Comparison: Best Soilless Medium For Plants (Updated | Nov 11th)
But with so many options like coco coir, perlite, rockwool, and hydroton, how do you know which one’s right for your setup? Let’s break down the top contenders and help you choose the best soilless medium for your gardening goals—no guesswork needed.
Editor’s Choice
Molly’s Aroid Mix – Premium Soilless Potting Mix for Houseplants – Fast Draining
Mycorrhizae Boosted
Best for a specific purpose
- Best for mycorrhizae boosted: Molly’s Aroid Mix – Premium Soilless Potting Mix for Houseplants – Fast Draining
- Best for lightweight propagation: Planting Mix for Plant Propagation (4 Quarts)
- Best for chunky cereal mix: Forbidden Cereal Soilless Houseplant Potting Mix – Chunky Soil for Aroid Tropical Plants & Flowers – 8 Ingredients
- Best for eco peat-free: Imperial Roots Chunky Potting Mix for Indoor
- Best for rapid drainage: Royal Gold Tupur Mix Quick Draining Soilless Growing Medium
- Best for moss perlite blend: Kapecute 2QT Pothos Soil
- Best for professional light mix: Esbenshade’s Professional Lightweight Potting Mix
- Best for seed starter 4-in-1: DUSPRO Recycle 4 QRT Seed Starter Soil Pre-Mixed Seed Starting Mix for Young Plant Seeds
- Best for pure coco fiber: Royal Gold Coco Fiber Soilless Garden Growing Medium
- Best for high performance coco: Roots Organics ROS Soilless Hydroponic Gardening Coco Fiber Media Mix Premium Growing Mix for Plants
Product Comparison: Best Soilless Medium For Plants
Mycorrhizae Boosted
Molly’s Aroid Mix – Premium Soilless Potting Mix for Houseplants – Fast Draining, Chunky & Easier to Water vs. Soil for Indoor Plants – with Bark, Coco Chips, Worm Castings, Mycorrhizae 10 Dry Quarts
veryplants
- HELPS PREVENT YELLOWING LEAVES, BROWN SPOTS & OVER-WATERING: A chunky, well-aerated mix that drains quickly, won’t compact, and is nearly impossible to over-water.
- A CLEANER ALTERNATIVE TO SOIL-BASED MIXES: Unlike traditional potting soil, Molly’s Potting Mixes are soil-free and gnat-resistant, providing a cleaner, healthier way to grow indoor plants.
- ORGANIC, MINERAL, & pH-BALANCED: Molly’s Aroid Mix is perfectly balanced for container plants, ensuring strong root development, optimal nutrient absorption, and long-term plant health.
- ENHANCED WITH BENEFICIAL MYCORRHIZAE: Super-powered mycorrhizae strengthen the plant’s root systems and help with nutrient and water absorption and the promotion of natural defense systems.
- LONG-LASTING & EASY TO USE: Molly’s Aroid Mix lasts longer than traditional potting soils, reducing the need for frequent repotting. Made from responsibly sourced ingredients, it comes in a heat-sealed, resealable, recyclable bag to stay fresh between uses.
Lightweight Propagation
Planting Mix for Plant Propagation (4 Quarts), Hand Blended Soilless Mix for Propagating Plants, House Plants, and More
Rio Hamza Trading
- Lightweight Composition: The blend’s lightweight nature ensures ease of use and handling during the delicate stages of plant propagation.
Chunky Cereal Mix
Forbidden Cereal Soilless Houseplant Potting Mix – Chunky Soil for Aroid Tropical Plants & Flowers – 8 Ingredients, No More Overwatering, Versatile Moisture Retention, Peat Free & Organic – 6.5QT Bag
HydraGarden
- Compatible with your Favourite Plants: Our potting mix is optimized to grow and support all indoor & outdoor potted plants. Popular plants include Monstera, Pothos, Snake Plant, ZZ Plant, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Philodendron, Peace Lily, Alocasia, Anthurium, Dracaena, Hoya, Orchids, Spider Plant, Aloe Vera, Rubber Plants, Diffenbachia and more!
- Professional Grade Ingredients: Forbidden Cereal is made with 8 Organic Premium Grade amendments. We use hand sorted, heat treated Douglas Fir bark, also called Orchid Bark. Fine & Coarse Perlite, Triple Washed Coco Coir, Coconut Fiber and Coco Chips. Horticultural Charcoal also known as Biochar. Ultra rich Earth Worms Castings, Natural looking LECA Expanded Clay Balls and New Zealand Sphagnum Moss.
- Overwatering is Forbidden: We formulated our mix to be Earth’s Chunkiest Potting mix! Not only does it look like a delicious bowl of cereal, the super chunkiness serves an important purpose. It allows water to flow freely through your container garden and does not restrict root growth which increases the amount of air your roots have access to. Thus preventing root rot, yellow leaves, plant deficiencies and slow plant growth.
- Separated Sphagnum Moss: We blend the mix for even distribution of all components except the moss, which we thoughtfully layer on top. This allows you to customize its use, whether as a moisture-retaining topper, moisture retention at the root level, a propagation aid, or something else entirely, delivering unmatched functionality and consistency that’s one-of-a-kind.
- No Dirt Bags Allowed: We replaced all Soils and Peat Moss with ingredients that are renewable. Peat and Soil retain substantial moisture, often worsening the common challenges gardeners face. Our unique formulation buffers water to a neutral Ph maximizing nutrient absorption from all fertilizers and plant food.
Eco Peat-Free
Imperial Roots Chunky Potting Mix for Indoor, Aroids and Tropical Plants (soilless) Premium & Well Draining Blend for Houseplants Contains Coco Coir, Biochar, Pumice, Mychorrhizal Fungi, Worm Castings
Imperial Roots
- 🪴 NO MORE DEAD PLANTS FROM BAD SOIL – Your favorite houseplants deserve better than dense, waterlogged potting soil that suffocates their roots ❌ Nothing’s more heartbreaking than watching a healthy plant slowly wilt and die despite all your careful watering and care. Our chunky, aerated blend keeps roots healthy and thriving, resulting in more lush, green growth.
- 💦 PERFECT DRAINAGE FOR HEALTHY ROOTS – Cheap soil holds too much water and can rot your plant’s roots before you even realize there’s a problem. Nothing’s more frustrating than losing your prized monstera to preventable overwatering. That’s why we structured our mix to be fast draining but not overly drying. Your plants stay happy, and you stay worry-free.
- 😌 READY TO USE, NO MESS, NO MIXING – DIY soil recipes are messy and time-consuming, leaving you surrounded by half full bags and dusty countertops. Nothing’s more off-putting than your kitchen feeling like a potting shed. Our blend comes perfectly balanced and ready to go — just open the bag and repot. Save time, save clean-up, and feel like a pro in minutes.
- 🔋 POWERED BY BENEFICIAL MICROBES – Give your plant an unparalleled microbiome experience. Our mix is fortified with natural nutrients like worm castings🪱, rich compost, and mycorrhizae, offering a natural boost that supports vigorous plant growth. We’ve formulated this tropical potting mix for alocasia, anthurium, monstera, pothos, snake plant and more!
- 🌏 ECO-FRIENDLY & PEAT FREE BY DESIGN – More and more brands hide cheap fillers like peat or don’t explain what’s in their mix. Nothing’s worse than feeling tricked into buying soil that’s bad for the environment. We list every ingredient because we believe you deserve to know. Peat-free, sustainable, and responsibly sourced, so you can grow a beautiful green space and do right by the planet too.
Rapid Drainage
Royal Gold Tupur Mix Quick Draining Soilless Growing Medium, 1.76 Cubic Foot – for Constant Plant Feeding, and Healthy Root Growth, Use in Hydroponics or Container Gardening
Royal Gold
- This mix stands out as a one-of-a-kind soilless medium, characterized by its remarkable ability to drain quickly, and provide aggressive aeration, ensuring an optimal balance of oxygen for root health and vitality.
- Tupur excels in a wide range of hydroponic setups and conventional container gardening, offering adaptability to diverse growing environments and methods, making it a go-to choice for all growers.
- With Tupur, gardeners have complete control over fertilization, allowing adjustments to nutrient levels according to plant needs and growth stages, fostering optimal growth and development.
- This medium proves invaluable for aerating heavy, clayish, or poorly draining soils, serving as an effective base for custom blends or as a standalone medium to enhance soil structure and promote healthy root growth.
- Made of a premium blend of 35-45% coco fibers, aged forest products, perlite, basalt. These ingredients ensure perfect growing conditions for plants.
Moss Perlite Blend
Kapecute 2QT Pothos Soil, Ideal Soilless Potting Soil Mix for All Indoor Plants That Require Constant Humidity and Fast Drainage
Kapecute
- Material: Kapecute pothos soil mix consists of crushed sphagnum moss and perlite individually packaged in separate packages, all 100% all natural with no additives. Sphagnum moss debris have excellent water holding capacity and holds the required moisture in the soil, perlite can improves drainage and aeration in potting mixes, promote strong root development.
- Size: You will receive a 5.9″ x 5.9″ x 0.7″ mini-package with compressed sphagnum moss chips and individually wrapped perlite. The package weighs approximately 3.5 ounces.
- Handpicked: The sphagnum moss debris and perlite in the mixture are carefully selected by hand, the sphagnum moss debris is dry, clean and free from mud or other unnatural impurities, the perlite is manually selected to remove dust and small particles.
- How to use: Take out the right amount of sphagnum moss crumbles and soak them in water, squeeze out the excess water after the sphagnum moss crumbles are fully soaked, and then take out the right amount of perlite packaged individually and mix it, then you can get a good pothos potting soil.
- Notice: Purely hand packed, the weight and size of each package will slightly vary, perlite may produce a small amount of powder if it is squeezed during transportation, sphagnum moss debris have very few sticks (natural product, unavoidable).
Professional Light Mix
Esbenshade’s Professional Lightweight Potting Mix, 44 Quart Bag – Soilless Blend for Indoor/Outdoor Plants – Raised Beds & Containers – Peat Moss, Perlite, Bark, Lime
Esbenshade’s
- Balanced Soilless Potting Mix: Contains Canadian sphagnum peat moss, perlite, pine bark, and lime to support healthy root growth, drainage, and airflow.
- Indoor & Outdoor Use: Ideal for potted plants, container gardens, hanging baskets, and raised beds when blended with organic soil amendments.
- Lightweight & Airy Texture: Specially blended to allow optimal airflow and moisture retention, helping roots thrive in any environment; comes in a convenient 44-quart bag.
- Locally Mixed in the USA: Mixed in Lancaster County, PA – known as the “Garden Spot of America” – by experienced horticulturist professionals.
- Trusted by Professionals: Formulated and used by gardening experts. Satisfaction is guaranteed for home gardeners and plant lovers alike.
Seed Starter 4-in-1
DUSPRO Recycle 4 QRT Seed Starter Soil Pre-Mixed Seed Starting Mix for Young Plant Seeds, Soilless Formula Moisture Retention, Aeration & Nutrient Seed Starting Soil 4in1
Duspro
- 🌳 Natural & hand-screened mix: Our seed starting mix is made with a carefully selected blend of high-quality ingredients, including coco coir, vermiculite, perlite, and worm castings. Each bag contains 4 qrt dry volume.
- 🌳 4in1 Blend: Our seedling soil is expertly crafted to retain optimal moisture levels, ensuring your plants have the ideal environment to thrive. The coco coir retains moisture while allowing for proper drainage. The nutrient-rich worm castings provide essential nutrients, enhancing root development and overall plant health. The seed starter mix keeps soil consistently hydrated.
- 🌳 Ready To Use: This seed starter mix is pre-mixed and ready to use, eliminating the hassle of preparation. Simply open the bag and plant your seeds in seed starting mix, providing a hassle-free experience for both amateur and expert gardeners. Saving much more money and time than buying many ingredients and mixing your mixtures
- 🌳 Enhanced Aeration: The organic seed starter soil is formulated with superior aeration properties, allowing roots to breathe and grow strong. Vermiculite and perlite promote excellent aeration, allowing roots to breathe and grow freely. Our seed starting soil mix ensures that your plants receive ample oxygen, which is crucial for healthy development.
- 🌳 Versatile Purpose: Our seedling starter soil is perfect for a variety of applications, from potting soil seed starter to seed starting mix for vegetables. This versatile soil starter for seeds adapts to your gardening needs, ensuring success in diverse planting projects.
- 🌳 Quality Commitment: We ensure that our seedling mix undergoes strict quality control procedures and meets our high-quality requirements. However, if for any reason you are not fully satisfied, please feel free to contact us; our professional customer service staff will be delighted to provide you with a replacement or refund.
Pure Coco Fiber
Royal Gold Coco Fiber Soilless Garden Growing Medium, 1.76 Cubic Foot – for Promoting Healthy Plant Growth, Excellent as a Soil Conditioner, Standalone, or Blend Base
Royal Gold
- Washed, buffered, and meticulously processed, our Coco Fiber is prepared right out of the bag for immediate use, eliminating the need for additional preparation time.
- Whether utilized as a standalone medium or blended with other substrates, Royal Gold’s Coco Fiber excels as both a soil conditioner and a base for custom growing mixes, offering flexibility to meet diverse gardening needs.
- Processed and packaged in the U.S.A., each batch is analyzed for nutrient and salt content, ensuring growers the highest quality of coco.
- Engineered to strike the perfect balance between drainage and moisture retention, our Coco Fiber creates an ideal growing environment by promoting healthy root development and plant growth.
- Made of 99-100% Coco fiber, our product boasts a pure and natural composition, free from additives or contaminants, to support the health of your plants!
High Performance Coco
Roots Organics ROS Soilless Hydroponic Gardening Coco Fiber Media Mix Premium Growing Mix for Plants, 1.5 cu ft
Roots Organics
- APPLICATION: Roots Organics Coco soilless mix was created for the gardener who demands higher performance from their plants
- SIZE: 10 Gallons (1.5 cu ft) of Roots Organic Soilless Hydroponic Coco Mix for your hungry plants
- COCO-FIBERS: Made with high-quality coco fiber on the planet which is repeatedly washed for an incredibly low EC, and composted for over 24 months
- CONTENTS: Contains organic ingredients including perlite, pumice, and extra-long fibers along with small amounts of bat guano for microbial support
- EASY TO USE: Simply poke holes in the bottom, cut off the top, and plant the premium growing mix
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What should I look for in a soilless potting mix for aroids and tropical houseplants?
Prioritize mixes that offer fast drainage, high aeration, and a chunky texture to prevent root rot. Look for added mycorrhizae or beneficial microbes, which boost nutrient uptake and plant vigor. A pH‑balanced, peat‑free formulation ensures long‑term health and environmental friendliness.
How does Molly’s Aroid Mix compare to Imperial Roots Chunky Potting Mix?
Both provide excellent aeration and prevent over‑watering, but Molly’s includes organic minerals and a higher concentration of mycorrhizae for extra root support. Imperial Roots emphasizes a fully disclosed ingredient list and adds worm castings for a natural nutrient boost. Price‑wise, Imperial Roots often comes in larger bags, offering more volume per dollar.
Is the Forbidden Cereal Soilless Mix a good value for its premium ingredients?
Yes, it combines eight organic amendments, including hand‑sorted Douglas fir bark, coco coir, biochar, and earthworm castings, delivering a rich, chunky medium. The separate sphagnum moss layer adds flexibility for moisture control, which can reduce the need for frequent repotting. While the upfront cost is higher, the mix’s longevity and performance often offset the price.
Can I use Royal Gold Tupur Mix for hydroponic systems as well as container gardening?
Absolutely; Tupur’s blend of coco fibers, perlite, and basalt provides aggressive aeration and quick drainage suitable for both hydroponic setups and traditional pots. Its neutral pH lets you fine‑tune fertilization without worrying about medium interference. The mix also works well as a soil amendment to improve heavy, clayey soils.
What are the advantages of a mix that contains separate sphagnum moss versus a fully blended formula?
Separate sphagnum moss lets you customize moisture retention by adding it as a top layer or mixing it in, which is useful for propagation or plants with varying water needs. Fully blended mixes offer uniformity and ease of use but may lack that level of control. Choosing separate components can be more versatile, especially for sensitive tropical species.
How important is the presence of mycorrhizae in a soilless medium?
Mycorrhizae form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, extending the root network to improve water and nutrient absorption. In soilless mixes, they compensate for the lack of natural soil microbes, leading to stronger, healthier growth. Products like Molly’s Aroid Mix and Imperial Roots highlight this benefit as a key selling point.
Is a peat‑free, renewable mix better for indoor gardening?
Peat‑free mixes reduce environmental impact and typically offer more consistent moisture management, as peat can retain excess water and become compacted. Renewable ingredients like coco fiber, bark, and perlite provide similar structure while being sustainably sourced. Many shoppers prefer these blends for both eco‑consciousness and plant health.
Which mix offers the best balance of ease of use and performance for beginners?
Esbenshade’s Professional Lightweight Potting Mix is pre‑blended, lightweight, and comes in a large 44‑quart bag, making it simple to handle and store. It includes a balanced mix of peat, perlite, pine bark, and lime for good drainage and airflow. While it lacks some premium additives, its consistency and price make it ideal for new indoor gardeners.