Best Potting Soil for Indoor Plants

Last updated February 12, 2024
When you grow plants indoors, they will have different needs from outdoor plants. Choosing the right potting soil will help them thrive.
Most indoor plants need soil structure that is moisture-retentive and well-draining, giving the plant roots access to air and water. Additionally, some potting mixes include slow-release fertilizer to help plants grow and thrive.
Give your indoor plants the best potting soil for their needs when you choose a soil specially formulated for the type of plant. In this guide, learn about the potting soils for your houseplants.
Table of Contents
What Houseplants Need from Soil
Indoor Potting Mix
Succulent and Cactus Potting Mix
Orchid Potting Mix
Bonsai Potting Mix
Citrus Potting Mix
What Houseplants Need from Soil

In addition to light, plants need air, water and nutrition to grow. The soil you choose provides structure for roots to stretch and access air and water.
Potting soil is not dirt and it's different from the native soil in your yard.
Although commonly called “potting soil,” most commercial potting soils are soil-less. They’re often made from wood products enhanced with ingredients that help aerate the soil and deliver fertilizer to the roots. These soils are lighter and fluffier than garden soil and are usually labelled “potting mix.”
Indoor plants are often tropical plants. In order to thrive, they need well-draining, moisture-retentive potting soil.
Good quality potting mix will have a loose, crumbly texture. Soils that hold on to too much water will cause roots to rot and give mold a chance to grow.
Indoor Potting Mix

Make a custom potting mix for your indoor plants from ingredients like these:
- Compost. Whether homemade or purchased, organic compost will provide structure and nutrition for your indoor plants.
- Sphagnum peat moss. A natural ingredient, peat moss provides structure, aeration and water retention ability. It’s also slightly acidic.
- Coconut coir. A sustainable alternative to peat moss that stays fluffy and does not compress. Coir is less acidic than peat moss and protects plants from over and under watering.
- Vermiculite is a compressed mineral that expands when it absorbs water. Vermiculite is used in seed-starting mixes. It has a neutral pH and won’t decompose.
- Perlite is similar to vermiculite and is used the same way. It is made from super-heated volcanic glass. Perlite is good for plants that need high humidity, like epiphytes, and isn’t found in succulent mixes, for instance. (For optimal drainage, use about 25 percent perlite or vermiculite in your homemade potting mix.)
Additional ingredients:
- Sand for cactus, citrus and palms.
- Pine bark for orchids.
Tip: Experts recommend a pasteurization process for your homemade compost if you want to use it on your indoor plants. Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread compost in an even layer on a sheet pan and bake for 45 minutes. Cool to room temperature before using.
Succulent and Cactus Potting Mix

Succulents and cacti indoors need a well-draining potting soil. Cactus soils contain a mixture of wood products, sphagnum, peat moss, sand and perlite.
Succulent potting mix doesn’t contain sand and is often packaged with fertilizer. Keep your indoor succulents, cactus and palms looking their best with fertilizer doses beginning 30 days after planting.
Sand also gives weight to containers that might otherwise tip over.
Orchid Potting Mix

Many orchids are epiphytes that pull nutrition in from the air, so their roots are partially exposed. Most orchids need good air circulation and growing media that holds moisture and quickly drains, so roots don’t stay wet. Orchid potting mixes may contain fir bark, sphagnum moss, charcoal, coco fibers (sometimes called coco coir), perlite or a blend of these materials. If you’re an avid orchid grower, look for specialty mixes designed for different types of orchids, such as dendrobiums or phalaenopsis, also known as moth orchids.
Some orchid mixes contain slow-release fertilizer. For orchid success, regularly feed with a special orchid fertilizer.
Bonsai Potting Mix

Bonsai soils are designed specially to help bonsai trees and shrubs grow and get the nutrition they need. Packaged bonsai soil contains pumice, lava, calcined clay and pine bark fines. This mix can sometimes be used for other specialty plants like cacti and succulents.
Citrus Potting Mix

Indoor citrus plants like kumquats and Meyer lemons need a rich, loamy soil with sand to help with draining. When planting, add slow-release fertilizer to packaged citrus soils to nourish your plants during the growing season.
Indoor citrus plants are heavy feeders and thrive on a fertilization schedule. Fertillize three times a year.
Soil Covers for Indoor Plants

Indoor plants enhance your decor. One of the easiest ways to bring style into your home is with decorative soil covers for your houseplant collection. The glass beads, lava rocks, polished stones and mosses add color and texture to your containers.
Soil toppers can also improve drainage and increase humidity. They always give a tidy look to your plant decor. Lava rock is a good top layer for succulents and bonsai. Marble chips and glass beads can be used in terrariums and dish gardens.
Whether you need the right planters, houseplants or potting soil, The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them.