If you’re an aroid enthusiast, you’re probably aware of the importance of a good soil mix for optimal plant growth. The right soil mix can provide the necessary nutrients, drainage, and aeration for your plants to thrive. But with so many soil mix recipes out there, it can be hard to know which one to choose.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best aroid soil mix recipes for you to try, and the aroid types that it suits best. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, these recipes are sure to provide your plants with the ideal growing conditions. From a classic mix of peat moss and perlite to a more exotic blend of coconut coir and worm castings, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s dive in and discover the perfect aroid mix for your favorite plants.
Which plants are aroids?
Aroid plants are from the family Araceae and many are known for their unique foliage and inflorescences. Some well-known aroids include:
Aglaonema is a group of foliage plants known for their attractive, patterned leaves and adaptability to indoor environments.
Alocasia: Elephant ears are a popular name for this group, characterized by large, broad leaves often marked with vibrant patterns.
Amorphophallus consists of unique and often large-sized plants with fascinating and unusual flowers such as the infamous corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum).
Anthurium: Known for their colorful and glossy heart-shaped leaves, often with showy spathe and spadix flowers.
Arum plants have characteristic showy, hooded flowers. They often have large, arrow-shaped leaves, with species like Arum maculatum being common representatives.
Caladium plants have vibrant and colorful heart-shaped leaves, which come in a variety of patterns and shades.
Calla lilies are elegant plants with trumpet-shaped flowers that come in a range of colors, known for their long-lasting blooms and graceful appearance.
Colocasia: Another group of plants known as elephant ears, with similar features to Alocasia but with distinct differences.
Dieffenbachia, also called Dumb Cane, is a genus of tropical plants with large, variegated leaves, commonly grown as houseplants for their lush foliage.
Epipremnum, commonly known as pothos or devil’s ivy, is a group of vining plants with heart-shaped leaves, highly popular as easy-to-grow indoor plants due to their adaptability and trailing growth habit.
Monstera is a group of plants known for their iconic fenestrated leaves, which have unique holes or splits, giving them a distinctive and tropical appearance, with Monstera deliciosa being the most well-known species.
Philodendron is a large genus with a wide variety of leaf shapes, sizes, and colors, ranging from vine-like to shrubby forms.
Spathiphyllum: Peace lilies are a well-known group of aroids characterized by their elegant, lance-shaped leaves and white spathes surrounding the spadix.
Syngonium plants are commonly called arrowhead plants for their arrow-shaped leaves. Their attractive foliage patterns make them popular choices for indoor settings and hanging baskets.
Zamioculcas: ZZ plants are known for their attractive, glossy, dark green leaves. They are a popular choice for indoor cultivation due to its tolerance of low light conditions and ability to withstand drought.
Now that you can recognize your favorite aroids it’s time to start learning about their soil preferences. First you need to know a little about what the different soil ingredients are.
Soil components and their functions
All good soil mixes are a blend of components that retain moisture, provide nutrients, give structure
Its important for any soil mix to have some porous material that can house bacteria and fungi that are essential for soil health. Just like in your gut, soil needs a microbiome to keep it healthy and act a defense against unwanted bacterial and fungal infections. Charcoal (especially bio-char), vermiculite and volcanic pebbles are perfect for this.
The components commonly used in aroid soil mixes each serve different functions to create a suitable growing medium for these plants. Here’s a breakdown of the functions provided by each component:
| Component | Function | |
|---|---|---|
 | Coco peat/coco coir/coco husk (coconut coir) | It helps with moisture retention while still allowing for adequate drainage. It also adds structure to the soil, enhances aeration, and provides organic matter. |
 | Sphagnum moss | Sphagnum moss is another moisture-retaining component that helps increase water holding capacity. It also provides aeration, helps prevent compaction, and contributes to the overall structure of the soil mix. |
 | Perlite | Perlite is a lightweight, volcanic glass material that improves drainage and aeration in the soil mix. It helps prevent soil compaction, allows for better root development, and reduces the risk of root rot from overwatering. |
 | Coarse sand | Coarse sand improves drainage when added to aroid soil mixes. It helps create air pockets in the soil, preventing waterlogging and enhancing oxygen availability to the roots. |
 | Fine sand | Fine sand can be used sparingly in aroid soil mixes to improve drainage, although it should be used with caution as too much sand can lead to excessive dryness and poor water retention. |
 | Orchid bark | Orchid bark is a potting mix designed for orchids and is often included in aroid soil mixes, particularly for epiphytic aroids. It provides good drainage, aeration, and mimics the natural habitat of epiphytic aroids that grow on trees. |
 | Vermiculite | Vermiculite is a mineral that retains moisture while still promoting good drainage. It helps to create a well-balanced soil mix by improving water retention and nutrient availability. |
 | Worm castings/ Vermicompost | Earthworm castings, or vermicompost, are basically worm poop. They enrich the soil mix with organic matter and provide essential nutrients for plant growth. They enhance soil fertility, improve soil structure, and promote microbial activity. |
 | Organic compost | Compost is another organic matter component that contributes to soil fertility. It provides nutrients, improves moisture retention, and enhances overall soil health. Organic compost can be from organic plant matter, seaweed and/or animal manures. |
 | Charcoal | Horticultural charcoal is used in some indoor aroid soil mixes to improve drainage and absorb impurities. It helps prevent soil odor and prevents waterlogging by keeping the soil aerated. |
 | Volcanic rock | Volcanic rock, such as pumice or lava rock, improves drainage and aeration in potting mixes. It also adds stability to the soil mix. |
How to prepare your aroid soil mix
Preparing your aroid soil mix is a simple process that you can do in just a few steps. Here’s how:
1. Gather your ingredients: Depending on which recipe you choose, you will need a variety of materials, including peat moss, perlite, orchid bark, coarse sand, coconut coir, and worm castings.
2. Measure and mix: Measure out the ingredients according to the recipe you have chosen and mix them together thoroughly.
3. Pot your aroids: Use the soil mix to pot your aroids, making sure to provide enough room for the roots to grow.
Types of aroids and their soil preferences
A specialized soil mix for aroids can provide a number of benefits, including:
1. Improved drainage: Aroids prefer a well-draining soil mix that allows excess water to move through the soil easily. This prevents the roots from becoming waterlogged and helps to prevent root rot.
2. Enhanced aeration: Aroids require good air circulation around the roots to prevent them from suffocating. A specialized soil mix can provide the necessary aeration for healthy root growth.
3. Optimal nutrient uptake: Aroids require a variety of nutrients to grow and thrive. A specialized soil mix can provide the necessary nutrients in the right proportions for optimal plant growth.
By using a specialized soil mix for your aroids, you can ensure that your plants are getting the best possible growing conditions.
Many aroids are common houseplants and you’ll find them in homes, workplaces and hotels around the world. However, to ensure that these plants grow to their full potential, it is important to provide them with the right soil mixture. You can work out what the best mix for your aroid plant is by studying how it grows in its natural environment.
Best soil mix for terrestrial aroids
A terrestrial aroid refers to an aroid plant species that naturally grows in the ground, primarily in soil or other terrestrial substrates. Terrestrial aroids grow on the floor of tropical rainforests and jungles, so they are used to a fairly moist environment that is full of natural fertilizers from all the decomposing fallen leaves on the rainforest floor. These aroids like a rich soil mixture with lots of organic matter and some structural components that allow water to drain and provide good aeration around the plant’s roots.
Examples of terrestrial aroids include certain species of Philodendron, Alocasia, Colocasia, and Anthurium.
Classic terrestrial aroid mix
The classic aroid soil mix is a tried-and-true recipe that aroid gardeners have sworn by for many years. This mix provides good drainage, aeration, and nutrient retention for aroids. Here’s how to make it:
- 2 parts leaf compost or vermicompost
- 1 part perlite or volcanic rock
- 1 part orchid bark
Mix the ingredients together thoroughly and use it to pot your aroids. This soil mix is suitable for a variety of aroid species, including Philodendrons, Anthuriums, and Monsteras.
Aroid propagation mix with coconut coir for terrestrial aroids
Coconut coir is a sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternative to peat moss and sphagnum moss. It comes from the fibrous husk of coconut shells and provides excellent water retention and nutrient absorption. Here’s how to make an aroid soil mix with coconut coir:
- 2 parts coconut coir
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part worm castings or compost
First, soak the coconut coir in water for an hour then drain. Next mix the ingredients together thoroughly and use it as a propagation mix or the first time you pot up your aroid cuttings that have rooted in water or via layering. This soil mix is ideal for propagating aroids that require good moisture retention, such as terrestrial aroids.
Best soil mix for epiphytic aroids
Epiphytic aroids are a group of aroid plants that naturally grow on other plants, such as trees, or rocks, without relying on soil as their primary source of nutrients. These plants typically have specialized adaptations, like a long and trailing root system, that allow them to gather moisture and nutrients from the air and rainwater. They are accustomed to a slightly drier environment with more airflow around them. These aroids like a loose chunky soil mix with lots of larger particles, as well as some organic matter to provide nutrients without holding too much moisture.
Here are a few examples of epiphytic aroids:
- Epipremnum aureum (Pothos): Pothos is a popular epiphytic aroid with heart-shaped leaves that come in various shades of green, yellow, or variegated patterns.
- Rhaphidophora tetrasperma (Mini Monstera): Despite its common name, the mini monstera is not a true monstera but belongs to the Rhaphidophora genus. It features deeply divided leaves resembling those of Monstera deliciosa but on a smaller scale.
- Anthurium species: While some Anthurium species are terrestrial, many are epiphytic in nature. Anthurium andraeanum is a popular epiphytic species known for its colorful spathes and glossy, heart-shaped leaves.
- Philodendron species: Several Philodendron species are epiphytic and can be found in tropical rainforests. Philodendron hederaceum (Heart-leaf Philodendron) and Philodendron bipinnatifidum (Selloum) are examples of epiphytic Philodendron species.
- Monstera adansonii: Also known as Swiss cheese vine or monkey mask, this epiphytic aroid has fenestrated leaves with distinctive holes and is often grown as a hanging or climbing plant.
Epiphytic aroid soil mix with orchid bark
Orchid bark is a popular ingredient in many soil mixes for aroids. It is made from the bark of trees and provides excellent drainage and aeration. Here’s how to make an aroid soil mix with orchid bark:
- 2 parts orchid bark
- 1 part compost or vermicompost
- 1 part perlite or volcanic rock
Mix the ingredients together thoroughly and use it to pot your aroids. This soil mix is ideal for aroids that prefer a well-draining soil mix, such as Anthuriums or Philodendrons.
Aroid propagation mix with coarse sand for epiphytic aroids
Orchid bark is a popular ingredient in many soil mixes for aroids but it isn’t suitable as a propagation medium. Plants that are still developing need finer particles for support until the root system has matured. Coarse sand is a good substitute that still allows for water drainage and aeration. Here’s how to make an aroid propagation mix with coarse sand:
- 2 parts compost or vermicompost
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part coarse sand
Mix the ingredients together thoroughly and use it as a propagation mix or the first time you pot up your aroid cuttings that have rooted in water or via layering.
Other aroid soil mix customizations
Aroids with really large leaves lose a lot of moisture to transpiration, so they need a soil mix that can retain moisture without being too wet. Alocasia macrorrhiza and several Colocasias fall into this category. Add 1/2 to 1 part sphagnum moss or coco coir if your aroid has extra large leaves.
You can add charcoal or bio-char to any of these soil mixes. It is a particularly good addition to propagation mixes as it will absorb unwanted chemicals and toxins from the soil mix. If you are using it in a propagation mix make sure that you crush it up a bit first. It can stay chunky if it is going into a regular potting soil mix. You don’t need much, 1/4 to 1/2 part is enough.
Fine sand can be used instead of coarse sand in a propagation mix. If you are doing this, reduce it to 1/2 part and increase the perlite by 1/2 part.
Conclusion
Aroids are beautiful and fascinating plants that require the right growing conditions to thrive. By using a specialized soil mix for your aroids, you can provide the necessary drainage, aeration, and nutrients for optimal plant growth. Whether you choose a classic mix of compost and perlite or a more exotic blend of coconut coir and worm castings, these soil mix recipes are sure to provide your aroids with the ideal growing conditions. So, go ahead and give them a try – your plants will thank you for it!
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