Pothos are insanely fast-growing plants that require more nutrients when compared to other house plants. As such, giving your pothos nutrient-rich soil is vital if you want it to thrive.
The soil should drain easily, especially as most people tend to give their pothos too much water. Overwatering can lead to root rot, leaf browning, and stunted growth.
Although you want the water to drain from the plant pot, you also want the soil to retain some water without it all passing through. On a similar thought, the soil should provide aeration, otherwise the pothos roots won’t be able to breathe.
After experimenting with a number of different pothos potting mix recipes, I have now found what I believe to be the best pothos soil mix. You can even use this mix for other plants that grow in the same way to the pothos.
Pothos Soil Mix Recipe
- 2 parts Miracle Grow Indoor potting mix (Amazon link)
- Mix a part of perlite (Amazon link) and coarse sand into the mix
This simple potting mix will allow your pothos to thrive. All you need is a big bag of Miracle grow and a small amount of perlite. Using just Miracle Grow is fine as it effectively holds water. However, those who live in humid locations definitely need to add some perlite/sand to help with water drainage and aeration.
Do Pothos Like Acidic Soil?
Pothos like mildly acidic soil with a pH value of between 6 and 6.5. It doesn’t matter if your soil is too far outside of the ideal pH range, just ensure the acid level isn’t too high, otherwise the roots can become damaged.
Do Pothos Like Wet Soil?
Keep the pothos soil moist, but be very careful when it comes to overwatering. More water is not better. In fact, pothos thrive the most when the top level of soil is left to dry between each dose of water. Don’t worry about letting the top few inches of the soil dry out, as the soil around the roots will still be slightly moist.
Can I Put Coffee Grounds in my Pothos Soil?
Adding coffee grounds to your pothos soil will help to raise the acidic levels. I recommend using them when the soil has a pH value of over 6.5, as this is too alkaline for your pothos. Coffee grounds will also give extra nutrition to your pothos soil and act as a natural fertilizer. Coffee contains Nitrogen, which is something your pothos requires to thrive. Read more about using coffee grounds on houseplants here.
Can Cactus Soil be Used for Pothos?
No, you shouldn’t use cactus soil for pothos plants. This is due to the soil not effectively retaining moisture for long enough.
With that said, you can alter your cactus soil by adding some peat moss and compost. This is because pothos plants like moist soil, whereas cacti prefer dry soil. Adding peat moss and compost will give more moisture and nutrients to the potting mix.
Final Thoughts
So, there are my thoughts on the best potting soil for pothos plants. Regardless of the specific recipe you use, the soil should be packed with nutrients, have room for the roots to breat, and drain well to avoid root rot. Fortunately the pothos plant is very forgiving and is great for beginners who are new to the word of plant keeping.
