We created Mother Soil to help take the anxiety out of plant care, so plant parents can spend more time enjoying their plants and less time troubleshooting. Over the past three years, we’ve heard from thousands of plant parents across the country with stories (and photos!) of their thriving greenery. We’ve also received some recurring questions. One of the most common? 

How do I get the most out of Mother Soil? 

Whether you’re growing a rare Ficus, looking to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers, or experimenting with different kinds of soil, this guide is for you. Below, we answer the most common questions we receive on how to use, complement, and optimize Mother Soil for long-term plant health.

What makes Mother Soil better than regular potting soil?

Can I mix Mother Soil with other potting mixes?

Do I still need fertilizer with Mother Soil?

What are best practices for plants potted in Mother Soil?

Final Thoughts: Trust the process and the soil in your roots!

What makes Mother Soil better than regular potting soil?

Most commercial potting soils are designed for convenience, not longevity. They often contain synthetic fertilizers for quick (but weak) growth, nutrient-poor fillers, and low-grade compost. Once dry, many become hydrophobic—especially peat-heavy mixes—and require chemical wetting agents that degrade over time. The result? Plants that become dependent on constant additives and more work for you.

Mother Soil, in contrast, was created with three key ingredients that promote resilience, biological activity and long-term health:

• Biochar: Think of biochar as a kind of charcoal that acts as a prebiotic for your plants. It mimics Terra preta, a dark, fertile soil found in the Amazon. A quick look under a microscope will reveal that biochar is structured much like a honeycomb. Here’s why that’s so great:
  
  
  • • It's a home for healthy microbes. Biochar’s tiny holes create the perfect place for beneficial microbes (fungi and bacteria) to live and reproduce. This creates a biologically rich environment around your plant’s roots.
      
    • It helps with water and nutrients. The porous structure holds onto water and dissolved nutrients, keeping them in the soil where your plants can access them. This means you won't need to water or fertilize as often.
      
    • It acts like a magnet for nutrients. Biochar has a high cation exchange capacity. In other words, it has a strong negative charge that attracts and holds onto positively charged nutrients, or cations. This ensures those nutrients, which include calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, are ready and available for your plants to use, making the soil more fertile and better able to support plant life.
      
      
• Brewed Castings: Think of brewed castings as a superfood for your plants. It’s made from the nutrient-dense waste produced by earthworms. This waste, known as worm castings, allows the bacteria, fungi and microbes  to multiply and create a living fertilizer for plants. 
  
  
• Mother Culture: Our proprietary blend of 800 beneficial species of bacteria and fungi that builds stronger plants. Our worm castings, used to make brewed castings, are inoculated with this proprietary blend, which consists of all the symbiotic microorganisms that most houseplants need to thrive. Added to soil, it increases a plant’s growth, protects soil and plants from disease and pests and retains moisture.
  

Combined, these three ingredients create a strong, living soil that requires less effort and yields powerful results.

Can I mix Mother Soil with other potting mixes?

Absolutely! Mother Soil gives you a lot of flexibility with how you use it. It works great as a standalone mix, but also as an amendment. As long as at least 10% of your potting mix includes Mother Soil, you’ll start to see improvements in plant health, resilience and moisture retention pretty quickly.

Do I still need fertilizer with Mother Soil?

The short answer? It depends. 

Mother Soil provides a rich biological foundation for almost all greenery—but certain plants, particularly, large leafy plants like Bird of Paradise and Elephant Ear, may have high nutritional demands that require supplemental feeding. Heavy feeders like Bird of Paradise or Elephant Ear may require extra nutrients to match their growth rate. In these cases:

• Use a slow-release, organic fertilizer like Osmocote to avoid nutrient shock and support steady feeding.
• Fertilize 2-3 times per year, using a generous amount.
• Avoid liquid fertilizers or fast-release synthetics that can attract fungus gnats.

What are best practices for plants potted in Mother Soil?

1. Select a breathable pot. Terracotta, ceramic and fiberglass / resin are all great materials for plant pots. Avoid metal pots that can overheat your plant when left out or in direct sunlight.
   
   
2. Go light on the water. If you’re a chronic over-waterer, cut your watering back by 30-50% to avoid root rot. Mother Soil’s water retention abilities make it the perfect choice for those of us who often forget to water our plants.
   
   
3. Like all mothers, Mother Soil gets better with age. Unlike other soils, there’s no need to repot frequently. Biochar gets better with time, becoming fully charged with nutrients and microbes that only improve soil quality.
   
   
4. Don’t stress! Enjoy your plants. Take a step back, and trust your plants. If you’ve just started using Mother, it won’t take long for you to see the magic!

Final Thoughts: Trust the process and the soil in your roots!

At Mother Soil, we believe healthy soil creates confident plant parents. It's why we created a product that adapts, strengthens and supports your plants over time. Whether you’re creating a jungle of rare species, or just ensuring your one and only plant survives, we’re here to make it easier. 

If you’re already using Mother Soil, we’d love to hear from you! Tag us in your photos (@growmother) and share your tips with our community of plant parents across the country. Trust us, your roots will thank you!