Houseplants in PittMoss

A commonly asked question we receive here at PittMoss is whether or not our soil is good for use with houseplants. We are happy to say that PittMoss is a reliable media with diverse applications, including indoor and outdoor amendments! The unique physical, chemical, and biological properties of PittMoss maximize nutrient absorption, water retention, and aeration for peak performance of plants inside and outside of your home. With PittMoss, you will be able to…

• See fuller blooms sooner
• Increase longevity
• Water your houseplants even less!

Tips

When potting houseplants in PittMoss, do an initial thorough watering. Keep in mind that the top layer will appear relatively dry – this does not mean you need to re-water! Due to the exceptional porosity and wettability of the soil, your plants will absorb water more readily than with big box brand potting mixes. Because your watering frequency will depend on the plant variety and container size, you can do what we call a “finger test” every couple days after planting to learn how often your plant will need watered. If the soil is dry a couple inches down, you may need to re-water. Bear in mind that PittMoss will reduce your water consumption by 2/3, so be careful not to over-water!

What Products Should I Use?

For use with indoor plants, we recommend our PittMoss® Plentiful or PittMoss® Performance blends. The optimal porosity and high cellulose surface area of PittMoss® fibers create an ideal environment for beneficial microbial activity, allowing plants to naturally prosper. No need for peat, perlite, or vermiculite.

*PittMoss® is pH neutral and can easily be adjusted for plants that fare better in acidic soil!

PittMoss® Plentiful

PittMoss® Plentiful, charged with a natural biological balance of nutrients, is a 100% organic potting mix that combines the best of PittMoss’ unique up-cycled paper fibers with organic bark, organic bovine compost inoculate, organic poultry manure, and locally sourced compost.

PittMoss® Performance

PittMoss® Performance is a nutrient-enhanced potting soil/soil amendment made from recycled cellulosic fibers and fertilized with poultry manure and compost.

Some of Our Favorite Houseplants

Pothos

  

• Plant Type: Trailing vine
• Mature Size: 6-10ft generally
• Pot Size: Depends on the size of the root ball. Plastic hanging baskets with an attached drainage tray work best indoors
• Sun Exposure: Shade to part shade outdoors, bright indirect light indoors (Suddenly paler-looking leaves mean the plant is getting too much sun)
• Soil pH: 6.1 to 6.5
• Water: Pothos like to have their soil dry out completely between waterings. Black spots on the leaves and the sudden collapse of the plant indicate the soil has been kept too wet. It’s best to let the plant tell you when it’s thirsty– if you notice drooping leaves, give ’em a good drink!
• Toxicity: All parts of the pothos plant are poisonous if ingested. Be on alert if you have pets or small children!

ZZ Plants

• Plant Type: Tropical perennial
• Mature Size: 2-3ft generally
• Pot Size: Medium
• Sun Exposure: Moderate to bright indirect light, but will do fine in extremely low light areas; ideal for windowless offices or bathrooms
• Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
• Water: Water your ZZ Plant only when the soil is dry (do the finger test)! They can survive months with very little to no water, so it’s better to under-water than over-water!
• Toxicity: Mildly toxic to both humans and pets if consumed

Philodendron

• Plant Type: Perrenial
• Mature Size: 8ft generally
• Pot Size: Repot larger self-heading varieties as needed
• Sun Exposure: Thrives in light shade. If the leaves yellow, it can indicate too much direct light. If it is getting leggy, it may need more light.
• Soil pH: 5.0 to 6.0 (slightly acidic)
• Water: Keep the growing medium moist at all times. At the same time, be careful not to overwater or root rot may develop, so be sure to finger test. Pay attention to the leaves– if they droop, you may need to adapt your watering schedule (either cut back or water more).
• Toxicity: Mildly toxic to both humans and pets if consumed

English Ivy

• Plant Type: Perrenial woody evergreen vine
• Mature Size: 6 to 8 inches high; up to 15 feet long as a vine
• Pot Size: Increase size with maturity
• Sun Exposure: Filtered sun or partial shade
• Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.8
• Water: Don’t let the soil dry out and keep it evenly moist
• Toxicity: Mild toxic if ingested

Basil

• Plant Type: Evergreen Perrenial
• Mature Size: 12-24in
• Pot Size: If you’re growing from seed, step up seedlings after two weeks into a 4″ pot
• Sun Exposure: Provide four hours of light each day. If you’re using fluorescent bulbs, keep them on for 12 hours with the lights about 2-4″ away from the plant.
• Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
• Water: Keep regularly moist. Mist regularly.
• Toxicity: Nontoxic to cats and dogs

Monstera

• Plant Type: Climbing Evergreen
• Mature Size: 3ft tall/long, spaced 2-3ft wide
• Pot Size: Increase size with maturity
• Sun Exposure: Bright indirect sunlight/partial shade
• Soil pH: Acidic or neutral
• Water: Water regularly, allowing for soil to dry out slightly in between. Mist foliage using a spray bottle of demineralized water or rainwater to increase humidity.
• Toxicity: Ripe fruits are edible but may cause some people allergies. Leaves and other parts of the plant are toxic to pets and humans.