What Kind Of Soil Is Good For Pothos? (Soil requirements+Best Mix)

Choosing the right kind of soil for your pothos could be daunting for some people. When I first started, I didn’t know much about soil and how it works. But with the experience of a few years, I have learned a lot about different types of soil and how it impacts plant growth.

So, whether you are looking to repot a pothos or propagate a new one, we will help you choose the right type of soil for your pothos. So, let’s get started.

Pothos will do good in almost any kind of soil. But you need to make sure the soil you use is well-draining and nutrient-rich. You can choose any potting soil and prepare it by combining peat moss and perlite for moisture retention and aeration. Avoid using regular garden soil as it is too heavy for pothos.

Choosing the right type and mix of soil is what makes the most difference for your plants.

Whether your pothos will thrive or barely survive is going to depend upon the environment you provide and the type of soil you use.

Thus, today we shall learn all the secret of soil mix for pothos and that too in layman’s terms.

Also read: Why is my pothos dying?

Things to keep in mind while choosing a soil mix

The soil mix for pothos is really simple and straightforward. You needn’t learn the science behind it. 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

These are the four crucial things to keep in mind while choosing a soil mix for your pothos.

Having a nutrient-rich soil is crucial as pothos are fast-growing plants, and they absorb most of their needed nutrient supplements from the soil.

Providing a nutrient-rich substrate will boost their growth, which is crucial if you are repotting or propagating your pothos.

One of the most common problems with houseplants is overwatering. Most people shower a lot of love for their plants, and as a result, they end up overwatering them.

It can lead to many issues, especially when the soil is heavy and water cannot pass through.

The soil you use must be well-draining, and the water needs to pass-through. Else your pothos may see problems like droopy leaves, root rot, and more.

Aeration and water retention capacity of the soil is also crucial for your pothos to thrive.

If the soil is tightly packed and doesn’t allow the roots to breathe, your plant may suffer from stunted growth. Thus, adding something for aeration is essential.

While pothos doesn’t like remaining wet at all times, they don’t want to be left dry as well.

If the soil you are using dries out pretty quickly, then your pothos may struggle to grow.

You may see signs of leaf curling and brown leaves as well. Thus, adding something into the soil mix for retaining a little bit of moisture is crucial.

Also read: Do pothos need fertilizer? (How much, what type and more)

What is the best soil for pothos?

Pothos are not such demanding plants, and they can do well in most kinds of soil. However, if you want your plants to thrive and grow longer and bushier, choose a nutrient-rich potting mix.

Wait, Wait, Wait! Just because I told you to use any good potting mix, you cannot go ahead and throw a bag of mix in there and plant your pothos. 

We need to make a few adjustments to the potting mix so that the conditions for your pothos are set right!

After experimenting and trying out a bunch of combinations, I have brought it down to two well-balanced recipes for the perfect soil mix. 

This mix works great with most houseplants that demand similar conditions. So, without further delay, let’s dive right into it.

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 mixes cater to the need of your pothos. The first soil mix is pretty straightforward and effective, as well. You just need a bag of Miracle grow indoor potting mix, which we shall mix with a part of perlite. 

Although this particular potting mix is created to keep indoor plants in mind, I still feel it holds the moisture for a little longer. 

That might work well in dry and arid climate but doesn’t work well in tropical, humid places. Thus, adding a part of coarse sand or pumice if perlite will help with the soil’s aeration and drainage.

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

If you already have any kind of succulent or cactus soil in hand, then go with this mix as it will save you a few bucks. 

We prefer Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix in which we add a portion of compost and a part of peat moss/cocopeat to retain adequate moisture and minerals for the plant to thrive.

Do pothos like acidic soil?

Pothos prefer slightly acidic soil. The ideal pH for pothos is anywhere between 6.1-6.5.

However, they can do well even if the soil is somewhat outside this pH range.

They don’t enjoy a soil that is too acidic (pH 5.8 or below) as it can damage their roots leading to stunted growth and wilting of leaves.

Do pothos like cactus soil?

No pothos do not like cactus soil as it doesn’t hold moisture for an extended period.

However, you can prepare a cactus soil to keep your pothos in it. If you have a cactus soil mix, we will suggest you mix a part of compost with compost and peat moss or cocopeat in it.

But why did we do so? Cactus and succulent prefer dry soil.
Whereas, pothos prefers moisture in the soil so that the plant’s roots don’t dry out.

Adding some cocopeat or peat moss will help with the moisture retention, and a handful of compost will make the soil organically rich. Thus, a perfect mix for your pothos to thrive.

When to repot pothos?

If your pothos has outgrown the size of your current pot or it has become root bounded, then you need to repot them immediately. 

Else, don’t bother to repot your pothos again and again as it hampers the growth rate of your pothos.

Also read: How would I know if my houseplant needs repotting?

Your pothos will start giving you signs that they are root-bound, and they need a larger pot. These signs include:

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

If you start noticing any of these signs, then prepare to repot your pothos. 

However, it is best to repot them during spring and early summer as they grow during this season. 

Most of the winter or colder months are the dormant stages for your pothos plant, and repotting them at that stage doesn’t make sense.

Also read:- Is my pothos root bound?

What size of pot is best for pothos?

The size of the pot depends upon the size of the plant, but it is ideal to start with a 4″ to 6″ pot. As your pothos grows in size, you need to move them to a bigger pot.

Pothos can quickly become root-bound if left in a pot for long. You need to repot them every two years or so, depending upon the growth of your pothos.

Always move them to a pot 2″ bigger than the previous one. For example:- If your pothos is currently planted in a 6″ pot, you need to move them to an 8″ pot next time.

Please don’t go too big as it will slow the growth of your pothos.

Also read: Pot size and its impact on the growth of the plant.

Final thoughts

If you haven’t read the entire post and skipped to the conclusion directly, then I would summarise everything for you.

Pothos can live and grow in almost all types of soil. However, if your goal is to have a thriving plant, then providing an appropriate substrate is crucial. This plant prefers a well-draining, nutrient-rich soil that can hold moisture for a while.

The soil must not remain soggy or absorb too much moisture. However, it must have some moisture-retaining capacity. Also, don’t forget to add some perlite or pumice for aeration.

I would strongly recommend checking out the soil mix we discussed earlier in this article for a detailed understanding of how it works.

Also read: How to save a dying pothos?

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Source: Effects of Different Pot Mixtures on Pothos, Soil and leaf nutrient, Air and Soil Temperatures and Fertilizer Level Affect Growth and Quality of pothos, Short-term effects of organic amendments on soil fertility, Soil Fertility and Diversity of Microorganism