DIY Potting Mix Recipe Philippines

Why Make Your Own Potting Mix?

DIY potting mix recipes save money and give you complete control over what goes into your plant containers. Store-bought potting mixes in the Philippines often cost 80 to 200 pesos for a small bag that fills only 2 to 3 pots. Making your own costs 40 to 60 per cent less and produces a better result because you tailor the blend to each plant's needs.

Commercial mixes are one-size-fits-all. Your snake plant needs a completely different mix than your orchid. Succulents need fast drainage while aroids want moisture retention. By mixing your own, you give every plant exactly what it needs. If you prefer the convenience of a ready-made blend, you can also buy our premixed potting mix delivered to your door.

Ingredients Guide

These ingredients are available at garden shops, hardware stores, and online marketplaces across the Philippines. Here is what each one does and where to find it.

• Loam soil - The base ingredient for most mixes. Provides nutrients and structure. Available from Urban Goes Green at 75 pesos per pack with same-day delivery across Metro Manila.
• Coco peat (coir) - Retains moisture while keeping the mix light. Made from coconut husks, widely available in the Philippines for 30 to 60 pesos per compressed brick. Soak in water before use.
• Rice hull (fresh or carbonised) - Improves drainage and aeration. Fresh rice hull is available from rice mills for 15 to 30 pesos per kilo. Carbonised rice hull (CRH) is lighter and pH neutral.
• Perlite - White volcanic glass that creates air pockets in the mix. Keeps soil loose and prevents compaction. Costs 80 to 150 pesos per litre at garden shops.
• Charcoal (activated or regular) - Absorbs toxins, prevents odours, and improves drainage. Crush into small pieces about 1 centimetre across. Regular cooking charcoal works and costs 20 to 40 pesos per kilo.
• Compost or vermicast - Adds organic nutrients and beneficial microbes. Vermicast is the premium choice at 50 to 100 pesos per kilo. Homemade compost works equally well.
• Coarse sand - Adds weight and drainage to succulent mixes. Construction sand works fine. Wash it thoroughly before use to remove salt and dust.

Recipe 1: General Purpose Potting Mix

This all-purpose mix works for most common houseplants including pothos, philodendron, peace lily, aglaonema, and snake plant. It balances moisture retention with good drainage.

• 2 parts loam soil
• 1 part coco peat
• 1 part rice hull (carbonised preferred)
• A handful of charcoal pieces per pot

Mix all ingredients in a large basin or bucket. Moisten the blend until it feels like a wrung-out sponge. This mix holds enough water for 5 to 7 days between waterings in the Philippine climate. Add a thin layer of charcoal at the bottom of each pot before filling with the mix for extra drainage.

Recipe 2: Succulent and Cactus Mix

Succulents and cacti need fast-draining soil that dries out completely between waterings. This gritty mix prevents root rot, the number one killer of succulents in the humid Philippines.

• 1 part loam soil
• 1 part coarse sand
• 1 part perlite
• A generous handful of charcoal pieces

This mix dries out within 2 to 3 days, which is exactly what succulents want. The sand adds weight to prevent pots from tipping over. The perlite creates air pockets that keep roots healthy. Use this mix for jade plants, echeveria, haworthia, aloe vera, and all cactus varieties.

Recipe 3: Orchid Potting Mix

Orchids are epiphytes that grow on tree bark in nature. Their roots need constant airflow and should never sit in soggy soil. This chunky mix mimics their natural growing conditions.

• 2 parts charcoal (crushed to 2-3 centimetre chunks)
• 1 part coconut husk chips
• 1 part perlite or pumice
• A small amount of sphagnum moss (optional, for moisture-loving orchids)

Do not use loam soil or coco peat in orchid mixes. These materials hold too much moisture and suffocate orchid roots. The chunks should be large enough to create visible air gaps between them. This mix works for phalaenopsis, dendrobium, vanda, and cattleya orchids. Water orchids in this mix every 3 to 5 days during the dry season.

Recipe 4: Seed Starting Mix

Seeds need a fine, light, sterile mix that stays evenly moist. Heavy soil crushes delicate seedling roots and harbours diseases that kill young plants.

• 2 parts coco peat (finely sifted)
• 1 part perlite (fine grade)
• 1 part vermicast

Sift all ingredients through a fine mesh to remove chunks. Mix thoroughly and moisten before filling seed trays. This blend holds moisture evenly without becoming waterlogged. The vermicast provides gentle nutrition that will not burn tender seedling roots. Use this mix for starting vegetables, herbs, and flower seeds. Transplant seedlings to the general purpose mix once they develop 2 to 3 true leaves.

Recipe 5: Aroid Mix

Aroids like monstera, philodendron, anthurium, and alocasia need a chunky, well-aerated mix that holds some moisture without staying soggy. This mix provides the perfect balance.

• 1 part loam soil
• 1 part coco peat
• 1 part perlite
• 1 part charcoal (crushed to 1-2 centimetre pieces)
• A handful of rice hull per pot

The chunky texture of this mix allows aroid roots to breathe while the coco peat holds enough moisture to prevent drought stress. Aroids in this blend need watering every 4 to 6 days in the Philippine climate. This mix works particularly well for expensive collector aroids like variegated monstera, philodendron gloriosum, and anthurium clarinervium.

Tips for Success

• Always moisten your mix before potting. Dry potting mix repels water initially. Pre-moistening ensures even water distribution from the first watering.
• Mix in large batches. Make enough mix for several pots at once. Store extra in a sealed container or plastic bag for up to 3 months.
• Sterilise garden soil before using. Spread loam soil on a tray and bake in the sun for 2 days or microwave damp soil for 2 minutes per kilogram to kill pests and weed seeds.
• Adjust for your environment. If your plants are in air-conditioned rooms, add more coco peat for moisture retention. For outdoor plants in the rainy season, add more perlite or rice hull for drainage.
• Label your mixes. Write the recipe on the storage container so you can replicate successful blends. Note which plants responded best to each recipe.
• Use "parts" not exact measurements. One "part" can be a cup, a scoop, or a bucket. The ratio matters more than the exact volume. Use whatever measuring tool is convenient.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using pure garden soil in pots. Straight garden soil compacts in containers, suffocating roots and trapping water. Always mix it with at least one aerating ingredient like perlite or rice hull.
• Adding too much compost. Compost holds water and compacts over time. Keep it to no more than 25 per cent of the total mix. Too much compost causes root rot in the humid Philippines.
• Skipping the drainage layer. Always add a layer of charcoal or gravel at the bottom of pots without drainage holes. Better yet, use pots with drainage holes and skip the layer entirely.
• Reusing old potting mix without refreshing. Old mix loses nutrients and structure after 12 to 18 months. Add fresh ingredients or replace entirely when repotting.
• Using the same mix for every plant. A succulent in an orchid mix will rot. An orchid in a succulent mix will dry out. Match the recipe to the plant's needs.
• Not washing sand and gravel. Construction sand and gravel contain salt, dust, and chemical residues that harm plant roots. Rinse thoroughly with clean water before mixing.

Frequently Asked Questions