What is Needed in Potting Mix for Aroid Plants
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Aroids are any plant that belongs to the Araceae or Arum plant families and are easily identified by their large leaves and spikes of flowers called spadix that are surrounded by sheathes called spathes. And you’ve likely seen and currently own a few as they’re some of the most popular types of houseplants and include Monstera, Philodendron, Pothos, ZZ Plants, Anthurium, and Peace Lilies.
Aroids grow in dense tropical rainforests underneath the canopy where some stay in the ground, while most like to climb up hosts including trees and rock formations as epiphytes. Their root systems are unique because of their epiphytic behavior, so they need space to breathe while extracting enough water and nutrients.
Regular soil and standard potting mix won’t work as they get compacted and retain too much moisture. Too much moisture can increase fungus and bacteria leading to root rot, plant suffocation, and some insect infestations like Fungus Gnats that thrive in moisture and are common with overwatered houseplants. And the materials needed in the Aroid potting mix could change a bit depending on the type of root your Aroid has.
The most common types of roots on Aroids include:
Adventitious or Aerial roots are roots that grow from stems, branches, and nodes to grab onto other surfaces like trees and rocks so the plant can secure itself while growing. These types of roots can be found on species like Monstera, Pothos, and Philodendron.
Fibrous systems are underground roots that look like networks of fibers and strings that anchor the plant in wet regions and suck up moisture. These can be found on Syngonium and some Alocasia like the Frydek.
Rhizomatous or Rhizomes that are thick roots used that look like thick and fleshy knobs and store water so that plants can survive dry seasons and draughts and can be found in species like ZZ Plants or Dieffenbachia.
Tubers and Bulbs are thicker potato like roots that are also used to store large amounts of water and nutrients so plants can survive dry seasons and are found on Alocasia (Elephant Ears) and Cala Lilies.
Aroids tend to be epiphytes vs. ground dwelling plants, so the compacted soils and standard potting mix won’t meet their needs as they lack the chunky materials that allow drainage and aeration to happen. This is why it is important to know what to look for when buying or creating your own Aroid potting mix.
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What to Look for In Aroid Potting Mix
In order to help your Aroids grow healthy so they can bloom and display their foliage properly, you’ll want to make sure the potting mix you use has enough chunky material to allow them to spread and breathe while absorbing moisture during watering and letting the excess drain out. Here’s some of the materials to look for when buying or creating potting mix for Aroids.
Activated or Horticulture Grade Charcoal works to provide proper drainage and offers some moisture and nutrient retention while filtering toxins.
Coco Chips are different from Coco Coir as Coir is used for moisture retention and the chunky Chips materials are used to provide air flow and drainage, even though it may absorb and retain some moisture.
Perlite is a tiny white or grey porous volcanic rock that provides Aroids with aeration as the soil cannot compact through the rock and can absorb and release moisture and nutrition as needed.
Orchid and Pine Bark are the chunks of wood (mostly made from Fir or Pine trees) you see in the potting mix and they soak up and retain moisture while giving the root systems a space to breathe, grow, and escape if the epiphyte wants to start climbing.
Vermiculite is an accordion shaped stone that is the byproduct of heating up other materials where it forms a porous material that helps prevent compaction, gains its ability to store and release moisture and nutrition, and may be equal to or better than Perlite.
Worm Castings provide a natural fertilization and source of nutrients while they degrade, and during the process they help prevent compaction which allows air to come through the potting mix so plants can breathe while excess water drains out. They may even introduce beneficial bacteria and microbes to the potting mix keeping it healthier.
The goal of the potting mix for your Aroids is to provide enough aeration so oxygen can get in and excess water can drain out. This helps prevent root rot and some infestations that thrive in bacteria ridden potting mix or soil. Regular potting soil is dense and doesn’t provide the right atmosphere for Aroids to thrive, and this is why you’ll want to use a potting mix designed with the elements above.
