🌱 Ingredients for Homemade Potting Soil
1. Garden Soil / Red Soil – Base for the mix, provides minerals.
2. Cocopeat / Peat Moss – Improves water retention and keeps soil light.
3. Compost / Organic Manure (vermicompost, cow dung compost, or homemade compost) – Provides nutrients.
4. Sand / Perlite – For aeration and drainage.
5. (Optional but beneficial)
Neem Cake Powder – Acts as natural pesticide & enriches soil.
Bone Meal / Mustard Cake / Seaweed – Boosts nutrients.
⚖️ Standard Mixing Ratio
A good universal potting mix for most plants:
40% Garden Soil
30% Cocopeat (or peat moss)
20% Compost (or well-rotted manure)
10% Sand / Perlite
👉 If using indoor plants / succulents, reduce cocopeat slightly and increase sand/perlite for better drainage.
🪴 Steps to Mix
1. Sieve garden soil to remove stones, weeds, and large particles.
2. Mix in cocopeat (soaked in water beforehand if dry).
3. Add compost or organic manure.
4. Blend in sand or perlite for aeration.
5. Add optional neem cake powder (about 1–2 tbsp per pot).
6. Mix thoroughly until uniform.
🌿 Uses of Potting Soil Mix
Container Plants: Ideal for pots, planters, balcony gardens.
Seed Starting: With higher cocopeat content for soft texture.
Indoor Plants: Keeps soil light, prevents waterlogging.
Vegetable Gardening: Rich in nutrients for kitchen gardens.
Succulents & Cacti: Same mix but with extra sand/perlite for drainage.