Why Standard Potting Soil Kills Rare Aroids: Our Greenhouse Substrate Recipe
- Lynn Adkison
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Most people buy a $100 Thai Constellation and put it in $10 "All-Purpose" soil. That’s a recipe for root rot in Georgia’s humidity. Standard soil holds too much water. Aroids (Monsteras, Philos) need "breathable" feet.
Even if you purchase an Aroid Potting Mix from a big name brand, odds are good you're getting something that contains peat, which holds a lot of water and can be detrimental to your tropical plants' roots. If you've ever lost a rare Philodendron to mushy, black roots within a month of bringing it home (or taking delivery of it) in Northeast Georgia, the culprit likely wasn't you - it was the dirt.
In our Flowery Branch Greenhouse, we learned the hard way that not all soils are created equal, and anything all-purpose is a death sentence for high-value tropicals in the Southeast. Our humidity is just too high - and with it oscillating faster than my night sweats fan - there's no way to control it, even in your house. To give our plants a 'Soft Landing', I've moved away from anything pre-mixed. I now annoy my husband by leaving coir dust all over his garage floor and using every empty storage container in the house for a custom, chunky aroid mix that prioritizes oxygen over everything else. Here's what's in it:
Coconut Coir (Sustainable moisture)
Orchid Bark (Structure/Air pockets)
Worm Castings (The "Good Stuff" nutrients)
Horticultural Charcoal (Filtration/Anti-rot)
Every plant we have listed in our inventory is already established in this mix, meaning you won't need to repot them for at least 6 months. Additionally, as part of our Greenhouse Grow Kits, you get a bag of our mix to establish your new cutting, whether you choose a Philodendron Painted Lady, a Monstera Deliciosa, or a Philodendron Brasil (love the vining colors!).
If you're interested in learning more about our aroid mix - as well as learning other pro tips for keeping your tropicals beautiful near Gainesville GA, download our Soft Landing Guide today!
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