$ 26.99
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Indonesia Blend is far more complex than its simple ingredient list might suggest. It is also packaged differently from conventional potting mixes, so please read the following before placing your order.
Think of it like a bagged Caesar salad kit. The rice hulls are kept separate from the other ingredients until you're ready to combine everything.
A few important things to know:
1. Some assembly required.
The rice hulls are packaged in their own bag, separate from the other ingredients. You'll need to combine them yourself before using the mix. We package Indonesia Blend this way to help protect it during shipping and extend its storage life.
2. Only mix when you're ready to use it.
Once the ingredients are combined, the microbial magic can begin, particularly in moist conditions. Storing the mixed ingredients in a bag with restricted airflow, even with a small amount of moisture present, can encourage unwanted microbial activity and rapid deterioration.
Mix only what you need, or make sure you use it all.
IMPORTANT: IN OUR OPINION, THIS MIX SHOULD NOT BE STORED AFTER MIXING. IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST STORE IT, IT NEEDS TO BE THOROUGHLY DRIED FIRST (THINK DESICCATED). OTHERWISE, THE MICROBES ARE GOING TO HAVE A PARTY IN THAT SEALED BAG WITH MOISTURE AND MINIMAL AIR MOVEMENT!
Mix #117 is one of the most unusual formulations in our collection.
Nearly two-thirds of the mix consists of rice hulls, creating an exceptionally lightweight, open substrate with substantial air space around the roots.
Tree fern fiber provides the moisture-holding counterbalance, while worm castings and biochar complete this deceptively simple four-component formulation.
The result is a highly aerated, fast-draining growing medium with surprising moisture retention, without the density of a conventional potting mix.
Drainage: ★★★★★
Aeration: ★★★★★
Moisture Retention: ★★★☆☆
Natural Capillary Wicking / Bottom Watering: ★★½☆☆
Physical Wick / Self-Watering Compatibility: ★★★★☆
Back in 2020, while everyone else seemed to be scrambling for rare imports from Indonesia, I became obsessed with something considerably less glamorous:
What were they growing them in?
The plants coming out of those nurseries were spectacular. After connecting with growers there, rice hulls kept appearing in their growing media.
That fascinated us.
Rice hulls are naturally rich in silica, and their physical structure creates something tropical roots particularly appreciate: a lot of air.
We took inspiration from those Indonesian growing practices and eventually handed the concept to Dr. Y.
As usual, she couldn't leave it alone.
Tree fern fiber was incorporated for moisture retention and root contact, biochar for its porous structure and potential nutrient-buffering properties, and worm castings for a modest organic and nutritional component.
The result became Mix #117, our Indonesia Blend.
Rice hulls form the structural backbone of Indonesia Blend, making up nearly two-thirds of the formulation.
Their lightweight, relatively rigid structure creates substantial pore space, allowing excess water to drain rapidly while maintaining air around the roots.
Unlike a conventional fine-textured potting mix, Indonesia Blend relies on the relationship between four very different ingredients:
Rice Hulls: The primary structural component, providing exceptional air space and rapid drainage. Naturally silica-rich.
Tree Fern Fiber: Provides moisture retention and root contact within the open structure.
Worm Castings: Contribute organic matter and a modest nutritional component.
Biochar: Adds porous structure and may contribute to nutrient retention and buffering.
Individually, these are relatively straightforward materials. Together, they create a growing medium with a rather unusual balance of properties.
It's the relationship between these four ingredients that makes Mix #117 work.
Indonesia Blend is an exceptionally airy, fast-draining substrate that retains pockets of moisture throughout its open structure.
Water moves through the mix readily, while the tree fern fiber and other organic components help retain moisture around the roots.
The tradeoff is straightforward: in warm, dry conditions, you may need to water more frequently than you would with a finer, more moisture-retentive potting mix.
This is not a conventional, moisture-heavy potting soil. Its defining characteristic is the amount of air space it maintains around the root system.
Indonesia Blend was originally developed for aroids, including:
Anthurium
Philodendron
Monstera
Alocasia
Syngonium
Epipremnum
Scindapsus
But our experience with this formulation has gone well beyond aroids.
We've grown an extraordinary variety of plants in Indonesia Blend and have yet to find much that doesn't seem to appreciate it.
And you should see what Alocasia do in this mix. It defies all logic!
Its open structure also makes it an interesting option for Hoyas and other epiphytic plants that appreciate substantial root-zone aeration.
As with any growing medium, watering frequency and suitability will depend on the plant, container, and growing environment.
Indonesia Blend works exceptionally well with our completely natural Myco+ Essentials Booster Pack.
The Booster Pack is not a fertilizer. Instead, it is designed to support biological activity and root establishment, helping create a favorable growing environment alongside your regular fertilization program.
The Booster Pack is entirely optional.
Mix #117 is designed to perform exceptionally well on its own.
Every bag of Indonesia Blend is prepared by hand, to order, rather than mass-produced and stored as a finished substrate.
The rice hulls are packaged separately from the remaining ingredients to help preserve the product during shipping and storage.
Remember: Combine the ingredients only when you're ready to use the mix. Once mixed, use it immediately rather than storing the prepared substrate in a bag with restricted airflow.
