$ 32.95
| /
Buffered Coconut Coir • Orchiata Pine Bark • Triple-Cleaned Perlite #2 • Worm Castings • Activated Biochar
Alocasia like moisture. Their roots, however, still need oxygen.
That sounds simple enough, but it is exactly where many potting mixes fall short. A mix that dries too quickly can leave Alocasia repeatedly wilting between waterings, while a dense, waterlogged mix can remain wet for too long and reduce the air available to the roots.
We wanted something in between.
So we asked a retired soil scientist with more than 60 years of professional experience to help us develop a peat-free mix specifically around the way Alocasia grow.
The result is Mix #2: a moisture-retentive terrestrial mix with enough structure and aeration to remain open as it stays hydrated.
Coconut coir forms the moisture-holding base. Orchiata pine bark and Perlite #2 create structure and air space. Worm castings provide a modest organic nutrient contribution, while activated biochar adds additional porosity and nutrient-holding capacity.
The goal isn't to make a mix that stays wet.
It's to make one that doesn't dry out too quickly while still giving roots access to air.
Buffered Coconut Coir
The foundation of the mix. Coir distributes and retains moisture while providing a peat-free growing medium.
Orchiata Pine Bark
Adds coarse structure and helps resist compaction as the mix ages.
Triple-Cleaned Perlite #2
Creates additional pore space for drainage and root-zone aeration.
Worm Castings
Adds organic matter and a mild source of plant nutrients.
Activated Biochar
Adds highly porous carbon with nutrient-holding capacity and contributes to the physical structure of the mix.
Alocasia, including Frydek, Polly, Black Velvet and other commonly cultivated species and hybrids.
It also works particularly well for many moisture-loving terrestrial plants, including:
Calathea & Maranta
Begonias
Peace Lilies
Terrestrial Ferns
Jewel Orchids
and other tropical houseplants that prefer an evenly moist, aerated root zone.
Moisture Retention: High
Aeration: Moderate
Drainage: Controlled
Texture: Fine to Medium-Chunky
Peat: None
pH: Approximately 5.5–6.0
Because this mix is intentionally moisture retentive, do not overpot. Choose a container appropriate for the size of the existing root system rather than putting a small plant into a disproportionately large volume of mix.
Water according to the plant and your growing conditions rather than on a fixed schedule. Allow the surface of the mix to begin drying before watering again.
The mix is complete and ready to use exactly as it comes from the bag.
For growers who want additional root-zone amendments, we also offer our optional Booster Pack. It is designed to complement your normal growing and fertilizing program, not replace fertilizer.
We love Pon for Alocasia.
In fact, we'll admit it: quite a few of our stud plants are growing in it.
But if you've ever tried shipping hundreds of Alocasia planted in Pon, you may understand why Dante really should have added another circle to Inferno.
Real wholesale doesn't involve wrapping every plant like a burrito before carefully tucking it into a box. That's far too expensive and time-consuming when you're shipping plants by the hundreds.
And Pon was becoming a nightmare.
Those little rocks become projectiles. The pots are ridiculously heavy. Plants get bounced around in transit. Roots get damaged. And somewhere along the way, the person packing the box begins reconsidering every decision that led them to this moment.
So we went to our soil guru with a request:
Give us something our Alocasia will love as much as Pon — without the shipping nightmare.
And she did not disappoint.
