The 'Chunky Mix' Recipe That Saved My Root Rot Prone Plants

When I started, I killed everything with “Overwatering.” But I wasn’t watering too often. I was using soil that acted like a sponge.

Bagged potting soil is designed for nurseries to hold water for weeks. Inside your home? It’s a death sentence for roots.

The Theory: Air is as Important as Water

Roots need oxygen. If they sit in wet sludge, they suffocate and rot. We need to create “air pockets” in the pot.

My “Master Mix” Recipe

I make this in a huge plastic bin (approx 50 liters) every spring.

The Base (40%)

• Coco Coir (washed): It holds moisture but doesn’t compact like peat moss. It’s also sustainable.

The Aeration (40%)

• Perlite (Chunky Grade): Don’t get the fine dust. Get the big #3 or #4 chunks.
• Orchid Bark (Fine/Medium): This adds structure. Roots love grabbing onto wood chips.

The Nutrition (20%)

• Worm Castings: The best natural fertilizer. It won’t burn roots.
• Horticultural Charcoal: Keeps the soil “sweet” and filters impurities.

How to Test It

Grab a handful of wet soil and squeeze it hard.

• Bad Soil: Stays in a tight ball.
• Good Soil: Crumbles apart immediately when you open your hand.

The Results

Since switching to this mix, I haven’t had root rot once. I can water my Monstera thoroughly, and the excess flows right out. The roots are thick, fuzzy, and white.