TikTok's DIY Potting Soil Recipe Can Save Money And Give You A Green Thumb

A plant is often only as good as its soil, so it matters which one you choose. There's a large market for potting soil, but the quality fluctuates with the price. You can get 40-50 pounds of topsoil for about $25, but it generally has few nutrients when compared to potting soil boasting a blend of several nutrients. You also need to consider how well your soil drains. If your soil is fine, it will hold too much water; coarse soil will drain better. Plants Happen on TikTok has a soil recipe that will allow you to create your own soil in bulk and save money in the long run. The best part is that it's a coarse mix that will drain well to prevent overwatering, diseases, and pests.

It may not seem like you're saving money with upfront costs, but when you make a batch in bulk, you'll have it on hand the next time a plant needs to be potted. Making your own soil mix also means you'll know exactly what is going into your plant pot. You can be confident that your plants are getting what they need because nobody knows your plants as well as you do.

The perfect houseplant soil needs good drainage since well-draining soil allows oxygen to reach the roots, which keeps plants happy. Standing water can attract pests that enjoy moist conditions, like mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and springtails. Loose soil will allow excess water to drain out, and a Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix is a good place to start. It runs about $20 for 4 quarts on Amazon and is designed for water to drain out quickly. Succulents die quickly in excess water, which is why the soil is made specially for them, but you can use the soil for any plant that doesn't need wet soil. The 'Rose Queen' iris, weigelas, and lobelias are plants that need wet soil and likely wouldn't do well with this soil mix. 

Orchid bark and perlite work wonders for increasing airflow because they're both chunky materials that take up some space in the soil, allowing water to drip through quickly. Espoma horticultural charcoal runs for about $20 on Amazon and is a great addition to any soil mix. It helps with drainage and adds many other benefits we'll get into in the next section. Drainage isn't the only factor to consider, which is why peat moss, Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food ($14), and Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix ($13) are all key ingredients for this soil recipe due to the benefits they bring to the soil, like water retention and nutrients.

Many of the soil components pertain to drainage, but that's because it's so important for plants to thrive. Soil is comprised of pores that are either filled with air or water, depending on how dry or wet the soil is. Overwatering keeps these pores full of water, reducing oxygen levels and eventually leading the plants to wilt. Know what kind of soil you have to understand what additional elements it needs. Sandy soil has plenty of pores, and clay soil has very few. Adding chunky material like charcoal or bark is a good way to add some porosity to soil that needs it.

Nutrients are equally as important for proper plant growth, which is why you need to add some to your soil mix. The recommended Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food feeds plants for up to six months and contains 11 nutrients plants need. The Miracle-Gro peat moss helps with water retention because even though soil needs to drain, it also needs to hold some water to effectively support plants. This soil was also designed to encourage root growth and is enriched with fertilizer to give plants an extra boost.