This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
All pothos plants should be planted in a soil mix with well-draining properties and a slightly acidic pH. The size of your Pothos and the type of container it has been planted in does not affect the soil type, as long as your container has drainage holes and well aerates soil with enough nutrients.
Whether you’re looking to repot your Pothos, or propagate a new one, continue reading to find out how to choose the correct kind of soil pothos and help your Pothos thrive!
What To Keep In Mind When Choosing A Soil Mix
The soil mixes for Pothos are really straightforward and simple. You don’t need to study the science behind it, and you just need to keep some things in mind when choosing your soil mix.
There are six critical things to keep in mind when you’re choosing a soil mix for your Pothos:
Choose A Nutrient-Rich Soil Mix
Providing your Pothos with a nutrient-rich coil is essential as Pothos are very fast-growing plants.
Thus, they will absorb most of the nutrient supplements they need from their soil.
Making sure your soil mix is full of nutrients will significantly boost your pothos’ growth, which is very important if you plan on repotting or propagating your Pothos.
Choose A Soil With Well-Draining Properties
One of the most common problems owners of houseplants experience is overwatering. Most gardeners and plant lovers tend to smother their plants with water as a sign of love, which almost always results in overwatering.
Overwatering could lead to many problems, especially if your pothos’ soil is heavy and the water has a difficult time passing through.
It would help if you kept in mind that your soil has to be well-draining, and the water needs to be able to pass through freely.
If you do not ensure well-draining soil for your Pothos, you may notice problems like root rot, droopy leaves, and more.
Choose A Soil That Can Retain Moisture And Has Aeration
Water retention and aeration capacity of your soil are also essential for the successful growth of your Pothos.
If your soil is tightly packed and does not allow the roots of your Pothos to breathe, it may suffer from stunted growth. This is why adding something for the aeration of the soil is crucial.
While your Pothos won’t like remaining wet at all times, they won’t want to be left out to dry as well. If your chosen soil mix dries out fairly quickly, your Pothos may struggle to grow sufficiently and thrive.
You may see signs of brown leaves or leaves curling as well. This is when you know that you need to add something into your soil mix to retain a bit of moisture.
Choose A High-Quality Soil Mix
When you need to choose the best soil for your Pothos, you would want to make sure your soil mix is of the best quality and that it will be good enough to meet all the requirements of your Pothos.
The quality of the soil does not always have something to do with whether it’s organic or not organic or what ingredients it consists of.
The best quality pothos soil mic would be the one that not only allows your Pothos to thrive but one that is also able to provide it with enough nutrients and water.
Read Reviews Of Other People With Pothos’ Plants
Before jumping right into buying or making a soil mix for your Pothos, it might be a good idea to spend some time surfing the web first.
Dozens of potting mixes can be found and purchased on the internet, along with recipes you can follow to make your own. Always make sure to read reviews of actual people and consider them.
When reading other people’s experiences, you will be able to see everything you can expect from a product or a specific soil mix. You can then compare the good and the bad and read about anything else you can do for your Pothos to maximize their growth.
For precisely this reason, it is always advised that you read other people’s reviews and engage in several gardening forums because they will most likely provide you with insight and really amazing pieces of advice!
How Much Soil Does Pothos Need
The amount of soil your Pothos need will ultimately depend on the size of the root ball. It goes without saying that the amount of soil you will need will also depend on the size of your pot, which depends on the size of your plant.
Pothos will most likely not require repotting very often, and it will thrive in a smaller pot with up to ten inches of soil. A pot that can handle at least ten inches of soil will keep your pothos’ a smaller size and prevent them from growing too large for your indoor area.
However, it will still provide your Pothos with more than enough room to grow. Generally, if your Pothos needs to be repotted, you can go up a pot size of approximately two inches, adding two inches of soil to your existing soil mix.
Only move your Pothos to a bigger pot with more soil if their roots begin to block the drainage holes or if your plant starts to lift from the existing soil.
The best type of pot and soil ratio would be achieved in a relatively shallow pot, as a shallow pot will offer your Pothos the chance to grow thicker, and it will look much healthier and fuller in general.
What Type Of Soil Is Best For My Pothos Plant?
All different types of pothos plants will do best in well-draining soil.
Soil mixtures without enough air pockets or otherwise compacted soil can keep your Pothos’s roots too wet, resulting in root rot, especially if your Pothos is kept as an indoor plant.
Both soil and soil-free soil mixtures containing perlite, vermiculite, or peat moss will be best for your pothos plant. Pothos plants do not favor sitting in water, and their pots have to have enough drainage holes.
If your pothos plant sits in water for extended periods, it will suffer severe root rot, and many plants fail to survive.
Well-Draining Soil Types
The composition of your soil will determine how much water the soil can hold and how much water can drain away. Small and dense particles in the soil, such as clay, for example, will almost entirely prevent water from being absorbed into the soil mix.
Then, once the water has been absorbed, this kind of soil will hold the water for much longer and will not drain well.
More significant particles that are more loosely spaced in the soil, such as silt or sand, will slow for the water to move through the soil and drain much more quickly.
The types of soil that drain well include silt, sandy, as well as a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, which is called loam soil.
Mixing Your Own/Making Your Own Pothos Potting Soil
You can either buy premixed soil or make your own! Either of these soils has to be lightweight, not dense, and full of air space.
A soil consisting of all these properties will allow for efficient drainage and absorption.
You will, however, need a well-balanced mixture of ingredients for adequate nutrition and drainage.
A good and well-balanced combination contains most or even all of the following ingredients:
Perlite – a mineral that occurs naturally that retains its shape, absorbs water quickly, and has enough pockets for air to pass through.
Sand – Sand can be used for extra air pockets and drainage abilities.
Peat moss – a partially decomposed layer of soil that can be found in bogs and is one of the best ingredients for oxygen retention and water retention.
Vermiculite – hydrated minerals that are used for nutrient and water absorption and also aerate your soil.
Compost – compost will add nutrients to your existing soil but should only be used for outdoor plants.
Shredded bark– will add to air pockets and drainage.
Coco coir – an organic compound that is found in the coconut tree. It will add to the water retention, absorbency, as well as drainage, and it can also be used as a substitute for peat moss.
Mixing your own soil for your Pothos plant is not only very beneficial, but some of the best gardeners, in fact, recommend it. Mixing your own soil will save you on costs, and you will have more at your disposal.
Pothos Soil Mix Recipe
A soil mix recipe for your Pothos that is well-draining while providing a reasonable exchange of air is very straightforward to make! Let’s take a look at the ideal recipe:
1 part shredded bark
1 part vermiculite or sand
2 parts perlite
4 parts coco coir or peat moss
If you decide on making your own soil mixture for your pothos plant, be sure to test the pH level before exposing your Pothos to it. Pothos plants aren’t incredibly picky plants, but they prefer the pH levels between 6.1 and 6.5.
Pre-Made Mix For Pothos
The more convenient and more popular option for your soil mix would be to purchase a high-quality soil mix from your local garden center. Be sure to look for soil mixes that contain perlite for enough aeration.
Many readily available potting soil mixes are soilless, which means that they are sterile. This will keep any fungi and pests away from your Pothos.
Soilless mixes are an excellent option if you’re looking for moisture absorption, but they fail to provide organic nutrients for your Pothos. You will need to add these yourself.
Do Pothos Like Acidic Soil?
Pothos plants prefer mildly acidic soil with a pH value of 6 to 6.5. if your soil is too far out of the ideal pH range, you don’t have to worry too much.
However, you should ensure that your pH levels aren’t too high, as it could result in severe damage to your Pothos’ roots and could even kill them.
If you want to raise your pH level, you can add coffee grounds to your soil.
Do Pothos Like Cactus Soil
Pothos plants do not like cactus soil, and you should never use this type of soil for your Pothos. This is because cactus soil can not effectively retain moisture for long enough.
With this being said, you can, however, alter your cactus soil by adding some compost and peat moss. This will work effectively, as pothos plants prefer their soil to be moist, whereas cactus plants prefer their soil to be dry.
Adding compost and peat moss to a cactus soil will provide the soil with more moisture, as well as nutrients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Pothos Soil Go Bad?
Potting soil can go bad after several years of sitting around and not being used. However, old Pothos soil can be salvaged and used if the gardener is willing to do a bit of potting soil rejuvenation.
Pothos soil can be used after the pH has been corrected, the draining capabilities bettered, and nutrients have been put back into the soil.
How Moist Should The Soil Be For A Pothos Plant?
As a usual rule, you should constantly water your pothos plant once every week during the warmer summer months.
You should scale down on watering to once every two weeks during the colder winter months. Keep the soil of your Pothos moist and be cautious of overwatering.
Your Pothos will thrive and grow rapidly if you allow the soil to dry out between waterings completely.
Can You Use Succulent Soil For Pothos?
While most of your standard houseplant soil mixer can effectively grow your Pothos, you should avoid potting your Pothos in succulent soil.
This is because succulent soil is specially formulated for cacti and succulents. Succulent soils will drain too fast and won’t retain any of the moisture your Pothos plant will need.