Free-draining soil is a big part of keeping plants healthy. If you’ve been having trouble with your plants, overwatering could be the real issue. A chunky soil mix helps prevent this by letting water drain out easily and improving aeration around the roots.
I’ve found that a chunky mix works well for lots of indoor plants—not just aroids. Today, I want to share 10 plants that do really well in a chunky mix and why it makes such a difference.
1. Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera Deliciosa)
Monstera is the classic aroid, and while in my experience it actually does fine with wet feet, it grows much better in a free-draining, oxygen-rich environment. Soggy soil can slow growth and even lead to root rot, especially in darker conditions. Well-aerated soil helps prevent this and keeps it thriving.
To get the most out of your Monstera, give it something to climb. Without support, it tends to sprawl and produce smaller leaves. A sunny position near a window will promote larger leaves and stronger growth.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 1.5 to 3m (5 to 10ft)
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Watering: Moderate; allow soil to dry between waterings
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Tip: Monster deliciosa can be easily propagated by cuttings.
2. Swiss Cheese Vine (Monstera adansonii)
Another aroid that thrives in free-draining, chunky mixes, Monstera adansonii struggles in dense soil, leading to slower growth and a higher risk of rot. It prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate some shade—though lower light means smaller leaves with fewer holes.
For the best growth, give it something to climb. Trailing plants tend to be a bit leggy, while supported ones develop larger leaves. Keep the soil lightly moist, letting the top layer dry between waterings.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 2m (3 to 6.5ft)
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Watering: Moderate; keep soil slightly moist but not soggy
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Tip: Monstera adansonii can be grown on one side, or you can rotate it regularly for more even growth.
3. Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
I was having trouble with my Parlour Palms. They grew fine at first, but after about a year, I noticed yellowing fronds, slower growth, and a lack of vigour. After checking the soil, I found the bottom of the mix was staying too wet, which led to poor root aeration and stress on the plant.
I switched to a free-draining, more aerated mix, and that solved the issue. Since then, my plants have bounced back without any further problems.
The key takeaway? Make sure Parlour Palms have a well-draining soil mix. They tend to hold moisture longer in shadier spots, so proper drainage is essential.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 2m (3 to 6.5ft)
- Light: Bright, indirect light, tolerates low light better than most
- Watering: Moderate; allow to dry out slightly between waterings
- Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Tip: I find Parlour Palms are more prone to scale insects, so it’s a good idea to inspect yours every week or so to stay on top of any pest issues.
4. Dumb Cane (dieffenbachia seguine)
My Dieffenbachia really took off once I changed two things: the light and the soil. At first, it was growing well, but I noticed the leaves started to turn yellow and brown, and growth slowed down.
After taking a closer look, I realized the problem was the soil—it was staying too soggy. Much like with my Parlour Palm, the moisture was lingering too long, which stressed the plant and caused the issues I was seeing.
I moved it to a brighter spot with more indirect light, and I also switched to a well-draining mix. Since then, it’s been thriving, growing faster, and the leaves have returned to their healthy, vibrant state. It just goes to show how important the right light and soil balance is.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 1.5m (3 to 5ft)
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Watering: Moderate; allow to dry out slightly between waterings
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Tip: Dieffenbachia can be pruned when too leggy and the cuttings used to make more propagations.
5. Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa)
I’ve grown plenty of Cordyline outdoors, but growing one inside was a bit of an experiment. At first, I wasn’t sure how it would handle the transition. Would it struggle with lower light? Would the soil stay too wet? I stuck with my usual chunky mix, and luckily, it worked well—free-draining but still holding enough moisture to keep the plant happy.
Light made the biggest difference. In a dim spot, the colours dulled, and growth slowed. But once I moved it near a window, the leaves deepened to those rich tones I was after. If you want vibrant colour, a bright position is key.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 2m (3 to 6.5ft)
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Watering: Moderate; keep soil slightly moist but not soggy
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Tip: I find Cordylines more sensitive to tap water, so use filtered or dechlorinated water if possible.
6. Dracaena (Dracaena spp.)
Since many Dracaena species come from drier regions, they’re more tolerant of drying out. This makes a chunky, free-draining mix ideal, preventing excess moisture while still holding enough for the roots.
They also handle shade well, but I prefer to give them more bright light—especially certain cultivars with richer colours. These tend to look their best in brighter conditions, while lower light can cause them to fade.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 2m (3 to 6.5ft)
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Watering: Moderate; allow to dry out slightly between waterings
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Tip: Many Dracaena can be cut down to the ground and will regrow new shoots if they get too leggy.
7. Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
I prefer to grow Syngonium podophyllum as a smaller, bushier plant to keep those nice arrow-shaped leaves. Left to climb, it matures into a different look, with bigger, more divided foliage—but I like the compact form.
Unlike something like Pothos, which handles lower light well, this one really does best in a brighter spot. That also means it dries out a little faster. My usual chunky mix works well, keeping a good balance of moisture and drainage, but I check it more often to make sure it’s not getting too dry.
It’s a fast grower, and if you’re not careful, it can get out of control. I trim mine back regularly, using the cuttings for more propagations.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 2m (3 to 6.5ft)
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Watering: Moderate; keep soil slightly moist but not soggy
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Tip: If you want a bushier Syngonium, keep it pruned. But if you’d rather let it climb, give it a trellis or moss pole, and the leaves will grow bigger and more dramatic.
8. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The ZZ plant prefers to dry out between waterings, so a chunky mix works well. Its rhizomes store water and nutrients, allowing it to go quite a while without needing a drink. This makes it a great choice for those who sometimes forget to water or live in drier conditions. Just avoid overwatering, as it can lead to root rot.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 2m (3 to 6.5ft)
- Light: Bright, indirect light, tolerates low light better than most
- Watering: Moderate; allow to dry out slightly between waterings
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Tip: Monster deliciosa can be easily propagated by cuttings.
9. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
Peace lilies are great at letting you know what they need—if you’re paying attention. I keep mine in bright, indirect light since all plants generally do better in it. They’re forgiving, but if they dry out too much, you might get brown tips or wilting leaves. If they stay wilted after watering, it’s either root rot or soil that’s too dry.
Finding balance is key. A well-draining mix holds a bit of moisture is important. When they’re happy, they stay full and leafy, giving you a nice filler for any part of your house.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 30cm to 1m (1 to 3.3ft)
- Light: Bright, indirect light, tolerates low light
- Watering: Moderate; keep soil slightly moist but not soggy
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Tip: Peace Lilies can easily be propagated by division.
10. Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Heartleaf philodendrons handle lower light better than many vines, but in brighter spots, they grow faster and fuller. I let the soil dry slightly between waterings, since too much moisture can lead to yellowing leaves. If they start looking sparse, it’s usually a sign they need more light or a trim to encourage bushier growth.
Pruning keeps them tidy and makes for easy propagations. I snip just below a node and pop the cuttings in water—they root pretty quickly. As long as they’re not overwatered, they’re hard to mess up, which is why I like using a chunky mix for them.
Key Characteristics
- Height: 30cm to 1.2m (1 to 4ft), trailing or climbing
- Light: Bright, indirect light, tolerates low light
- Watering: Moderate; allow to dry out slightly between waterings
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans
Tip: Prune occasionally to encourage fuller growth and prevent legginess.
Conclusion
Overwatering used to be my main issue with indoor plants. Since switching to chunkier, well-draining mixes, I’ve had much more success growing indoors.
Give my chunky mix a try and see if any of the plants on this list (or others) work out well for you.
