I'm curious if there's a universal soil mix that can cater to a variety of plants. Usually, I make custom mixes based on each plant's needs, but it leads to leftover mixes that I'm not sure how to use or what's in them. It would be super helpful if I could just rely on one big mix for all my plants!
4 Answers
For me, keeping it simple works best. I usually combine just four ingredients: perlite, FoxFarm Ocean Forest soil, orchid bark, and either Bonsai Jack's mix or crushed granite. One tip is to always label your mixes with the ratios you used, so you can recreate them easily later on!
What ratios are you all using for those mixes?
I stick to standard bagged potting soil, but I prefer keeping small bins of premixed additives. For example, I've got a tropical mix with bark, extra perlite, and charcoal, and another for cacti and succulents that includes turface and pumice. This way, I mix only what I need when I need it, rather than having large batches sitting around.
I go with straight compost for all my plants. It allows me to adjust the texture based on each plant's requirements, and I have an endless supply!
I use a garbage bin to store a universal mix of peat, orchid bark, and perlite. It keeps things flexible, and I can always separate some out and add more peat if I need a finer texture. I used to rely on potting mix, but it compacted too much for my plants.
Totally agree! I use the same basics: Bonsai Jack, FoxFarm, perlite, and orchid bark. I typically use perlite mainly for propagating. I have a bunch of soup containers with varying ratios. I just eyeball it based on what the plant needs!