Both seasoned and new plant parents often focus on the proper watering routine and adequate lighting for their plants. The quality of the soil, however, tends to fall by the wayside. Potting soil is essential to a plant’s growth and overall health, and one plant in your collection may require a very different soil than another, so it’s good sense to stock up on potting soils that will help your specific and individual buds thrive.
“You wouldn’t want to use potting soil that comes with a slow-release fertilizer, such as bat guano, on a plant that has minimal fertilizer needs, like an aloe plant,” notes Tamara Elmore, a community and home gardener. “On the reverse, you may need that exact potting soil for your monstera.” Your options are seemingly endless when you start shopping, with formulas differing in nutrient content, organic certification, drainage capacity, moisture retention, and overall value and quality—all factors we looked at when selecting the best options for this roundup.
When comparing the top options, we decided to focus on potting soils with an organic certification. According to Paris Lalicata, the Plant Education and Community Engagement Associate at The Sill, an organic certification means the ingredients used in the soil have been reviewed by independent organizations, and also produced without synthetic chemicals, pesticides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Our favorite potting soils are made for flowers, vegetables, succulents, indoor plants, or outdoor plants, and all have an organic certification so you can find your plant's perfect match.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Budget:
Best for Indoor Plants:
Dr. Earth All Purpose Potting Soil at Tractor Supply Co. (See Price)
Best for Vegetables:
Best for Outdoor Plants:
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/foxfarm-happy-frog-potting-soil-9f1b3f0e4b9f475592d119d756445f20.jpg "Plant Flowers, Vegetables, and More With Our Favorite Potting Soils (1)")
What We Like
Dramatically expands root development
Contains soil microbes
Great for a variety of indoor and outdoor plants
What We Don't Like
Not suitable for seeds
If you think all potting soil is created equal, FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil will change your mind. This is our best overall pick for a potting soil because it can be used for a variety of indoor and outdoor plants. The potting soil is suitable for any indoor or outdoor container houseplant, including: ficus trees and rubber plants; trees, shrubs, and roses; and established container gardens. Because of its effectiveness, we think this potting soil is an excellent option for both beginner and expert gardeners, as well.
It has the ability to expand root development, which encourages nutrient uptake. We also like that it contains soil microbes that activate nutrients and protect your plants from diseases. Although this soil is not made for seeds, and it’s definitely more expensive than others, we think its overall quality makes it more than worth its price tag.You can invest in one bag for a myriad of plants in and around your home.
Size: 12 quarts | Nutrient Content: Sphagnum peat moss, earthworm castings, bat guano, fish emulsion, and crab meal | Drainage Capacity: Yes | Moisture Retention: Yes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/burpee-natural--organic-premium-potting-soil-c8360266e32e44ada9941a7aff3f41a6.jpg "Plant Flowers, Vegetables, and More With Our Favorite Potting Soils (2)")
What We Like
Feeds plants for up to three months
Contains coconut coir for optimal moisture retention
Can be used for seeds or seedlings
What We Don't Like
Can be prone to mold
Plant care can certainly be expensive, so if you’re looking to save some money without sacrificing your plants’ growth and health, we recommend Burpee Natural & Organic Premium Potting Soil. It has plant food to feed your plants for up to three months, so you don’t have to add fertilizer, and it’s suitable for seeds—unlike our best overall pick—seedlings, flowers, herbs, and vegetables.
We like that it has coconut coir for moisture retention, which means you can skip some watering without the fear that your plants will die. That said, this potting soil can be prone to mold. However, Burpee provides a 100 percent satisfaction, money-back guarantee. So, you can try it out and see if it's compatible with your plants and watering routines; the guarantee makes this pick even more budget-friendly.
Size: 9 quarts | Nutrient Content: Coconut coir, compost, perlite, fertilizer | Drainage Capacity: Not listed | Moisture Retention: Yes
Best for Indoor Plants
Dr. Earth All Purpose Potting Soil
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/dr-earth-pot-of-gold-all-purpose-potting-soil-a941ef8e83f44475a601fae67ee15f62.jpg "Plant Flowers, Vegetables, and More With Our Favorite Potting Soils (3)")
What We Like
Odor-free
Contains no animal by-products
Great for herbs as well
While repotting indoor plants can be a messy (and quite literally dirty) task, it’s a necessary one for optimal plant health. We recommend Dr. Earth Pot of Gold All Purpose Potting Soil as the best potting soil for indoor plants because it’s odor-free and contains beneficial soil microbes, so your plants can absorb nutrients and look lush for longer.
This potting soil is full of beneficial ingredients, which means it’s also an excellent option for flowers, edibles, and container plants (both indoor and outdoor), and is not made with any animal by-products. As much as we love this potting soil, it’s not available at many retailers, though, so it can be a bit of an inconvenience to track down. If you’re able to get your hands on it, it's a great option for your houseplants and will likely reward you with blooms.
Size: 8 quarts | Nutrient Content: Bark, perlite, peat moss, compost, alfalfa meal, sawdust, fishbone meal, and more | Drainage Capacity: Not listed | Moisture Retention: Yes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/espoma-organic-potting-soil-mix-5c86642976094acc8d1754c53eb46110.jpg "Plant Flowers, Vegetables, and More With Our Favorite Potting Soils (4)")
What We Like
Promotes root growth
Great for small or large plants
What We Don't Like
Can attract gnats
Growing vegetables can sometimes take years to perfect, but with the Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix, you can feel like a pro in no time. Elmore highly recommends this potting soil for its proprietary blend of the fungi mycorrhizae to ensure your plants grow deeper roots and more lush, verdant foliage. Whether you’re starting a new plant, like a small basil plant, or transplanting one into a larger container, this potting soil mix is a must for organic vegetable farmers and gardeners.
Without proper care and humidity control, this potting soil can attract gnats, which can be an irritating aspect of growing vegetables. It’s best to keep this bag away from moisture and humidity. Nevertheless, this potting soil is effective.
Size: 16 quarts | Nutrient Content: Sphagnum peat moss, perlite, earthworm castings, alfalfa meal, kelp meal, feather meal, yucca extra, and Mycotone | Drainage Capacity: Yes | Moisture Retention: Yes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/roots-organics-original-potting-soil-50c7c2d1f83849ad88686270048fb95c.jpg "Plant Flowers, Vegetables, and More With Our Favorite Potting Soils (5)")
What We Like
Contains perlite and pumice for optimal drainage
Bag is ready-to-grow
What We Don't Like
May need to add your own fertilizer
Outdoor plants are exposed to the elements, which means they may need some extra care and attention. We recommend Roots Organics Original Potting Soil as the best potting soil for outdoor plants because it works for all potted plants—from seeds and flowers to trees and vegetables—and uses enriched nutrients that allow for optimal drainage.
One of our favorite features is that the bag is ready-to-grow. Simply poke holes in the bottom, cut the top off, and you’re ready to plant. Although this potting soil contains bat guano—a type of slow-feed fertilizer often found in potting soil, including several of our other picks on this list—you may still need to add fertilizer if you want extra growth. Still, we don’t mind this hiccup since this soil offers everything your outdoor plants need to be healthy.
Size: 5 gallons | Nutrient Content: Perlite, coco fiber, peat moss, compost, pumice, worm castings, bat guano, soybean meal, alfalfa meal, and more | Drainage Capacity: Yes | Moisture Retention: Yes
Best for Flowers
Coast of Maine Bar Harbor Blend Organic and Natural Potting Soil
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/coast-of-maine-bar-harbor-blend-organic-and-natural-potting-soil-bb54432d9fcc4f27851601d89a27a46d.jpg "Plant Flowers, Vegetables, and More With Our Favorite Potting Soils (6)")
What We Like
Contains natural slow-release nitrogen
Contains an array of ocean elements and ingredients
What We Don't Like
Pricier than other flower potting soils
The delicate nature of flowers requires delicate yet efficient care, which is why we think the Coast of Maine Bar Harbor Blend Organic and Natural Potting Soil is optimal for potted flowers. This potting soil has Elmore's stamp of approval; it's her go-to potting soil and she recommends it for its lobster, crab shell, and kelp meals that are natural and organic sources of phosphorus and nitrogen. They contribute to the soil’s aeration and drainage. “I’ve found that my best plants are grown with elements that come from the sea,” she says.
Whether you have a raised flower bed or potted flowers along your windowsill, this potting soil will help your flowers thrive. We also like that it has slow-release nitrogen fertilizer, so you can extend the time between feedings and conserve water.
While this potting soil is more expensive than others that are specified just for flowers, we think it’s worth it since you can use it on other indoor and outdoor potted plants. If you want something a bit more specialized, the Coast of Maine also has a version for roses, annuals, and perennials.
Size: 30 quarts | Nutrient Content: Sphagnum peat moss, compost, perlite, lobster meal, crab shell meal, and kelp meal | Drainage Capacity: Yes | Moisture Retention: Yes
Final Verdict
The best potting soil is the FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil for its ability to expand roots and its versatility; it can be used with indoor and outdoor plants. If you’re looking for an effective potting soil that’s more budget-friendly, we recommend Burpee's Natural & Organic Premium Potting Soil.
What to Look for in a Potting Soil
The Nutrient Content
Most potting soils have a balanced nutrient composition that supports plant growth. Paris Lalicata, the Plant Education and Community Engagement Associate at The Sill, says that every potting soil has different ingredients, though. Whether you’re making your own mix and adding soil amendments, or choosing a store-bought option, Lalicata and Tamara Elmore, a home and community gardener, additionally agree that it’s essential to understand the nutrients in the soil and how they will benefit your specific plants.
According to Lalicata, most standard, pre-made potting soils are ideal for most common tropical houseplants and are also typically suitable for both indoor and outdoor plants. Other formulations include potting soils specifically made for flowers, fruits and vegetables, and succulents or cacti. There are also organic and non-organic mixes—our list focuses on organic mixes.
Potting Mix vs. Potting Soil
Potting mix and potting soil can contain ingredients such as moss, coconut coir, or perlite, but there are several key differences between the products.
Potting mixcontains no sand or topsoil. As a result, it is usually much lighter and completely sterile of bacteria or fungi. Potting mix is more likely to come with an added fertilizer. You would want potting mix for some plants (especially cacti) and for seed starting.
Potting soilcan contain sand or topsoil. It is heavier than potting mix and less likely to be sterile of bacteria or fungi. Potting soil relies on natural, composted items to be the fertilizing component.
Elmore explains the base of most potting soils includes perlite, pine bark, coir, and/or peat moss, like you'll find in the Burpee Natural & Organic Premium Potting Soil (our best budget pick) and the Roots Organics Original Potting Soil (our best for outdoor plants pick), which are super optimal for drainage.
Additionally, potting soils can also contain compost or sandy soil for drainage, worm castings for aeration (like our best overall, the FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil), and sea kelp, which improves the soil’s quality. Some potting soils, like our best for flowers pick, the Coast of Maine Bar Harbor Blend Organic and Natural Potting Soil, also contain slow-release fertilizers.
Because cacti and succulents have different requirements for moisture retention than most flowers, you should choose an appropriate soil for these plants.Plants kept indoors may need a fertilizer to make up for the lack of sunlight they get when outdoors. If that's the case with your plants, consider trying one of the mixes that includes soil microbes, like the Dr. Earth Pot of Gold All Purpose Potting Soil (our best for indoor plants pick). Lalicata recommends understanding all the differences in soil formulations before you buy, and researching your plant’s needs so you know exactly what soil to choose.
The Size of the Bag
The size of your potting soil bag should be directly related to how many plants you have or how big your garden is. When it comes to quantity, both Lalicata and Elmore agree that it’s better to have more potting soil than to not have enough. Most potting soil bags come in 8 quarts, 12 quarts, 1 cubic foot, 1.5 cubic feet, and 2 cubic feet, so it’s best to determine your gardening needs before buying a bag, or multiple bags.
The Drainage and Aeration the Potting Soil Provides
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a potting soil is its ability to provide drainage and aeration, which promotes healthy root growth. It’s still imperative, though, for potting soil to have moisture retention, too. Lalicata says this keeps roots hydrated between waterings—proper drainage prevents water-logging and allows water to move away from the roots and their main zone.
Without a good drainage system in place, she notes that "plants may suffer from root rot, fungal diseases, and oxygen deprivation." However, potting soils can include ingredients to help things air out. "Potting soil with good drainage capacity typically contains coarse materials like perlite, sand, rice hulls, or vermiculite, which create spaces for water to flow through freely, while soil with good moisture retention might contain organic materials like peat moss, coconut coir, or compost to slowly release water to plant roots," Lalicata adds.
An Organic Certification
Elmore explains that potting soil and mixes are not certified organic through the USDA the same way an organic farm or a food product would be. Rather, they are reviewed by independent organizations that make sure a product meets the standards for organic production.She notes that it's common to see a stamp from the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), meaning that potting soil is on their directory of products for organic use. However, other labels may also be present.
"Products can be labeled 'Registered CDFA Organic Input Material' which signifies registration with the California State Organic Program," Elmore adds. While all potting soils, whether they’re certified organic or not, contain some type of organic materials, Elmore says that the certification gives her peace of mind and helps her feel reassured about her plants’ health and growing process.All of the picks on our list are organic.
One More Thing
Before choosing the right potting soil, it’s also important to remember that repotting plants every 12 to 18 months is a must. Consider repotting sooner if the soil is hard and drains slowly or if there is mold buildup on the surface (a white crust shows this).
If the plants you grew from last season were healthy, there is no downside to reusing your potting soil from last season, either. However, your new plants may not flourish as well, since prior plants may have zapped much of the nutrition from the soil. One great way to reuse your soil is to mix it in with new potting soil or add in some additional compost, earthworm castings, or soil conditioner.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by L. Daniela Alvarez, a freelance writer for The Spruce. She has mastered the art of plant maintenance with her collection of over 70 houseplants. To make this list, Daniela researched dozens of potting soils and read numerous customer reviews to provide the best options for plant enthusiasts.Our list contains only organic options—made without synthetic chemicals, pesticides, or genetically modified organisms—as noted by Lalicata.
Our Experts:
- Paris Lalicata, Plant Education and Community Engagement Associate at The Sill
- Tamara Elmore, a home and community gardener
- Daniela Galvez, senior editor at The Spruce
- Marisa Viglione, senior editor at The Spruce
Picked for You
- The 11 Best Planters of 2024
- The 10 Best Gardening Gloves of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
- The 9 Best Raised Garden Beds of 2024
- The 8 Best Gardening Shoes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
1 of 4
