With longer spells of sunshine and the end of winter in sight, it has got us excited about repotting our plants. Repotting is best done in spring when the plant is starting to grow more rapidly, giving it more room and a boost of nutrients to aid the growth.
We thought we’d explore 3 of Soil.Ninja’s most popular potting mixes to find out a bit more of what goes into them and why they receive rave reviews. Soil Ninja burst onto the houseplant scene in 2020 and have quickly become the go-to soil experts with their peat-free blends catering to specific houseplant varieties.
Monstera and Philodendron blend
Soil.Ninja Monstera and Philodendron blend
One for the Aroids. Plants in the Aroid family are some of the most popular houseplants for their big leafy jungle look. They love an airy mix, replicating their natural habitat where they climb on trees rather than being bedded down into soil, so there’s lots of bark and pumice in here to get plenty of air to the roots as they would have in the wild. In case you are inclined to over-water, the helpful team at Soil Ninja have added activated charcoal to the mix, to help stop the risk the root rot.
As well as Monsteras and Philodendrons other plants that will love this include Pothos varieties, ZZ plants, and Rhapidophora tetrasperma to name a few.
2. Calathea and Maranta blend
Soil.Ninja Calathea and Maranta blend
Calathea and Maranta varieties are so popular for their stunning leaves, however Calathea in particular can be real drama queens! They are native to rainforest floors, so like indirect light, humid, moist and warm conditions which can be tricky to replicate in our homes. Soil.Ninja’s perfected blend is great for thirsty plants with added vermiculite which retains water (unlike perlite which is great for aeration). The activated charcoal in this mix works to combat our tap water chemicals that calathea and maranta don’t like and is often the cause (alongside too dry an atmosphere) to brown tips to the leaves.
Other thirsty plants like Fittonia could benefit from this soil blend too.
3. Semi-Hydro blend
Soil.Ninja Semi-Hydro blend
No soil in sight here! This is a mix of volcanic rock particles which are extremely porous, allowing water to wick up through the mixture to the roots. This means you can use a reservoir of water to let the plant take just the water it needs. No more overwatering! Many houseplant enthusiasts love to use the semi-hydro method for propagation as well as long-term growing without the need for soil. Our Intro to Semi-hydro blog explains all about the pros, cons, and how to of soilless growing.
For lots more information on Soil.Ninja’s special blends and which plants to use with which blend, visit their website or come and shop from them at one of our markets - we’ll keep you posted via our social media as to where and when they’ll be joining us!