Too many people are disappointed with their plant care skills, and there are far too many searches online regarding watering schedules, but the key to success is dirty, indeed.

The needless loss of countless houseplant lives can be avoided with a specialized blend. In my experience, the only plants I have purchased with the right kind of soil were from fellow plant nerds, never from an established business.

Multipurpose soil works wonderfully in the garden, but when it comes to houseplants, not many are happy with this “one size fits all” approach. Even the most resilient plants are happier with a bit of perlite between the roots—and this is only the first step.

Monsteras, Philodendrons, and Anthuriums are epiphytes; they climb trees and get moisture and nutrients from debris and air, not from a bag of multipurpose compost. The best way to replicate their natural environment is to keep them in a chunky soil that retains moisture but doesn’t suffocate the roots. Overwatering isn’t even an issue anymore, as long as they don’t sit in stagnant water. A mix with perlite, orchid bark, coconut chips, a bit of biochar, and some compost is the difference between a lush plant and that salad sitting in the fridge for two weeks.

Succulents and cacti retain a lot of water; they don’t need to be waterboarded constantly with multipurpose soil. Sand and grit added to the mix make a big difference.

Of course, one might wonder how a plant can look so healthy on a shop shelf, yet once it is sitting in a cozy home, it decides to add some shades of yellow and drop leaves like they’re hot. The explanation is simple: in nurseries, they grow in a controlled environment—basically ideal conditions. Once they leave the nursery, they suffer a shock in transport, another from the sudden change in environment, and soon after they are taken into a good home, the effects start to show. The soil they came with is not equipped for “once a week” watering. It retains water for too long, and the roots start to rot.

It took me years of trial and error (and there were a few victims, too), but after testing all sorts of combinations, I reached a winning formula for soil blends. Using quality components is not a luxury; it is the guarantee that plants are not only surviving, but living their best lives.