For growers who like to make their own mix: a peat-free soil base to build on, rather than a finished potting soil. Sybotanica's Base Mix is coco coir, worm castings and organic nutrients, rich and alive but with no drainage added. You choose what goes in next, depending on the plant. 5L resealable bag.
Most of our soils come ready to use. This one is a blank canvas. On its own it holds a lot of water (about three-quarters of its weight), which is too much for almost any houseplant. Its purpose is to be mixed: add perlite or pumice for drainage, orchid bark or coconut husk for a chunkier, airier texture, sand or grit for plants that like to dry out. That way you can match the mix to the plant and the place it lives, whether it's a fern on a steamy bathroom shelf or a rubber plant by a bright window.
Important: add drainage before using
Don't pot a plant into Base Mix straight from the bag. Without perlite, pumice or grit mixed through, it stays too wet and the roots can rot. If you'd rather not mix your own, our peat-free houseplant soil comes ready-blended for different plant families.
A simple starting point
- Most leafy houseplants: mix in perlite until the soil feels light and crumbly, then add a handful of bark or husk for air.
- Plants that like it damp (ferns, calatheas): add a little less perlite.
- Plants that like to dry out: add more perlite or pumice, plus some grit or sand.
Don't be afraid to experiment. That's what this mix is for.
Good to know
| Ingredients | Coco coir, worm castings, activated carbon, organic nutrients |
| Water holding | About 77% before anything is added |
| pH | About 7.2 |
| Volume | 5 litres, resealable bag. Keeps for up to two years sealed. |
- Peat-free, with organic nutrients. Suitable for organic growing under Dutch law, but not certified organic.
- Because the mix is alive, you may find the odd live worm in the bag.
- Not safe for pets or children if eaten. Keep it out of reach.