Last Updated on June 15, 2023 by Grow with Bovees
Growing delicious herbs at home makes cooking gourmet dishes easier and gives you healthy flavors to your food.
But some of these hardy plants can be difficult to grow, especially indoors or in a garden without direct sunlight or the correct/best potting soil for herbs.
If you don’t have the right type of potting mix to plant herbs, your herbs might never reach their full growth and flavor potential.
If you’re in a hurry, here’s our top picks of the best potting soil for planting herbs:
Guide To The Best Potting Soil
Finding the best potting soil for herbs can make or break your herb garden. But there’s more to know about planting herbs and cultivating them, so make sure to read our tips on high quality potting mixes and get those aromatic plants growing with — in our opinion — the best potting soil for herbs, whether they be potted plants, indoor plants or outdoor plants!
Reviews of the Best Potting Soil for Herbs
- FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil
- Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix
- Miracle-Gro Expand ‘N Gro Concentrated Planting Mix
- Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil
- Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
- Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix 6 Qt
- FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil Organic Mix
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil
The FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil for herbs is a favorite of many home gardeners thanks to its nutrient-dense mix.
It includes organic materials such as crab meal, shrimp meal, and peat moss ingredients for a rich profile with nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and calcium for your herbs. These components make this type of soil mix quite a nutrient rich soil, perfect for growing plants such as herbs.
Thanks to its micronutrient content, it also works well with other vegetables that need more nutrition.
It’s ideal for cultivating herbs in indoor and outdoor containers. Making it great for container gardening as well as herb gardens in greenhouses.
This potting soil for herbs has a pH that is between 6.3 and 6.8, nearly neutral, which helps your herbs draw as many nutrients and fertilizers from the soil as possible, boosting plant growth.
It’s also well-aerated, so it lets your potted plants grow their roots and gives them enough space to breathe.
The FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil is also considered to be a natural and organic soil, so you’ll know it’s safe to use on your edible plants. However, some customers found spider mites in their soil upon opening. While this isn’t common, it can happen with natural products like this.
Another possible negative for some gardeners is the crustacean content in this potting soil. While it has plenty of nutrients, it’s not vegan, and some people have found it to be too “hot” for their delicate herbs’ roots.
A couple of users have found it to cause nutrient burn, so it can be ideal for mixing it with ordinary garden soil.
Pros
- Rich in micronutrients.
- Rich in organic matter
- Well-aerated soil structure
- Nearly neutral pH value.
- Works in indoor and outdoor environments.
Cons
- Some customers reported finding spider mites in the package.
- Can be too hot in some conditions.
Espoma AP8 Organic Potting Mix
The Espoma Organic Potting Mix is another favorite for people planting an indoor or outdoor herb garden.
It works on all types of containers, from small growing herbs in pots to full vegetable beds or greenhouses.
This potting soil mix contains sphagnum peat moss, limestone, earthworm castings and alfalfa, kelp, and feather meal.
These ingredients give it a varied nutrient profile, and the added yucca extract helps with water retention, maintaining wet soil and combating fungi.
It’s also enriched with the brand’s proprietary Myco-Tone blend to help with water retention. This is especially helpful if you live in a dry climate, and you’re growing herbs like basil or mint that require a lot of excess water.
Most customers have great experiences with this potting mix and may consider it to be the best soil, but some consider it too fine for certain plants.
The texture does retain water well, so it’s not the best for growing plants that require fast-draining potting mixes. This is especially relevant for indoor plants.
If you’re looking to plant rosemary, thyme or sage, it’s not the right pick.
Pros
- Organic and rich with nutrients.
- Fine texture for water retention.
- Yucca extract to combat funghi.
Cons
- Retains water too well for some herbs.
Miracle-Gro Expand ‘N Gro Concentrated Planting Mix
The Miracle-Gro Planting Mix is made with compressed coir and designed to regulate moisture, so it’s great for thirsty herbs.
It promises to hold up to 50 percent more water than other planting mixes and give your herbs nutrition for up to six months. This helps keep plants such as basil, oregano, and coriander well hydrated and fertilized.
What’s unique about this concentrated soil for herbs is that it expands up to three times its size when you add water, creating an airy mixture.
According to Miracle-Gro, it forms up to 90 percent more air space than traditional bagged organic compost.
Thanks to the expanding properties, this potting mix is also a space-saver in your home or garden shed. But you’ll need to remember that less is more when planting, or your herb containers will overflow.
You can use this planting mix on its own in any type of raised container or herb garden with a raised bed, indoors or outdoors. It also works as an addition to your garden soil to give it a little boost in nutrition and improve water retention.
If you’re looking to go the truly natural route, note that this product incorporates fertilizers and is not organic. The fertilizers can also make your herbs grow too fast, which can mean less flavor.
Another possible issue is water retention, which can be too effective when you’re growing herbs in pots indoors. Some customers have had their indoor herbs suffer from too much moisture and gather mold.
We’d recommend this product for a sunny and dry outdoor herb garden, where it helps your plants retain enough water to survive.
Pros
- Includes coir to regulate moisture levels.
- Contains fertilizers for nutrition.
- Expands with water to save space.
Cons
- Not organic, includes fertilizer.
- Can retain too much water for indoor planting.
Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil
The Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil includes a blend of soil for herbs and natural fertilizer.
As the star organic ingredients, it includes sphagnum peat moss, bark, sun-coir, coconut coir, compost and earthworm castings.
Unlike many natural fertilizers, this one doesn’t smell terrible but rather fresh and earthy.
This potting soil is ideal for herbs and vegetables, as well as other indoor potted plants. You can use it on any type of raised bed or container herb garden, both indoor and outdoor. The texture is like that of loamy soil, between fine and coarse.
If you’re looking for a really nutrient-dense soil for herbs to use in a rough climate or to mix with dry, sandy soil, this one might be the right pick.
What customers love about it is that it gives your soil an incredible nutrient boost, making it easier to grow herbs and plants in areas with dry, infertile soil.
Just remember that it can be so full of nutrition that it ends up working against you and ends up killing sensitive herbs. This depends on your soil and climate, as well as the type of herbs you’re looking to grow.
Some customers have also had bad experiences with fungus gnats on this potting soil. Insects are always a possibility with these types of products, but organic potting soils give them a lot of room to grow and multiply.
Pros
- Includes an all-natural blend of soil and fertilizer.
- Nice, earthy smell.
- Amazing nutrient boost.
- Contains organic ingredients
Cons
- Some customers have experienced fungus gnats.
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix is a great soil blend that can be used for planting and growing herbs in both indoor and outdoor pots.
The structure of the soil is great at retaining moisture, keeping the soil moist for a longer period of time, thanks to its Myco-Tone water saving formula. This, however, also means that you need to be careful not to overwater your plants, as you might end up drowning them.
This organic soil for plants and vegetables contains a great deal of organic matter, which means that it can grow herbs fast. The organic ingredients that are found in this soil include peat moss sphagnum, humus, moss and perlite, as well as, kelp meal, feather meal, earthworm castings and alfalfa meal.
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix is not the best soil to use for starting herbs or seeds and should rather be used on already established herb gardens or potted herbs that have already sprouted.
For optimum growth be sure to regularly re-pot the container plants with fresh potting soil.
Pros
- Great to use in indoor and outdoor containers
- Great to use for organic gardening
- Rich in nutrients
Cons
- Not the best choice for starter herbs
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix 6 Qt
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix is a great product to use when growing herbs indoors. This herb soil has plenty of nourishing ingredients and it also contains coconut coir, which aids in the soil’s water retention, as it has the ability to hold onto and release water. This means that you do not need to water it quite as often.
Pine bark and compost are not present in this soil mix, which means that it is unlikely to attract small bugs such as gnats, as bark or compost tend to shelter fungus gnats. Even though compost can be of benefit to the growth of the herbs, the last thing you want or need are little bugs attacking your herbs.
Unlike regular garden soil, Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix is blended to be used on a large variety of indoor container plants and it can feed your plants for up to six months.
Pros
- Easily retains water
- Not likely to harbor gnats
Cons
- Not for use on outdoor plants
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil Organic Mix
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil Organic Mix is a lovely blend of all good things found on earth and in the ocean and can provide your plants with everything they need all mixed in one bag.
This rich and light potting soil contains good quality fertilizer and is ready to use straight from the bag. Its soil structure is well aerated which aids in strong growth of plant roots resulting in an overall healthy and sturdy growth of the plants.
Ocean Forest Soil can be used for cuttings, starter herbs or more established herbs. It is, however, especially formulated to use to grow young seedlings.
It has a soil pH that ranges between 6.3 and 6.8 which is the perfect range for optimal fertilizer absorption.
This type of soil can be used for both indoor and outdoor gardens and is perfect to use for plants growing in containers.
Pros
- Perfect for young seedlings
- Rich in fertilizer
- Well aerated
- OMRI (organic materials review institute) certified
Cons
- Soil structure is not water retaining
- Not ideal to use cloned plants
What Are the Soil Requirements for Herbs?
For those looking for good potting soil for herbs, it might not be as easy as just picking up a potting mix for herbs and adding it to everything.
Herbs are a varied group of plants, and they don’t all act alike. The location and amount of sunlight will also have an impact on the soil you need, so make sure to read through our tips to find the right one for you.
pH Level
Most herb plants grow best in soil with a pH level between 6.5 and 7.0, as close to neutral as possible. Some potting soils for herbs can have a more alkaline or acidic profile.
Acidic soils make nutrients more available, so if you want to supercharge the nutrition of your plants, it’s good to pick an acidic one. There are, however, some types of herbs that would prefer to be planted in a more alkaline soil. These herbs include lavender, horehound, sage, anise and thyme.
Herbs that prefer a more acidic soil rather than alkaline soil, include rosemary, chives and oregano.
If the manufacturer doesn’t give you the information on the pH level of the soil, you can test it at home with a soil testing probe. This way, you can create the best potting soil for herbs for your needs.
Remember that the pH in your pots will also depend on the water you give them. Make sure you test your water’s pH, so it’s at the level you want it.
Fertilizer
Many potting soil types include fertilizers to help supercharge plant growth, but surprisingly, most herb plants don’t need nutrient-dense garden soils to grow.
Using fertilizer to feed plants can actually work to your disadvantage, because when you use fertilizer on your potted herbs, they’ll start growing more leaves and flower buds.
When the plant is putting all its effort into growing fast, you might lose some flavor.
Another possible issue is what is called a ‘hot’ soil that’s so rich in nutrients that it causes a nutrient burn. If you’re not sure, and you want to err on the safe side, you can mix a couple of different types of soils, making your own potting soil mix for your container herbs.
For example, use common garden soil and mix it with one of the supercharged, nutrient-dense potting soil options in our review. Your herbs may thrive and give you more delicious flavors when you’re not giving them too much nutrition.
Water
There are also major differences in the water needs of different herbs, and this impacts the soil selection.
Not all soils are ideal for all species of herbs. For example, rosemary, sage, and thyme are from rocky, dry areas, while coriander, parsley, and basil require more water.
If you’re going for a dry-area herb, you should prioritize good soil drainage. Well drained soil often includes sandy soils, with drainage holes.
For a more water-intensive species, soil that has more clay or silt will help with water retention. In potting soil, using a good vegetable garden mulch and some coir will typically help you retain water well.
However, what will also have an impact on your soil needs is where you’re planting your herbs.
Location
Taking into account whether you’re planting your herbs indoors or outdoors and in what type of climate will have a significant impact on your gardening success.
Outdoors
If your herb garden is outdoors and receives a lot of rainfall, you’ll often do best with a soil that allows water to drain out.
A potting soil designed for maximum water retention can make your herb garden too humid, especially for the dry herb varieties. As a result, your plants can wither and die from too much water, or from fungus.
In sunny and dry climates, such as Southern California or Arizona, drought-resistant herbs are the ideal pick. They’ll thrive in the sunlight and don’t need much nutrition from your soil.
But, if you decide to plant chives, basil, or parsley, you’ll need to look for a potting soil with better water-retention capabilities.
Indoors
When you’re growing herbs in pots indoors, you’ll need to be extra careful with the amount of water they receive.
Since you don’t have wind and, most likely, all-day sunlight, your potting soil needs to have good water drainage to prevent mold formation.
The best option in these cases is to look for the fluffiest, airiest indoor potting soil possible. You can also blend it together with another type of soil that’s faster-draining, and add drainage holes to the pots. This is especially important if your home is darker and your herbs don’t get much sunshine.
Can You Use Potting Soils & Mixes For Herbs?
Yes, a good potting mix is generally ideal for growing herbs. It’s lighter than normal garden soils, and the fluffy texture allows for the herbs to grow their root system and draw moisture better.
However, some potting mixes can be too strong and nutrient-dense to use on their own for some delicate herbs.
What Every Gardener Needs to Know About Soil Types
There are three major types of soil—sand, clay and silt. Here are some of their characteristics.
Sand
Sandy soils are the least nutrient-dense and the most porous. When you water sandy soil, water and nutrients tend to wash out quickly. When you’re growing grass or plants, you’ll need to water more frequently and with a light hand.
While it’s not nutrient-dense and not great to maintain moisture, sand allows for good aeration of your herbs. The best herbs for sandy soils are the ones that are native to dry areas, such as sage, laurel, rosemary, and thyme.
Clay
Clay particles are smaller than sand particles, which makes it less porous. This means that excess water and nutrients stay longer in the soil without drainage. However, hard clay soil also tends to cake up easily.
When you’re watering soils with a high clay content, it’s best to saturate them completely and infrequently. If you water clay every day, it will form a tough layer on the top and not let in nutrients or water, or allow the roots to breathe.
Silt
Silt particles are between clay and sand particles in size. This also means that they’re between the two in porosity and nutrient retention.
If you have silt soil, you might also benefit from blending it with a potting soil that aerates the soil. This will keep your herb’s root system healthy and allow you to maintain good nutrition and watering.
Loam
These three soil types aren’t often completely pure. Most soils are a mixture of two or three, and if they’re present in equal parts, the soil is loamy.
You can also have silty, sandy, or clay loam, depending on the proportions in which these three types of particles are present.
What type of watering and nutrition does loamy soil need? It depends on how much of each type of soil there is in the mix.
For sandy loams, you’ll need more frequent watering in order to maintain the soil moisture, while clay loams will benefit from a potting mix that helps air them out.
What Kind of Soil Do I Have?
If you’re not sure what type of soil you have, you can do a soil test at home to get the exact nutrient profile.
Touching wet soil will also help you figure out the texture. Sand feels granular and rough on your fingers, while clay will be sticky, and silt will have a smooth texture, in between the two.
Your local state university’s agricultural department will often also perform soil tests or have other specific information on your soil type.
The Winner
The best soil for herbs in our review is the FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil. It’s fully organic and full of organic nutrients, thanks to its mix of plant and animal resources. The pH level is close to neutral, which is ideal for growing herbs.
It’s designed for indoor and outdoor environments, especially to add more nutrition to otherwise dry soils and it happens to be a great soil type to use for cuttings and starter plants.
This potting soil is also highly aerated, which allows water drainage from the roots of your plants. But you can also mix this potting soil with common garden soil to give your herbs a bit of a nutrient boost.
Find this type of soil at local nurseries and garden centers and keep your herb plant happy and thriving.
References:
https://bsppjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-3059.2011.02517.x
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/1-soils-and-plant-nutrients
