6 Best Potting Soil Brands in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

Potting soil is extremely important when growing indoor plants, and it can mean the difference between large, healthy plants and plants that die frequently or experience mold growth. However, knowing where to start with so many kinds can be difficult. If this sounds like your situation, keep reading for reviews of the most popular brands.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix	Blended for a wide variety of plants Not prone to bugs Contains coconut coir	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Burpee Premium Organic Potting Natural Soil Mix	Organic ingredients Perfect for containers Retains moisture	CHECK PRICE
		FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil Mix	pH adjusted Formulated for containers Helps retain moisture	CHECK PRICE
		SUNGRO HORTICULTURE Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soi	All-purpose soil Organic ingredients Contains perlite and pumice	CHECK PRICE
		Harris All Purpose Premium Potting Soil	For indoor and outdoor plants Fast draining Contains coco coir	CHECK PRICE

The 6 Best Potting Soil Brands

1. Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix — Best Overall

Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix is our pick as the best overall potting soil brand. It has a special formula that is suited for a wide variety of plants, and it is less prone to bugs, so it is a good choice for indoor plants. It also contains coconut coir, which absorbs moisture if you overwater the plants and releases it when the soil dries, helping the plants tolerate drought and heat. It also contains a fertilizer that will continue to feed the plants for up to 6 months so they grow fast and healthy.

The downside to Miracle-Gro potting soil is that it can hold too much moisture for certain plants.

2. Burpee Premium Organic Potting Natural Soil Mix — Best Value

Burpee Premium Organic Potting Natural Soil Mix is our pick as the best potting soil brand for the money. It has all-natural, organic ingredients that help the soil drain better while providing nutrients, and it will continue to feed your plants for up to 3 months. It’s easy to use and perfect for containers and helps retain moisture so the plant can go longer without water.

The downside to Burpee Premium soil is that it is a little dense, so if you’re not careful loading it into the pots, it can hold too much moisture, reducing drainage and enabling mold to grow.

3. FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil Mix

FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil Mix is our premium choice potting soil, and it has a formula that is pH-adjusted to help your plants grow better. It works especially well in containers and is suitable for various plants. It drains well but retains moisture so the plants can handle high temperatures and drought conditions.

The downside to FoxFarm is that it is quite expensive.

4. SUNGRO HORTICULTURE Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart

SUNGRO HORTICULTURE Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil is a fantastic soil that works well for growing a large variety of plants. It contains perlite and pumice, which help it drain faster and aerate the soil so the roots can grow. Organic ingredients break down and add important nutrients to the soil as the plant grows, reducing your need for external fertilizers.

The downside to Black Gold is that many users complain that it contains gnats, so it might be best to start your plants outdoors when using this brand.

5. Harris All Purpose Premium Potting Soil

Harris All Purpose Premium Potting Soil is a great choice for indoor and outdoor plants. It contains pumice, which aerates the soil and helps it drain faster. It also contains coco coir, which helps it retain moisture when you overwater and releases it when the soil is dry.

The downside to Harris topsoil is that it is expensive to purchase, and the bags are usually smaller than most other brands.

6. Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix

Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix is a fantastic organic potting soil you can use to grow indoor or outdoor plants. It contains a proprietary blend of endo and ecto mycorrhizae, which helps feed your plants so they grow better.

The downside to Espoma is that it contains many wood chips, which can make it hard to work with in small pots, and it is also more expensive than many other brands.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Potting Soil Brands

How can I tell if potting soil is good?

High-quality potting soil is easy to identify because it will be light and fluffy instead of dense and compact. Fluffy soil will enable the water to drain out quickly and provide space for the roots to grow.

Does potting soil go bad?

Unfortunately, potting soil will go bad if you let it sit in the bag too long because it usually contains organic matter that will decompose, robbing the soil of its nutrients.

Can I fix the soil that I already have?

You can add fertilizer and organic material like dead leaves and grass clippings to help the soil acquire important nutrients over time. Mixing in small sticks, bark, coarse sand, pumice, and other ingredients can also help the soil drain better so the roots can grow more easily.

Conclusion

When choosing your next potting soil, we highly recommend our top picks. Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix is the best overall and easy to find at many locations and has a formula that works with many plants. It’s not prone to bugs and contains coconut coir, which helps the soil retain moisture. Our pick as the best value, Burpee Premium Organic Potting Natural Soil Mix, is inexpensive, contains organic ingredients that help absorb moisture, and works well in containers. FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil Mix is our premium choice potting soil and has a formula that is pH adjusted to help your plants grow better.

Featured Image Credit: Teona Swift, Pexels