Switched from store-bought potting mix to making my own after a disaster with my ferns

I used to just grab whatever bag of potting soil was on sale at the garden center, no questions asked. Last spring, I lost three Boston ferns in two months because the mix held too much water and they rotted out. A guy at a local nursery in Portland told me to try a blend of coco coir, perlite, and a bit of compost. Now I mix it myself in a big tub in the garage, and I haven't lost a single plant since. The cost is a bit higher up front, about $30 for the raw materials, but it lasts me six months. Does anyone else bother with custom mixes or am I just being extra?

3 comments

3 Comments

webb.hannah27d ago

Ha, guess my ferns didn't get the memo about filtered shade.

the_rowan27d ago

Those Boston ferns you lost, were they in a spot that gets direct afternoon light or filtered shade?

adam18627d ago

Oh man, yeah I got burned by that cheap potting soil too. @webb.hannah your ferns must be tougher than mine because I tried everything before switching to a custom mix. I actually went even further than you - I started adding a handful of crushed pumice to my coir and perlite blend, and it makes a HUGE difference for drainage. The ferns love the extra air pockets around the roots, and I swear they grow twice as fast now. If you really want to dial it in, try mixing in some worm castings instead of regular compost, it gives them a slow steady feed without burning.