Troubleshooting
Fungus Gnat Larvae: What They Look Like and How to Kill Them
Fungus gnat larvae live in the top few centimetres of soil and eat roots. Here is how to confirm you have them and the treatments that actually clear them.
Topic
Soil
Every guide tagged Soil, gathered in one place.
Plant Care
Perlite vs Vermiculite: Which One Your Houseplants Need
Perlite adds drainage and air, vermiculite holds water and nutrients. They do opposite jobs, so the right choice depends on the plant in front of you.
Plant Care
The Best Soil Mix for a Monstera (and a Simple Recipe)
Monstera roots want a chunky, fast draining aroid mix rather than plain potting soil; here is a simple recipe and what each ingredient does.
Troubleshooting
Hydrophobic Potting Soil: Why Water Runs Straight Through the Pot
When water races out the drainage holes in seconds and the plant still droops, the soil has gone hydrophobic. How to rewet it properly and stop it recurring.
Plant Care
LECA vs Perlite for Houseplants: Which to Use and When
What LECA and perlite each do, why one replaces soil and the other improves it, and which suits semi-hydro, drainage, and propagation.
Plant Care
Best Bagged Potting Soil for Indoor Plants: 4 Picks
Four bagged potting soil picks for indoor plants, with the peat content named for each, plus how to read a bag and tell a good mix from a bad one in the aisle.
Troubleshooting
Springtails in Houseplant Soil: What They Are and What to Do
What springtails in houseplant soil actually are, why they appear, whether they harm plants, and the straightforward ways to reduce or remove them.
Plant Care
How to Choose the Right Potting Mix for Houseplants
A guide to houseplant potting mixes, explaining what good soil contains and how to match or amend it for different types of plants.
Troubleshooting
Fungus Gnats: How to Get Rid of Them for Good
Those tiny flies around your plants live and breed in damp topsoil. Here is how to dry them out, use BTI to kill the larvae, and keep them gone for good.
Plant Care
How to Repot a Houseplant Without Killing It
Repotting stresses a plant, but done right it sets up years of healthy growth. Go up one pot size only and repot in spring for the safest result.
Troubleshooting
Mushrooms and Mold in Houseplant Soil: Should You Worry?
What yellow mushrooms and white mold growing in houseplant soil actually mean, whether they harm your plant, and how to deal with them.