Premium Aroid Mix - Give Your Tropical Plants What They Crave

Stop Suffocating Your Tropical Plants

If your Monstera's roots are turning to mush or your Philodendron sits in soggy soil for days after watering, regular potting soil is the problem. It's too dense, holds too much water, and basically suffocates tropical plant roots that evolved to grow on trees—not buried underground.

Aroids are epiphytes in nature. Monsteras, Philodendrons, Pothos, Anthuriums—they all grow on tree bark in the rainforest with their roots exposed to air. They're designed to grab moisture and nutrients from what washes over them, then dry out quickly. Dense potting soil works against everything these plants need.

This mix recreates that airy rainforest environment. Chunky orchid bark creates natural drainage channels and air pockets. Ancient Soil delivers the nutrients and beneficial microbes. And the whole structure stays loose and fluffy—giving your plant's roots what they've been missing.

Why Aroids Need Different Soil

Most houseplants grow in actual soil. Aroids? Not so much. In their natural habitat, they're climbing up trees or sprawling across the forest floor with roots that barely touch anything solid. The roots are covered in velamen—a spongy tissue that soaks up moisture from rain and humidity, then dries out fast.

When you stick an aroid in regular potting soil, you're forcing it to live in conditions it never evolved for. The dense mix holds water too long. The roots can't breathe. Root rot sets in. The plant starts dropping leaves, yellowing, looking generally sad.

Aroid Mix solves this by using chunky components that create space. Water drains through quickly. Air circulates around the roots. But there's still enough moisture retention to keep plants hydrated between waterings. It's the balance these plants need.

What's Actually In This Mix

How to Repot with Aroid Mix

What Makes This Better Than Regular Potting Soil

The Root Rot Problem

Root rot is the number one killer of Monsteras and Philodendrons. It happens when roots sit in waterlogged soil without oxygen. The roots literally suffocate, then bacterial and fungal pathogens move in to decompose the dead tissue. By the time you see symptoms above ground—yellowing leaves, wilting, brown spots—the rot is often advanced.

Regular potting soil stays wet too long for aroids. Even with drainage holes, the dense mix holds moisture in the root zone for days. Aroid Mix solves this by draining quickly while still providing moisture. The chunky texture means roots get air circulation even when the mix is damp.

Root Development

Aroids put out two types of roots in nature—aerial roots that climb and absorb moisture from air, and anchoring roots that grab onto bark. Both types need air flow. In dense potting soil, roots can't spread naturally. They circle the pot looking for oxygen, getting root-bound faster.

In Aroid Mix, roots spread throughout the pot easily. They branch more because there's air available. You'll see faster root development and healthier overall root systems—which translates directly to more vigorous top growth.

pH and Nutrient Availability

The mix is slightly acidic (around 6.0-6.5 pH), which is what tropical aroids prefer. Ancient Soil provides slow-release nutrition, but the chunky structure also means you can supplement with liquid fertilizer without worrying about salt buildup the way you would in dense soil.

Perfect For These Plants

Monsteras

Every Monstera variety thrives in this mix. Deliciosa, Adansonii (Swiss cheese vine), those expensive variegated types—they all have the same chunky, airy soil preference. The orchid bark mimics the tree bark they naturally climb, and the fast drainage prevents the root rot that Monsteras are prone to when overwatered.

Philodendrons

From Brasil to Pink Princess to Birkin to climbing varieties like Micans—all Philodendrons are aroids that need this type of mix. They're actually closely related to Monsteras and have identical soil requirements. If your Philodendron has been growing slowly or dropping leaves, switching to Aroid Mix often kickstarts new growth within weeks.

Pothos

Golden Pothos, Marble Queen, Neon, Njoy—all of them. Pothos are nearly indestructible, but they grow even faster and produce bigger leaves in Aroid Mix. The improved root aeration means more vigorous vining and better variegation on variegated types.

Anthuriums

Both the flowering types (with those waxy red or pink spathes) and the foliage types (like Clarinervium with the dramatic veined leaves). Anthuriums are particularly sensitive to overwatering and absolutely need the quick drainage this mix provides. They'll reward you with more blooms or bigger leaves.

Alocasias

Those dramatic elephant ear plants with the stunning foliage. Alocasias are notoriously fussy about watering—too much causes rot, too little makes them drop leaves. Aroid Mix makes watering easier because it's more forgiving. The soil doesn't stay soggy, so you have a wider window where moisture levels are acceptable.

Also Great For These Plants

• Orchids: It's got orchid bark in it—of course orchids love this mix
• Hoyas: Semi-succulents that need excellent drainage
• Peperomias: Hate wet feet, thrive in chunky mixes
• Syngoniums: Arrow plants with the same aroid needs
• String of Hearts/Turtles: Trailing plants that need air flow to roots
• Begonias: Many varieties prefer the fast drainage
• Any plant you've accidentally overwatered to death before

Watering Changes You Need to Know

You'll water differently with Aroid Mix compared to regular potting soil. The chunky texture means water flows through quickly—which is the whole point. But it also means you need to adjust your routine.

The top layer will dry out faster than you're used to. That's normal and fine. The bark and Ancient Soil hold moisture deeper in the pot where the roots actually are. Don't water just because the surface looks dry—check 2-3 inches down with your finger or a moisture meter.

When you do water, water thoroughly. Let it run out the drainage holes. This ensures even moisture distribution through the chunky mix. Then let it drain completely before putting the pot back on its saucer or in its cover pot.

Most people end up watering more frequently than they did with regular soil, but they're using less water each time. Instead of drenching a dense mix once a week, you might water this mix twice a week with less volume. The plant gets consistent moisture without ever sitting in soggy conditions.

When to Repot

Spring is the best time for repotting—when plants are actively growing and will recover quickly. But if your plant is severely root-bound or showing signs of root rot, repot immediately regardless of season. A struggling plant won't get better in the wrong soil.

Signs you need to repot:

• Roots growing out of drainage holes
• Water sits on top instead of draining
• Stunted new growth or smaller leaves
• Plant tips over because it's top-heavy
• You're watering constantly and it still looks thirsty
• Yellowing leaves with brown mushy spots (root rot)
• It's been 2+ years in the same soil

How Much You Need

Coverage depends on pot size:

• 3-quart bag: Perfect for 2-3 small plants in 4-6 inch pots, or 1 larger plant in an 8-10 inch pot
• 8-quart bag: Handles 1 large Monstera or Philodendron in a 12-14 inch pot, or multiple medium-sized plants

If you're repotting a really large specimen (16+ inch pot), you'll want multiple bags or the larger size. Better to have leftover than to run short halfway through repotting.

Will This Actually Help My Plant?

Here's the honest answer: if your plant has been struggling because of soil issues—root rot, slow growth, yellowing leaves from overwatering—switching to Aroid Mix usually turns things around fast. Within a few weeks, you'll typically see new growth starting, healthier leaf color, and more vigorous overall growth.

If your plant has problems that aren't soil-related (insufficient light, pest infestation, extreme temperature stress), new soil alone won't fix everything. But good soil removes one major obstacle and lets you focus on addressing other issues.

We've had customers send photos of half-dead Monsteras that suddenly pushed out four new leaves at once after repotting. The reason? Healthy roots equal healthy plants. When roots can breathe and spread naturally, everything above ground improves.

Why We Made This Mix

As plant collectors ourselves, we got tired of watching expensive aroids struggle in regular potting soil. We knew these plants needed something different—looser, chunkier, more like their natural habitat. But the commercial aroid mixes available were either prohibitively expensive or filled with questionable components.

So we formulated our own using the same philosophy as our other products: give plants what they actually need in nature. Premium orchid bark for structure and drainage. Ancient Soil for nutrition and beneficial microbes. Perlite to keep everything airy. No fillers, no mystery ingredients, just what works.

We use this mix on our own Monsteras and Philodendrons. If it wasn't producing results, we wouldn't sell it.

Common Questions About Aroid Mix