There is no “good” or “bad” potting mix—only mixes that are suitable or unsuitable. When creating a potting mix formula, it is often designed with a specific plant, a particular type of plant, or a specific grow environment in mind. Adjusting the formula to match your plant’s natural habits and requirements can significantly improve its growth and overall health over time.
Friendly Reminder: All potting mixes mentioned in this article are specifically designed for plants sold by The Basements. For plants outside of The Basements’ collection, please evaluate their suitability carefully before use.
All the substrates (potting mixes) we recommend are meant as a general guideline or concept for mixing your own potting mix. The formula is ideal for providing an airy and pH-balanced growing environment for aroids. However, if you are experienced and have your own formula that works well for your other aroids, you can continue using it.
*****All the formulas provided below are based on the minimum care requirements for all plant categories sold by The Basements, ensuring a suitable potting mix for our entire selection.
1. WATER PROPAGATION
The ideal use for water propagation is short-term rehabilitation, emergency treatment, or rooting fresh cuttings.
- Pros：
- The most economic way.
- Easy to monitor the root status and rooting process.
- The effective way to recover from dehydration for plants.
- Cons:
- Need to check the water quality and change it if necessary.
- Lack of nutrients, which is detrimental to the plant’s growth in the long term.
- The delicate nature of water-grown roots making transplanting difficult.
- Cause the plant grow slowly.
2. Semi-Hydroponics
Semi-hydroponics is an intermediate form between water propagation and "soil". It is commonly used for rooting, emergency treatment, or, for certain plants, can serve as a long-term substrate. For example, plants with fine, fibrous root systems like Begonias and Alocasias are well-suited to this method.
Common semi-hydroponics substrates include pumice and LECA balls (try to click me).
- Pros：(similar with Water Propagation)
- Economic (but not much)
- Easy to monitor the root status and rooting process.
- Can be decorative purpose
- Beginner Friendly (only for nursery plants)
- Cons:
- Required water quality control
- Required nutrient monitoring
- (May) Cause the plant grow slowly
- Not for all types of plants.
3. "Soil"
The "soil" here is in quotation marks because the substrates we commonly use today are no longer traditional dirt. It’s clear that most people have moved away from the old practice of digging soil from the wild; instead, ready-made, treated grow mediums are widely available. For those not deeply familiar with plant habits, we strongly advise against using soil from the wild (although most people no longer do this).
Even products commonly sold as potting mixes in department stores are pre-treated blended substrates. However, based on our years of hands-on experience, most of these ready-made products are not directly suitable for the majority of plants sold by The Basements.
As mentioned earlier, there is no “good” or “bad” potting mix—only mixes that are suitable or unsuitable. Market products are typically tailored for specific plants or specific care environments. To achieve the best results, you need to adjust the mix based on the plant's characteristics, your care habits, and your environment.
We encourage you to think of the so-called potting mix as just one element in your custom formula. This perspective makes it easier to understand and modify according to your plant’s needs.
In this chapter, we categorize the mainstream cultivation methods currently available into two types: soil-based cultivation and soilless cultivation.
Soil-based cultivation is currently the most mainstream growing method and is widely used in commercial greenhouse operations. It is highly effective in replicating a plant's native environment and is widely regarded as the best and most universally accepted approach.
The potting mixes available on the market come in a wide variety of formulations. Many are custom blends tailored to the specific plants they’re designed to support. For example, department store potting mixes are typically very basic and may not be sufficient for variegated plants, which often require additional components to meet their growth needs.
In reality, most potting mixes are quite similar, with differences mainly in the proportions or sizes of specific substrates. Based on our extensive experience, we believe the following formula is suitable for most variegated plants. Of course, this recommendation is tailored to the plants sold by The Basements. For other types of plants, you may need to experiment and adapt based on your specific needs.
- 5 Parts of Coco Coir
- Purpose: To create the foundation of the "soil", with the main function of retaining moisture.
- Key Points: Avoid overly cheap coco coir, as it may be untreated and high in salts, which can lead to root rot. Choose products labeled as washed or low EC, and always rinse it yourself—even if pre-treated. Soak it in water, then rinse three times to ensure safety.
- Replacement options: Potting Mix from Department Store/ Peat moss
- 5 Parts of Pumice
- Purpose: To improving soil structure and increase the aeration of soil.
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Key Points: The particle size of Pumice determines how airy the soil will be. For beginners, it is highly recommended to use larger particles. - Replace options: Perlite, Lava Rock
- 5 Parts of Wood Chip
- Purposes: Wood chips are an intermediary between coco coir and pumice, providing water retention without absorbing as much water as coco coir. They help balance the overall moisture retention of the potting mix.
- Key Points: Avoid overly cheap wood chips, as they may be untreated and high in salts, which can cause root rot. Choose products labeled as washed or low EC, and always rinse them yourself—even if pre-treated. Soak them in water, then rinse three times to ensure safety.
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Replace options: Tree Fern Fiber.
- 1 Part of Active Carbon (Recommended, but Optional)
- Purpose: Active carbon is a natural filter material that helps reduce bacterial growth to some extent, while also effectively controlling odors.
- 1 Part of Worm Casting (Recommended, but Optional)
- Purpose: Worm castings are an excellent, natural, and organic fertilizer that enhance the base nutrients of the potting mix.
- Pros:
- Materials easy to access.
- Cheap (compare to PON)
- lighter in weight
- suitable for all type of tropical plants.
- Cons:
- Beginner-unfriendly (beginners may not know when should water their plants)
- Difficult to monitor roots status
-
Potential to create a mess on your floor.
The Basements PON
- Pros:
- Induced most of the Pros of traditional Potting Mix.
- Newbie friendly. (Never worry about how to water it if you set it up properly)
- Easy to monitor the root status and rooting process.
- Cleaner than dirt and decorative purpose
- Eco-friendly (reusable within one year )
- Good for all type of plants***(all types of plant sold by The Basements)
- All types of fertilizers are suitable
- Cons:
- Expensive than traditional potting mix
- A bit heavy
- Hard to buy (always out of stock, but we figure it out)