10 Best Potting Soils – Reviews & Buying Guide

Best Potting Soil

Health and growth of a plant majorly depends on the soil used while cultivating it. The soil mixture should be infused with the materials that can provide great nourishment to the greens and ensure healthy growth.

For different kinds of plants, different potting soils are now available in the market. Best potting soil is the one that is fluffy and can hold moisture for the longest period so that it can create right balance of nutrition, air, and moisture.

For the goodness and health of your plants, here we are going to discuss some of the finest potting soils in the market. Let’s see:

10 Best Potting Soils - Reviews

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Product Name

Rating

Current Price

FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil

1. FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil

4.4

Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix

2. Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix

4.2

Black Gold 1310102 8-Quart All Purpose Potting Soil with Control

3. Black Gold 1310102 8-Quart All Purpose Potting Soil with Control

4.4

Big Rootz All Purpose Potting Soil

4. Big Rootz All Purpose Potting Soil

4.5

Michigan Peat 1225 Baccto Premium Potting Soil

5. Michigan Peat 1225 Baccto Premium Potting Soil

4.2

Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix

6. Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix

4.1

SpongEase Potting Soil

7. SpongEase Potting Soil

4.1

Miracle-Gro Potting Mix

8. Miracle-Gro Potting Mix

4.2

Miracle-Gro 70551430 All-Purpose Garden Soil

9. Miracle-Gro 70551430 All-Purpose Garden Soil

4.0

Organic Harvest Potting Mix Soil

10. Organic Harvest Potting Mix Soil

3.5

#1. FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil

Editor's Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (4.4 / 5)

FoxFarm FX14053 12-Quart Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil

To begin with, we have got the FoxFarm organic potting soil which is ideal for containerized plantings i.e. all the plants that are grown in a container or pot.

Mostly, small houses with balcony gardens or small terrace gardens use this soil for the growth of their plants and the product does quite well with the growth of the plants as well.

The soil consists of powerhouse blend of premium earthworm castings, bat guano and pacific northwest sea going fish and crab meal which makes the soil more fertile.

Other than that, you will find composted forest humus, sandy loam, and sphagnum peat moss which means you can expect so much out of this product.

For indoor gardening, this one is a highly suggested soil mix. The pack is solid and does not invite flies to it.

For all kind of indoor plantation, this soil is amazing. It gives enough moisture to the plant for perfect growth in very less time.

Also, unlike many other soils, this one does not cause pungent smell inside the house. The quantity is also sufficient for average sized planters. This one is the best organic potting soil in our list.

Pros:

  • Very fertile
  • Does not attract flies
  • Does not cause any bad odour inside the house
  • Economical

Cons:

  • Takes time for plant growth and demand regular care

#2. Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix

Editor's Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (4.2 / 5)

Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix

Plants like cactus and other succulents require special soil mix for their healthy and quality growth. Also, these plants require better drainage than any other garden plant that is why they are majorly grown in a pot and not a garden.

Hoffman is the best potting soil brand that offer finest soil mixes for all kind of plants. This one however is solely for succulents. This one has 50% sand to make the soil fast in draining.

Considering the needs of succulents and cactus plant, the soil is mixed with organic materials and thus, the healthy growth of the plant is ensured.

This one is professionally formulated for the use with forest as well as desert cacti. However, we highly suggest to place the plant in clay pot to make draining faster and convenient because clay pots are best in swift draining.

This one is a ready to use product and also, the instructions of using the soil from the beginning are mentioned on the label of the pack. This helps in right potting of the plant.

The soil is available in sufficient quantity and this one has give great growth from aloe to spider plants to shady water loving plants.

Pros:

  • Economical
  • Good drainage
  • Best for succulents
  • Ph Balanced

Cons:

  • Fertilizers could have been better

#3. Black Gold 1310102 8-Quart All Purpose Potting Soil with Control

Editor's Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (4.4 / 5)

Black Gold 1310102 8-Quart All Purpose Potting Soil with Control

Black Gold is a great potting soil mix that can be used for all kind of plants in the house. Let us tell you that this one is in small quantity so you must use it for smaller pots only.

But, this one is a high quality mix that comprise of worm castings, pumice, forest humus and Canadian sphagnum peat moss which makes the soil highly fertile and fructifying.

This one contains all the major nutrients that you plant may need at all growth stages. The presence of MultiCote helps in controlling the release of fertilizer in the soil.

It delivers slow release of fertilizer to the plant and ensure the health and growth while making the plant extremely strong.

The soil is ideal for small plants, hanging pots, house plants, indoor plants, and patio containers because of small quantity.

This one is a nutrient rich multipurpose mix that is great with different kinds of plants. So, basically this one is all purpose soil that your plants will simply love.

Pros:

  • Ideal for routine domestic usage
  • All purpose soil for different kinds of plants
  • Great with indoor plants as well
  • High quality mix

Cons:

  • Small quantity
  • Expensive

#4. Big Rootz All Purpose Potting Soil

Editor's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

Big Rootz All Purpose Potting Soil

Big Rootz is known for highly fertile and perfect soil mixes for the benefit of your plants. The brand has come up with this amazing new soil that is high in delivering best results.

The composition of the soil is done with peat, triple washed coir, warm casting and compost. In short, the soil is high fertile and ensure best growth of the plants.

Other than that, this one is pH adjusted and enriched with mycorrhizae to ensure best root growth and enhance the quality of the plant.

Read More: 10 Best Soil Test Kits to Check pH, Nutrients and Moisturers

The soil is great with the novice gardeners as it is light in usage and show great results in very less time. This one is an all purpose soil that is great with outdoor as well as different kinds of indoor plants.

You can also add it to the greenhouse growth along with the existing soil for better growth because the soil is highly fertile. The brand is extremely strict when it comes to the quality checks of the soils.

This soil has also undergone stringent quality checks to ensure that only natural sourcing is done while creating the mix and high end product is delivered to the customers.

This one is a high quality potting soil, ideal for all kinds of plants and flowers that you wish to have in the house.

Pros:

  • Adjusted pH level
  • All-purpose soil
  • Best to enhance your gardening skills
  • Undergo strict quality checks from the brand

Cons:

  • The amount of fertilizers should be more

#5. Michigan Peat 1225 Baccto Premium Potting Soil

Editor's Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (4.2 / 5)

Michigan Peat 1225 Baccto Premium Potting Soil

If you are looking for top rated potting soil then this one is the perfect fit for your needs. With a highly fertile soil, you can ensure rapid and heathy growth of your plants.

This soil mix has got all the essential qualities that you want from the garden or pot soil. This one is ready to use soil that you can simply take out of the bag and put in the pot.

Since the soil has fertilizers, you don’t have to separately bring them and add to it. The slow release fertilizers give an extra kick to the plants at starting stage.

The composition of the soil is done with reed sedge peat, perlite, sand, limestone, and other ingredients that ensure quality growth of the plants.

The recommended applications with this soil are house planting, root cuttings, germinating seeds, bulbs, window boxes, potted plants, etc.

This one is premium quality soil for all kinds of plants whether they are indoor or outdoors. That is why we can declare this to be the best potting soil for indoor plants.

Pros:

  • High quality soil
  • Slow release fertilizers
  • Great for professional use
  • Excellent with indoor plants

Cons:

  • Expensive

#6. Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix

Editor's Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (4.1 / 5)

Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix

Espoma AP8 is a good potting soil with a lot of great qualities to ensure healthy plant growth. This one can be used for both indoor and outdoor purposes.

Mixed with nutrients, this soil is your plant’s best friend as it is infused with various organic materials. With all the necessary ingredients, your plantation will not only grow but thrive while giving you bumper harvest.

Furthermore, the soil mix is Myco tone formula retains sufficient water so that plants get enough moisture that is needed by them and give you best growth.

Also, because of this formula, it is secured that you don’t use massive amount of water while irrigating the plants.

Also, the formula utilizes up to 11 mycorrhizae strains to increase the speed of plant growth as well keeping them as stress free as possible. This also helps in changing the container of the plant.

The soil will ensure that plant gets at least 7% nitrogen, 2% potash, and 2% phosphate. So, as you can see, this one is great in performance and provide amazing plant growth.

Pros:

  • Ensure amazing growth
  • Myco-tone formula to retain water
  • Rapid plant growth

Cons:

  • Expensive

#7. SpongEase Potting Soil

Editor's Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (4.1 / 5)

SpongEase Potting Soil

Next in our potting soil review we have got soil mix from SpongEase. This one is another highly fertile soil mix that can ensure rapid and fruitful growth of the plants.

Basically, this one acts like a sponge that absorbs right balance of nutrients, water, and oxygen to create a soil that has high tendency to grow plants seamlessly.  

The brand uses natural coconut fibres during the composition of the mix. Basically, the organic and natural fibres safeguard that plant receive sufficient amount of oxygen and prevent rotting.

This one is an organic soil to ensure that your plants are fed with all the natural and healthy ingredients and their growth is safeguarded.

And due to the fact that the soil is not only for one time use i.e. it is reusable, you will be able to save more money on the purchase of next batch.

This mix is an all purpose soil with added fertilizers to ensure good growth of different plants in the house. Once you start using this, you will hardly feel the need to change the soil.

Pros:

  • Rot free
  • Does not attract flies
  • All-purpose soil
  • Highly economical

Cons:

  • Fertilizers could have been better

#8. Miracle-Gro Potting Mix

Editor's Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (4.2 / 5)

Miracle-Gro Potting Mix

Miracle-Gro give you this amazing mixture of soil to help you grow plants twice as big from the usual growth of the plants. Also, this soil can feed the plants for up to 6 months.

Infused with organic materials and high quality nutrients for the beautiful and bountiful growth of flowers, vegetables, and plants.

Ideally, this soil provide anchorage and support to the roots and also provide great drainage, airflow, and nutrients to ensure healthy growth of the plants.  

This mix may require some extra care like regular fertilizer feeding and water supply but its results are spectacular.

This one is ideal for indoor and outdoor usage. We can say that this is the best potting soil for flowers because it has got all the essential nutrients that retains the quality growth of plants.

If compared with the unfed plants, the blooms grown with this soil are brighter in colour, healthier and grows rapidly.

Pros:

  • Rapid plant growth
  • Perfect drainage
  • Healthy growth

Cons:

  • No added fertilizers

#9. Miracle-Gro 70551430 All-Purpose Garden Soil

Editor's Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

Miracle-Gro 70551430 All-Purpose Garden Soil

Next in our list is this another soil mix from Miracle-Gro. This one has also got finest composition of nutrients that will help in beautiful growth of the plants.

The soil ensures perfect balance of moisture, air, and nutrients. This unique formulation has perfect pH level and can be used for any kind of plantation.

The composition of this soil is done with pertile, fertilizers, peat moss that safeguards rich growth of any kind of plant.  

Also, if you wish to improve the quality of your existing soil then this mix will be greatly beneficial in that case as well.

And the fact that this soil will be able to feed the plants for 3 months, this is a great purchase for every kind of cultivation.

For best results with different kinds of cultivation, you may have to use other blends for growing vegetables and herbs.

This mix contains 21% of nitrogen, 11% phosphate, and 16% potash that can safeguard quality health of the plants.

Pros:

  • Capable for all kind of plants
  • Best with indoor plants
  • Ensure luscious growth
  • Rapid growth

Cons:

  • Expensive

#10. Organic Harvest Potting Mix Soil

Editor's Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5)

Organic Harvest Potting Mix Soil

Last in our list is this great soil mix from Organic Harvest which is capable of giving excellent cultivation, especially to the households. This mix is basically the most environment-friendly potting soil.

The growth with this soil is very healthy. The lightweight and porous soil helps in excellent penetration of the roots while providing great air circulation and water drainage.

The soil is ideal for pot growth because the quantity that is available in each pack is only limited for a pot.  

You are suggested to soak the plant’s root ball and wet the soil in a bucket of water. This is a preparatory step and also prevent the soil to dry out too soon.

Irrespective of the plant type, you will find this mix very helpful, infused with fertilizers that genuinely performs well with different kind of plantation.

Pros:

  • Well fertilized
  • Excellent root penetration
  • Ideal with different plants and vegetables

Cons:

  • Require a lot of maintenance

How to Buy the Best Potting Soils

How to Buy Best Potting Soil

While picking the right potting soil for your plants, it is important to check some significant features. Here we are going to discuss the tips that will help you in making right choice.

#1. Organic vs. Non Organic 

So, by far you must have understood that potting soils are available in two prime forms. Let’s discuss each type below:

1. Organic: The organic soil is a preferred choice made by most of the buyers. One of the main reasons is that it is free from any kind of chemical usage, giving a perfect chance to the plants to grow on their own.

Also, in organic mixes, the nutrients are intact and the plants get to feed on the natural ingredients. Some of the common components of organic mixes are compost, fish meal, soybean, bone meal, mushroom compost, etc.

Read More: 10 Best Composters

You will only be able to get the best out of organic mix is by using organic soil as well for the plantation.

2. Non Organic: This one consist of various ingredients that are simply not natural. These are the regular potting mixes for the growth of the plants in houses.

It is made of combination of different ingredients such as vermiculite or pertile, peat moss, and bark. Different potting soils are available in various combinations and amount of nutrients and minerals.

Also, in some non organic potting soils, Styrofoam is blended for the creation of extra space for water and air.

Well, the difference among both these types is of the cost. Non organic soils are cheaper and mostly made of industrial products. Organic on the other hand are expensive and reusable.

#2. Air Circulation

To ensure perfect growth of plants, it is also important to understand that a plant require sufficient amount of air circulation as well. So, the responsibility of soil mix is to ensure that.

You should invest in light and fluffy soil because they can ensure best air circulation. At the same time, the soil must not be too dense on getting wet because this will restrict the growth of roots.

#3. Nutrients

It is in the properties of a good potting soil to be able to retain essential nutrients and moisture as these are two prime things needed by a plant to grow.

You are highly suggested to ensure the capability of the soil and then invest in any kind of organic or non organic soil.

This can be determined by reading the list of items mentioned in the cover of the soil. For example: non organic mix peat moss helps in retaining moisture in high concentration.

For soil, to be able to retain moisture and nutrients flags better growth of the plants.

#4. Density

Another crucial element that one must consider is the density of the soil and you must check that it is accurate for the healthy growth of plant.

This can be easily tested by poking the finger inside the soil and check for it. The soil should not be very soft or very hard. This will hamper the plant growth.

In the hard soil, the roots will feel suffocated and won’t get enough room for the root growth. One other way to check the soil density is by picking the bag of soil.

Extremely heavy bags are full of fillers and not ideal for good plantation or any kind of plants.

Conclusion

So, as we conclude our review, there are few things that we would like to remind you about the products. Well, first of all, careful purchase will always save you more money.

So, to be safe with your purchase, you must read the tips that we shared above. Now, about the products, let us tell you that we have sorted these products after reviewing many others in the market.

These are safe purchases and give full value of money. So, go ahead and make your purchase.

Happy Shopping!

Last Updated on January 17, 2019 by

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Tom Bradly
 

My entrepreneurial journey started in 2006, when I dropped out of university. I wanted to work with my hands, to build things. Now I mix my background with computers with my first-hand experience with woodworking to provide insights into the tools I like best. I love everything about woodworking and have been building stuff for over 20 years of my life. I hope to pass some knowledge and expertise. See more at TomBradly.com

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