Houseplants bring a little bit of the outdoors in, and getting the soil right from day one makes them so much easier to keep happy. Our Cape Neddick Blend is a compost-free mix, which matters more indoors than you might think — compost-free soil is less likely to attract fungus gnats, one of the most common houseplant headaches.

o Choose a clean pot with drainage holes — this is just as important indoors as out, since standing water at the bottom of a pot is one of the fastest ways to lose a houseplant to root rot.

o Fill your container about halfway with Cape Neddick Houseplant Mix. Gently loosen your plant's roots if they look tightly wound, then set the root ball in place so the base of the stem sits right at the soil surface, at the same depth it was growing at in its previous pot.

o Fill in the remaining space with more mix, gently tamping it down to remove air pockets.

o Water thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes, then let the pot drain completely before placing it in a saucer or decorative sleeve.

o Place your plant where it'll get the right light for its type — most common houseplants like bright, indirect light near an east- or south-facing window, though it's worth double-checking what your specific plant prefers, since needs vary a lot from a snake plant to a fern.

o Water again once the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch, rather than on a fixed schedule — how often that is will depend on your plant, your home's humidity, and the season. Most houseplants need less frequent watering in fall and winter, when growth naturally slows down.

o Keep an eye out for common houseplant pests like fungus gnats or spider mites, especially on new growth or the undersides of leaves, and check that your plant isn't sitting in constantly soggy soil.

o During the growing season (spring through summer), feed your plants with our Liquid Squid Fertilizer for Indoor Plants, mixed 1 ounce per gallon of water, every 3-4 weeks. Hold off on fertilizing in fall and winter, when slower growth means your plant needs less nutrition — resume once you see new growth appear in spring.

o Repot every 1-2 years, or whenever you notice roots circling the bottom of the pot or growth slowing even with good care — a sign your plant has outgrown its space.

We Suggest:

Need More Help? Check out our Growing Guide blogs below:

Preparing Your Plants to Come Back indoors After Summer 

Top 20 Houseplants and Why You Should Have Them In Your Home