Best Flower Soil [Reviews & Buying Guide]

Choosing the best flower soil for your flowers isn’t rocket science, but it does involve knowing a bit about your options. It’s important to pick the right soil, of course, because many of our most beloved plants are particular about their living conditions.

It’s also important because soil is (contrary to what we might reasonably expect) not cheap, and the only thing more exasperating than paying top dollar for it is paying top dollar for soil and having our plants wither away in it.

Below, we’ve offered the best flower soil reviews for many different types of flowers and growing conditions. We’ve also included a buying guide to help you know what’s what as you peruse the aisles of your garden centre. If you’re looking to become a little savvier about soil, start here.

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Editorial Review

Those who have especially dry conditions indoors might appreciate this potting mix, which is specially designed to retain soil moisture. Espoma’s potting mixture contains sphagnum peat moss and perlite, along with humus and coir, which keep moisture in the soil. Moisture balance can be difficult to achieve, especially over the winter months when indoor air is very dry. This formulation is a helpful way to keep soil moist for longer.

This potting soil for indoor plants is enriched with nutrients from earthworm castings, alfalfa, kelp and feather meal, along with a proprietary substance called Myco-tone. Myco-tone, a blend of mycorrhizae (beneficial microbes), increases water and fertilizer uptake and helps promote root growth.

What Others Are Saying

Reviews of this soil medium are generally very good. People report being surprised at how well their plants have done with it. They love that it’s organic and have great things to say about the quality. A few people mentioned how nice it was to have a potting mix that didn’t have fertilizer in it, so that they could add their own fertilizers if/when they felt they needed it.

There aren’t a lot of bad reviews of this product. A few people said they received straight perlite instead of a potting mix. It’s not clear if there was a shipping or packaging error, or if the product wasn’t what people were expecting. Others mentioned that they found the price a bit high.

Editorial Review

For flower beds and container gardens, this high-performing potting soil is a good bet. Proven Winners potting soil is a mix of sphagnum peat moss, perlite and composted bark, with dolomite lime to help balance pH levels in the soil. It’s a rich mixture that holds moisture but still drains well.

Not all of us are blessed with high quality soil in our garden beds, and this mixture offers a simple way to add some nutrients without breaking the bank. There’s a lot of soil for the money here (approximately 11 gallons), and it’s very versatile.

Humans will probably most appreciate the value of this product, and plants will likely appreciate the added continuous release plant food (15-7-15).

What Others Are Saying

People generally give this soil positive reviews. They like that the soil is rich and light and appreciate the extra fertilizer that comes with it. People are happy with the value, although more than a few noted that the price has crept up on Amazon.

This mix sees a lot of use in container gardens and garden beds, where users say they’ve had success improving soil and growing flowers and shrubs. It also gets a lot of indoor use, as well. Reviewers say it’s great for potted plants and even for cuttings, holding moisture well without getting too heavy.

The most frequent complaint people had was with bags that contained white flies and fungus gnats. Some reported mold in the bag, as well. A few thought the bark pieces too large, especially for young plants, and a few others thought the price was too steep for what they got.

Editorial Review

As an all-purpose organic potting mix, Black Gold’s potting soil is a solid choice. It’s listed with the OMRI, so it has certification to back up its organic claims. It’s useful for a wide variety of purposes, from veggies to houseplants, and is great to use indoors or out.

This product is formulated regionally, so ingredients vary, but the main ingredients of sphagnum peat moss, perlite, dolomite lime and bark are consistent. It also includes a time-released fertilizer, with a grade of 0.05 – 0.0 – 0.0. It’s designed to find a balance between water drainage and water retention, making it suitable for a range of plants.

What Others Are Saying

Reviewers find this mix rich, fluffy and soft, and report having success with seedlings and anything else they grew. When growers used this in containers, they liked the way it retained moisture without getting compacted. Many decided to add perlite to it for cases where they needed a mix that was lighter and airier.

Some folks suggest that the fertilizer might not be enough for some uses, and that you might find it necessary to add nutrients, depending on what you’re growing.

Ratings and reviews are usually positive, but there were reports that the bags were smaller than people thought they might be, and contained less soil than people had supposed. Cost was another issue some users raised—they found it expensive for what they got. A few others had issues with insects or mold in the bag.

Editorial Review

Waldor Orchids’ potting mix is made up of sponge rock, charcoal, fir bark and coconut husk. The best orchid potting soil is the soil that most closely mimics the medium orchids naturally grow in. The medium and fine-grade particles here are ideal for orchids, which need their roots aerated and often suffer from soil that’s too dense and compacted.

It’s definitely on the dry side, so if you have a phalaenopsis, or other orchid that prefers to be more moist, you can anticipate needing to water more frequently, or to mix in a more absorbent material such as sphagnum. That said, this mix conveniently takes a lot of the guesswork out of creating your own orchid medium.

What Others Are Saying

Overall, reviewers love this mix. They report good root growth, more blooms and happy plants. Although the price is a bit higher than some other brands, most growers seemed to feel it was worth the extra money.

Many people who use this mix recommend mixing in a bit of moss for better moisture retention. They also recommend soaking the mix for at least an hour the first time it’s watered, whether you wet it before or after you pot your orchids.

The most common complaint about this potting mix was that it was too dry. People said that even after soaking they found it didn’t retain moisture well, and some mentioned that the root systems of their orchids dried up after spending time in this soil medium. Other issues users brought up included finding mold in the bag, as well as feeling like the quantity was too low for the price.

Editorial Review

This is a porous soil formulated specifically for the needs of African violets. African violets like a nice, light soil that allows air to circulate through their roots. They’re also very particular about soil being moist without being wet.

Many gardeners DIY their own mix in order to create these conditions, but it’s also convenient to have a ready-made soil like this one that does that work for you.

Miracle-Gro’s African violet potting soil is slightly acidic, which violets also prefer. It’s enriched with a time-released plant food with a fertilizer grade of 0.18-0.06-0.12. The added plant food is a nice bonus that gives violets a little boost after repotting.

What Others Are Saying

People who use this soil generally have a lot of success with it. They say their plants thrive in this potting mix, blooming repeatedly with large, healthy flowers. For potting, repotting and growing babies, this mix is praised for its ability to distribute water evenly and for its effects on plant growth. Users recommend it for any plant that loves moist soil but needs to have soil that drains well.

While reviews of this product are typically positive, some users did report that their bags arrived moldy or infested with fungus gnats. A few said that the soil looked alright to them, but that after potting their plants, they had issues with mold developing or with gnats overtaking their plants.

Some long-time gardeners suggested that the quality of the product has gone downhill in the years since they’ve been using it, and expressed their disappointment and their hope that Miracle-Gro will address these issues.

Buying Guide for Flower Soil

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First things first, you need to know what type of product you’re buying when you’re buying a commercial soil. There are a variety of soil products on the market, not all of which are equal. In fact, there’s no legal definition for what “soil” even is, so what you actually get in a bag can vary widely not just by soil type, but by manufacturer.

Topsoil, as the name suggests, is the topmost layer of earth all around us. Bagged topsoil could be any type of soil (loam, for example), with no guarantee of soil quality. It might contain fertilizers or added organic matter, as well.

Garden soil is topsoil that’s likely to be blended with organic matter. It’s useful for amending flower beds if they’re very heavy or sandy, although a good compost does that job just as well for less money.

Black earth soil is another product you might come across. This is a tricky term because it’s often simply a label for black peat, which is a low-quality peat, mixed with topsoil. It looks great because it’s dark, but it doesn’t contain any nutrients.

Black earth could also refer to a very rich, high quality soil that’s harvested from swamplands, however. The best way to tell the two apart and determine what’s in the bag you’re holding is to look at the price tag.

Potting soil, or potting mix, may or may not contain any soil. It typically contains peat and organic matter such as bark, as well as perlite or vermiculite. The type of organic matter will differ, depending on region. The mix may or may not contain fertilizers or added plant food.

Potting soil is formulated to be lighter than topsoil, and to drain water more efficiently, which is why it’s used in containers and pots. Seedling mix is likely to be made of the same things, but to be finer in texture.

Second, it’s helpful to know the best flower soil for the species you’re growing, or planning to grow. Some basic internet research will give you suggestions for the specific soil conditions that best suit the varieties you have. Check in with local gardeners, horticultural societies, nurseries and garden centers, too, for advice that takes local factors into account.

To help get you started, we’ll give you a quick rundown of the best soil conditions for some of the more common types of flowers.

Best Soil for Roses

Roses like well-draining soil that’s rich in nutrients. Master Rosarian Stan V. Griep suggests that a soil blend of 1/3 clay, 1/3 coarse sand and 1/3 compost will yield good results. This blend should help keep the soil moist but not soaked, and the rose’s roots aerated without becoming dry.

Griep recommends feeling the soil for proper texture, and that it should have a “nice, pliable, moist feel” and crumble through your fingers.

Best Azalea Soil

To give your azaleas their best possible life, choose a soil that’s rich and light. The American Rhododendron Society states that azaleas “thrive in moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter.” Heavy soils are hard on the azalea’s delicate roots and don’t provide optimal conditions for the microorganisms that break down organic matter and provide the plant with nutrients.

The Society has a few suggestions for ideal soil blends:

• 2/3 coarse sand and 1/3 medium bark
• 4/5 medium fir bark and 1/5 small, crushed lava rock pieces
• 5 parts coarse sand, 4 parts loamy soil and 1 part medium pine bark

Best Soil for Hibiscuses

Like so many other flowers, hibiscus plants need well-draining soil that’s well-aerated and light. The New Orleans Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society suggests that a mixture of “5% perlite, 50% peat and 45% composted hardwood bark” is a successful mix for a potted hibiscus, although they note that coco coir is a fine substitute for the peat.

Best Plumeria Potting Soil

Plumeria like their nutrients, so they need a soil that’s rich and that maintains moisture without getting soggy. A soil mixture recommended by The Plumeria Society consists of: 1 part ¼ inch bark, 1 part potting soil, 1 part pumice or calcined clay, 1 part manure, 1 part sharp sand and 1/6 part bone meal or other high-phosphorus plant food.

Best Soil for Peace Lily

Aeration is important for peace lilies, so a soil that’s loose, light and full of nutrients will be your best bet for keeping this plant happy. Liquidambar Girl Gardening offers this recipe for peace lily potting soil: 50% coco coir, 25% perlite, 15% orchid bark, 5% charcoal and 5% worm castings.

How to Read Fertilizer Labels

Finally, get familiar with the additives you’re likely to find in commercial soils and potting mixes. When a commercial soil contains fertilizers, you’ll find a label with three numbers on it (for example, the label “0.18-0.06-0.12” found on Miracle-Gro’s African Violet Potting Mix. This label is called the fertilizer grade.

These numbers refer to the basic nutrients the fertilizer is providing. The first refers to the percentage of nitrogen (N) the mix contains, the second to the percentage of phosphorus (P) and the third to the percentage of potassium (K).

The phosphorus is present in the form of phosphate and the potassium as potash. Sources of nitrogen could include ammonium nitrate or liquid nitrogen, among other forms. The ratio between the nutrients is important, as are the numbers themselves. Higher numbers equal more nutrients per pound.

With plants, balance is key. Simply giving more nutrients to your plants won’t result in healthier plants. Unless your soil is deficient in nutrients, adding nutrients to it won’t necessarily help. And adding more of one kind of nutrient, like phosphorus, can actually hinder or harm your plant by throwing nutrient balance off kilter.

Before adding fertilizer, it’s a good idea to do a simple soil test and determine what’s already in your garden or pots. You might need less than you think.

We hope this information gives you confidence as you walk the garden centre aisles on your quest to find the perfect soil for the flowers you love.

Feature image: Digital Buggu