Best Soil Mix for Monstera Bulbasaur

Best soil mix for a Monstera Bulbasaur is chunky aroid mix, not the bag of “indoor potting soil” most folks grab at the big box. I hate seeing a nice speckled plant come back to me chewed up by wet roots. Straight peat holds water against the roots. Bulbasaur is still a deliciosa. It wants air.

What I pot them in down here is simple. About half orchid bark, a quarter perlite or pumice, and the rest coco coir or a little peat, plus a small handful of worm castings. Bark in the 1/4 to 1/2 inch range. If you squeeze a damp handful and it stays a mud ball, it is too fine. Water should run out the holes in a few seconds, then the top 2 inches should dry in a few days. That is the mix.

Bulbasaur drinks slower than a plain green Monstera. The pale flecks do less work, so the roots sit wet longer in a heavy mix. I lean a little heavier on bark for these than I do for a green deliciosa. Same idea I use on other variegated Monsteras in the greenhouse.

Bright indirect light is what keeps the cream and silver flecks from going dull. A moss pole is what brings the splits. Soil will not punch holes in the leaves by itself. Hungry plants tell you though. New leaves stay small, color looks washed, and growth just stalls. Half-strength balanced fertilizer in spring and summer, when you see new growth. Skip it in winter. Full strength burns roots. I have watched that a hundred times.

Indoor air down here in Pinellas is already humid most of the year, which these like. AC rooms dry out. Keep it around 65 to 85 F, off cold glass, and dust the undersides. Spider mites love a dry, dusty Bulbasaur. A quick wipe and decent airflow beats spraying later. I do not like heavy pesticide on houseplants if a rinse and clean leaves will get you taken care of.

People buy one, pot it in miracle dirt, water on a schedule, then message me when it yellows. Check the mix first. If the bark has broken down into coffee grounds, repot. Spring is easiest. Nursery pickup in St. Petersburg and Lealman, and we ship nationwide. Same plants I grow for folks in Clearwater, Largo, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Tampa, and Bradenton.

Josh Toohey
727-748-5127

What soil is best for Monstera Bulbasaur?
A chunky aroid mix of orchid bark, perlite or pumice, and coco coir, with a little worm castings. Skip dense potting soil.

How often should I water a Bulbasaur in that mix?
When the top 2 inches are dry. Let it drain. Do not leave it in a saucer.

Will the right soil give me more variegation and fenestration?
Soil keeps the roots alive. Bright indirect light holds the speckles. A moss pole is what pushes bigger splits.

Where can I get a Bulbasaur in St. Petersburg?
Monstera Houseplants in the Lealman / St. Petersburg area. Local pickup when listed, shipping nationwide. Call Josh at 727-748-5127.