If your houseplants sulk, drop leaves or sit in soil that never seems to dry out, the compost is usually the culprit. The best compost for houseplants is open, free-draining and holds just enough moisture, very different from the dense multipurpose bags meant for the garden. Here's what to look for, which plants want what, and how to get repotting right.
By Kel Dickson, Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Gro Worm, organic, peat-free grower. Reviewed by Brian McCuskey. Updated August 2026.
What makes a good houseplant compost
Indoor plants live in a pot with nowhere for excess water to go, so drainage matters more than anything. A good house plant compost is light and open, usually with added bark, coir or perlite to keep air around the roots, and it drains freely rather than turning to sludge. It should hold moisture without staying soggy, because constant wet is what causes root rot, the number one killer of houseplants.
The other thing to look for is gentle, steady nutrition. Houseplants grow slowly indoors and are easily scorched by harsh feeds. Our house plant compost is peat-free and enriched with worm castings, which release nutrients slowly and feed the beneficial microbes that keep roots healthy, with no risk of the sudden overdose you can get from synthetic feeds. It's Soil Association approved and OF&G certified organic, so it's safe around pets and children too.
Which houseplants need what
Most leafy houseplants (pothos, monstera, peace lilies, calatheas, rubber plants) are happy in a good open house plant compost. A few groups are fussier and want something more specialist:
Succulents and cacti need a far grittier, faster-draining mix, so reach for a dedicated cactus and succulent compost rather than standard houseplant compost. Orchids don't want compost at all in the usual sense. They need a chunky, bark-based orchid compost so their roots can breathe. And ferns and other moisture-lovers appreciate a compost that holds a little more water, so let those dry out less between waterings.
How to repot a houseplant
Repot every one to two years, or when roots start circling the pot or poking out of the drainage holes. Choose a pot just one size up. Too big and the extra compost stays wet and sours. Ease the plant out, tease the roots gently, trim any that are soft or brown, and settle it into fresh compost at the same depth as before. Water it in, then let it dry out a little before the next drink while it settles.
A quick word on drainage: always use a pot with holes, and never leave the plant standing in a saucer of water. If you love a decorative pot without holes, keep the plant in a plastic inner pot you can lift out to water.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use normal compost for houseplants?
You can, but it isn't ideal. Ordinary multipurpose compost is denser and holds more water than indoor plants like to sit in, which leads to soggy roots and rot in a pot with limited drainage. A proper house plant compost is lighter and more open, so roots get the air they need.
What is the best compost for indoor plants?
A peat-free, free-draining house plant compost that holds moisture without staying wet. Look for added bark or perlite for airflow and a gentle, slow-release feed. Worm-cast enriched composts are ideal because they won't scorch delicate indoor roots.
How often should I repot houseplants?
Every one to two years for most, or whenever roots are circling the pot or growing out of the base. Repot into a pot only one size larger and use fresh compost, as old compost loses structure and nutrients over time.
Do houseplants need feeding as well as fresh compost?
Fresh compost carries them for a few months, after which a gentle feed through spring and summer keeps them growing. Ease off in autumn and winter when growth naturally slows.
Can I use garden compost for indoor plants?
It's best avoided. Homemade garden compost can carry pests, weed seeds and fungus gnats indoors, and its texture is usually too heavy for pots. A bagged, peat-free house plant compost is cleaner and better structured for life on a windowsill.
Give your houseplants the right start
If you're repotting this season, our peat-free house plant compost is worm-cast enriched, Soil Association approved and made to keep indoor roots healthy without waterlogging. Happy growing.
