What Is The Best Soil Mix For Pothos Plants - How to Choose

What makes the biggest difference for your plants is selecting the proper type and mixture of soil. Depending on the environment you provide and the type of soil you use, your pothos will either flourish or struggle to survive. As a result, we will learn everything there is to know about pothos soil mix today, and in simple terms at that.

Since pothos can grow in a variety of conditions, including those without soil, you can plant it in nearly any well-draining soil and it will flourish. You can use a pothos mix, make your own, or use potting soil made specifically for orchids or cacti. It thrives in water as well.

What is the Best Soil for Pothos?

Pothos are not particularly demanding plants, and they can thrive in a variety of soil types. However, pick a nutrient-rich potting mix if you want your plants to thrive and grow taller and bushier.

Wait, Wait, Wait! You cannot simply toss a bag of potting soil in there and plant your pothos because I instructed you to use any good potting soil.

To create the ideal environment for your pothos, we must make a few changes to the potting mixture.

I've narrowed down the ideal soil mix to two well-balanced recipes after experimenting with numerous combinations.

The majority of houseplants that require similar conditions respond well to this mixture. Let's get started right away, then, without further ado.

Recipe 1:

• Take 2 parts of Miracle Grow Indoor potting mix
• Mix a part of perlite/pumice/coarse sand into the mix

Recipe 2:

• Take a part of cactus soil
• Mix a part of the compost
• Add a part of peat moss/cocopeat

Both of these soil mixtures meet the needs of your pothos. The first soil mix is pretty straightforward and effective, as well. Just one bag of Miracle Grow indoor potting mix will do, which we'll combine with some perlite.

Although this specific potting mixture was developed with indoor plants in mind, I believe it retains moisture a little bit longer.

In tropical, humid regions, that might not work as well as it does in dry, arid climates. In order to improve the soil's aeration and drainage, add some coarse sand or pumice to the perlite.

The second soil mix is also effective, but it needs a little bit more work to prepare it right.

If you already have any type of succulent or cactus soil on hand, use that instead of this mixture to save some money.

To retain enough moisture and nutrients for the plant to thrive, we prefer Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix, to which we add some compost and some peat moss/cocopeat.

Do Pothos Like Acidic Soil?

Pothos prefer slightly acidic soil. Between 6.1 and 6.5 is the ideal pH range for pothos.

Even though the soil's pH is a little outside of this range, they can still thrive there.

They do not like excessively acidic soil (pH 5.8 or lower), as it can harm their roots and cause stunted growth and wilting of the leaves.

Do Pothos Like Cactus Soil?

No, because cactus soil can't hold moisture for a long time, pothos don't like it.

To keep your pothos in, however, you can make cactus soil. We advise adding some compost to your cactus soil mix, along with peat moss or cocopeat, if you have one.

Succulents and cacti prefer dry soil, so why did we do it?
Pothos, on the other hand, prefers moist soil so that the plant's roots don't dry out.

The soil will become richer in organic matter if you add some cocopeat or peat moss to help with moisture retention. Hence, the ideal combination for your pothos to flourish.

Things to Keep in Mind While Choosing a Soil Mix

Pothos requires a very basic and easy-to-follow soil mixture. The underlying science is not something that you must learn. You just need to keep a few things in mind while choosing the soil:

• Nutrient-rich
• Well-draining
• Must retain moisture
• Aeration of the soil

The four most important considerations when selecting a pothos soil mixture are as follows.

Since pothos plants grow quickly and absorb the majority of the nutrients they require from the soil, having nutrient-rich soil is essential.

If you are repotting your pothos, providing a substrate rich in nutrients will promote their growth.

Overwatering is one of the most frequent issues with houseplants. Most people give their plants a lot of affection, which leads to overwatering. (Also Read: How To Fix Overwatered Pothos)

It can cause a lot of problems, particularly if the soil is dense and water cannot pass through.

You must use well-draining soil that allows water to pass through. Otherwise, your pothos might experience issues like droopy leaves, root rot, and more. (Read More: Why Are My Pothos Leaves Curling)

For your pothos to flourish, the soil's aeration and water-retention capabilities are also essential.

Your plant may experience stunted growth if the soil is compacted too tightly and prevents the roots from breathing. Therefore, it is crucial to add something for aeration.

Pothos doesn't like to be constantly wet, but they also don't like to be kept dry.

Your pothos might have a hard time growing if the soil you're using dries out quickly.

When to Repot Pothos?

Repotting is necessary as soon as possible if your pothos has outgrown its container or has grown root bound.

Repotting your pothos repeatedly will slow its rate of growth, so avoid doing it if at all possible.

• Also read: Pothos Root Rot - Cause And Treatment

When your pothos are root-bound and in need of a larger pot, they will begin to show you these signs. These signs include:

• Roots coming out of the drainage holes
• Stunted growth
• Yellow and brown leaves
• Droopy leaves
• Pot starts expanding or breaking down

Read More: Why Are My Pothos Leaves Turning Yellow

You should be prepared to repot your pothos if you start to notice any of these symptoms.

But because they grow the most in the spring and the first few weeks of the summer, repotting is best done then.

Your pothos plant is typically dormant during the winter or colder months; therefore, repotting them at that time is not a good idea.

The pot should be started with a 4 to 6 inch pot, though the size of the pot will depend on the size of the plant. You must transfer your pothos to a larger container as they grow in size. (Read More: How to Choose The Best Pot For a Pothos Plant)

If kept in a pot for too long, pothos can quickly develop root rot. Depending on the growth of your pothos, you should repot them every two years or so.

Always transfer them to a pot that is 2 Prime times larger than the one before. For instance, if your pothos are currently grown in a 6" pot, you should transplant them to an 8" pot the next time.

Please refrain from going overboard because doing so will hinder your pothos' growth.

Tips to Fertilize Golden Pothos

1. Prior to fertilization, give the plant plenty of water. The presence of moisture aids in better nutrient absorption.
2. Reduce the fertilizer's strength by 1/4.
3. As fertilizer may burn stems or leaves, you should avoid coming into contact with them.
4. In contrast, if you use any organic fertilizer, apply it on top of the soil.

Only fertilize your Golden Pothos in accordance with the instructions printed on the package's label. More of a problem with plants than with humans is overfertilization.

When a plant is overfertilized, the excess fertilizer eventually decomposes into a salty residue.

Excessive salt buildup alters the pH of the soil, which results in leaf and root tip burning.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Soil Mix for Pothos

What Soil PH Does Pothos Prefer?

The pH of the soil where the pothos plant grows should be between 6.0 and 6.5, though they are not fussy about it. It prefers a pH of 7.0, which is moderately acidic but very close to neutral. If the pH of your potting mix is too high to begin with, you can add a small amount of elemental sulfur. If you want to avoid adding too much elemental sulfur, measure the pH before you do and abide by the instructions on the package. Before planting your pothos, double-check the pH to make sure it is perfect.

What Do You Add to a Cactus Or Orchid Potting Soil Mix for a Pothos Plant?

A pothos must first be planted in nutrient-rich cactus potting soil. As opposed to this, you must remove some bark when using an orchid potting mix. For an established pothos plant, the orchid mixture starts out too loose.

Can Pothos Soil Go Bad?

No, you will need to re-pot your pothos in a bigger container once it outgrows its current one. Pothos requires new soil every time it is re-potted. This gets rid of any diseased soil or debris and fixes any compaction issues.

Do Orchid Soil Or Cactus Mixes Work With Pothos?

Any plant that enjoys drainage can be grown in cactus or orchid potting soil. Those mixtures complement pothos well.

The same cannot be said, however, for all cacti and orchid mixtures. For certain mixtures, the drainage is too quick. Others might be less expensive, but they do hold on to extra water.

We suggest trying a mix if it seems light to you. To increase moisture retention, you should, however, add peat moss if it's overly chunky.

Keep a close eye on your plant after you've placed it in a pot. Look for clues that point to the plant's ability to survive in the soil.

Do Coffee Grounds Work With Pothos?

Yes, they can, but only when used properly. High nitrogen levels in coffee grounds facilitate pothos growth. Additionally, because coffee grounds are acidic, they will change the pH of your plants' alkaline soil.

When using coffee grounds, we advise exercising caution. Although pothos thrives in acidic soils, using a lot of coffee grounds carries a risk of excessive acidity.

They also combine well with nitrogen, which is why pothos likes them. Most soil mixtures can use them as supplements. As a result, you can avoid using harsh chemicals.

How Moist Should the Soil Be for a Pothos Plant?

Give your pothos plants a well-draining container that can store moisture to make them happy. If that sounds contradictory, it simply means that when you water a plant, the water must pass through the soil and drain to the tray below the container. This allows the pothos to feed its roots when they grow hungry while keeping excess water away from the roots. The plant will be able to draw up extra water as needed in the intervals between watering cycles.

How Can You Get a Houseplant Pothos to Flower?

You could propagate your plants there if you have a greenhouse. The plant might be made to grow in a tropical forest by giving it conditions that are as close to ideal as possible.

Final Thoughts

I would summarize everything for you if you haven't read the entire post and have just read the conclusion.

In almost all types of soil, pothos can thrive. However, it's imperative to provide a suitable substrate if you want a healthy plant. This plant prefers nutrient-rich, well-draining soil that can hold moisture for an extended period of time.

The soil shouldn't get too wet or retain a lot of moisture. But it needs to be able to hold some moisture. Remember to add some pumice or perlite as well for aeration.