9 Best Soil for Microgreens To Grow Fast [Review]

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With a wide variety of tastes and textures, homegrown microgreens are definitely great to add to your diet. The best thing about them is that they’re something you can easily grow at home. But trust me on this, you won’t have a successful microgreen harvest if you don’t use the right soil.

So, you need the best soil for microgreens, but how do you choose? We know the pain you’ll go through trying to sort through the dozens of choices online. But don’t worry. You can pick any of these nine soil products that will give you healthy yields. 

These products have just the right nutrients and properties you’ll need for happy microgreen gardening. 

Let’s break them down… 

Top Pick

FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil is our top pick. This soil is ready for use out of the bag. This nutrient-packed mix contains mycorrhizal fungi and microbes for jump-starting your micro plants. It’s exactly what your microgreens need to thrive.

Here Are the Best Soils for Microgreens:

1. FoxFarm Happy Frog 12 Quart Potting Soil — Best Overall

Your microgreens deserve the best nutrition, and that’s exactly what this great soil from FoxFarm provides.

This growing mix is amended with mycorrhizal fungi and microbes that will effectively enhance nutrient uptake and improve root efficiency. Your juvenile plants will feel so good with the ample supply of bat guano, earthworm castings, and aged forest products.

Unlike conventional potting soils, Happy Frog does a great job of encouraging your plant roots to absorb water.

The soil is super easy to use. All you have to do is fill your containers with one inch of soil, then plant your microgreens, and water thoroughly. You could also improve the performance of this growing mix by feeding liquid plant food.

Key Features

• Fertilizer
• Perlite
• Sphagnum peat moss
• Aged forest products
• Humic acid
• Mycorrhizal fungi and microbes
• Available in 4-pack and 12-quart options

Pros

• It’s a great potting soil for outdoor and indoor plants
• Doesn’t contain fillers, such as sewage sludge or waste
• Well-aerated and fluffy to promote optimal root development
• Encourages outstanding nutrient and water uptake
• The composted forest products help retain moisture

Cons

• Some bags of Happy Frog may come with bugs
• The growing mix needs regular watering to boost growth

Verdict

You can give your microgreens the five-star treatment they deserve with this soil mix from Foxfarm. It is the perfect potting soil for both outdoor and indoor growing. Just be on the lookout for bags with bugs.

Overall Rating: 4.7

2. Mountain Valley Minute Soil Compressed Coco Coir

If you’re looking for a convenient way to grow microgreens, this compressed coco coir from Mountain Valley should do the trick.

The soil is made from sustainable coconut coir, which is raw, untreated, and pure. The coir is dried as well as compressed into small sizes for convenience. The soil has a light texture, which will help keep the delicate roots of your microgreens healthy and happy.

One puck of this soil can expand up to two quarts of soil. All you need is to add a few cups of water and crush the coir to produce fluffy, nutrient-packed soil. The produced soil is much tidier and easier to deal with compared to damp potting soil.

When fully expanded, the medium provides superior aeration and water holding capacity for stronger and faster growth.

Key Features

• 10 compact pucks
• 8.5 cups of soil per puck
• OMRI listed
• Raw and non-amended
• Well-aerated
• High water holding capacity

Pros

• One puck expands into 8.5 cups of soil
• It’s very effective at holding onto water than conventional soils
• The coir is usually untreated, making it highly eco-friendly
• Suitable for improving water holding capacity of garden soil
• The expanded soil is tidier and easier to handle

Cons

• The growing mixture dehydrates pretty quickly
• It may not be possible to reuse the soil for subsequent planting

Verdict

The compact coir is super easy to store and expands exceptionally when exposed to a few cups of water. The price tag is also budget-friendly.

Overall Rating: 4.6

3. Window Garden Expanding Organic Fiber Soil

You can also start growing your microgreens using this organic fiber soil from Window Garden. It’s a great choice for both indoor and outdoor growing.

This unique organic fiber soil is ideal for beginners as well as advanced gardeners. Aside from microgreens, this medium is also ideal for growing other plants like cat grass, wheatgrass, and succulents.

The soil is uniquely compressed into pucks, which means you don’t have to worry about dirty, bulky, and cumbersome bags. All you have to do to expand the soil is expose it to enough water.

The fiber soil is created from renewable coconut husks, making it eco-friendly. The distinctive natural fibers offer abundant oxygen, which is great because this prevents root rot in case you overwater your plants. 

Key Features

• Renewable coconut husks
• Compact pucks
• Good aeration
• Great water holding capacity
• Expands into fluffy soil

Pros

• The coconut husks are renewable and eco-friendly
• The compact pucks are easy to carry
• The soil has good water-holding capability
• It is packed with lots of oxygen to limit root rot
• Expands quickly into fluffy soil when mixed with water

Cons

• You may need to use fertilizer to boost the soil’s performance
• Some pucks may attract fungus after expanding into soil

Verdict

This growing mix is used by professional gardeners. So, it is one of the best choices for growing microgreens. But you may need to slightly boost its performance with fertilizer or compost.

Overall Rating: 4.6

4. Black Gold 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil

If you like to grow your microgreens organically, then choose this organic potting soil from Black Gold.

This OMRI-listed growing medium yields beautiful microgreens with the finest organic and natural ingredients. This makes it the best choice for your family and garden. It is the best soil for microgreens grown in raised bed gardens and containers.

This potting soil is enriched with perlite, compost, bark, and Canadian sphagnum peat moss. It is also packed with organic fertilizer and earworm castings to promote vigorous and healthy growth. 

The soil contains RESiLIENCE, which is a silicone-enriched additive developed by Sun Gro and usually mixed into Black Gold soil for improved wilting resistance.

The soil is even certified and recognized as a premium potting mix by well-known entities like the Mulch & Soil Council. This simply means that you can grow your greens with confidence.

Key Features

• OMRI-listed growing medium
• Perlite
• Compost
• Bark
• Canadian sphagnum peat moss
• Earthworm castings
• Fertilizer
• Silicone-enriched additive

Pros

• Silicone-enriched to prevent wilting
• Great for raised bed and indoor/outdoor containers
• Promotes vigorous and healthy plant growth
• Has good color and texture
• Has great water holding capacity

Cons

• Some bags may come with soil that grows mold
• The bag may be a little bulky for some people

Verdict

This growing mix from Black Gold is one of the best options for growing microgreens. It is packed with nutrients that will guarantee a good yield every time. 

Overall Rating: 4.6

5. Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix

Are you new to gardening? This organic potting mix from Espoma is just what you need to get started with microgreens.

This organic growing mix has a vibrant blend of some of the most beautiful natural materials and non-synthetic chemicals. It is good for use in raised gardens and containers.

It provides some of the best nutrients that support the healthy growth of your microgreens. The soil can also fertilize your plants for a long time.

The mix has good aeration and drainage to ensure your microgreens do not get soaked with water to avoid root rot. It also has adequate organic matter that improves soil structure to help anchor all the nutrients you green plants need.

Key Features

• Organic potting mix
• For containers and raised gardens
• Features myco tone
• Humus and perlite
• Sphagnum peat moss
• Earthworm castings

Pros

• The soil is great for both outdoor and indoor
• Has enough humus that provides superior texture
• Very effective at encouraging plants to absorb nutrients
• Fertilizes plants for a long time
• The soil is well-aerated to prevent root rot

Cons

• It is possible to receive soil that contains gnat eggs
• The bag can be slightly heavy for some beginner gardeners

Verdict

As long as you receive a genuine bag that doesn’t contain or attract gnats, then this organic potting soil is going to do wonders for your small plants. This mix contains just the right mixture of ingredients.

Overall Rating: 4.6

6. Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix

To grow healthy microgreens, you need nutrient-packed soil. This organic super-growing medium from Burpee is what you should look for.

With this super-growing mix, you don’t have to worry about adding compost or fertilizer. All you need is water. The soil is enriched with microorganisms that help improve soil structure and plant health.

The soil is made of coconut coir, which is good because it is a renewable and sustainable resource that is very effective at maintaining moisture.

The soil is well-aerated, which is great because it allows a superior flow of oxygen to prevent root rot. Water also moves more evenly to keep the soil moist.

Key Features

• OMRI-listed
• Burpee plant food
• Coconut coir
• Raised bed and container
• Potting mix

Pros

• The growing mix is OMRI-listed making it suitable for organic food
• Feeds the microgreens with Burpee plant food for superior growth
• The coconut coir provides exceptional water holding capacity
• Proper aeration helps prevent root rot
• It is a great choice for both container and raised bed gardening

Cons

• It’s possible to experience gnats infestation with some bags
• Some bags may contain glass and plastic pieces in the soil

Verdict

This incredible potting mix from Burpee is a great option for growing microgreens as it is packed with the essential nutrients that the plants need.

Overall Rating: 4.6

7. Miracle-Gro Concentrated Planting Mix

If you want to grow healthy and bountiful microgreens, try this concentrated planting mix from Miracle-Gro.

This concentrated growing mix can be used in both in-ground and container gardening. What we truly like about this soil is its ability to expand. All you have to do is add water and stir and the mix will expand exceptionally. 

In a pot, fill one-third of the soil and gradually add water while you stir. When equal parts of the growing mix and water are reached, you are ready to plant.

You can use this product with your native soil in the ground as an amendment. Just mix it into the top four inches of your native soil. It will make it lighter, creating more air space for plant roots to thrive.

Key Features

• In-ground and container gardening
• Compressed coir
• Contains plant food
• Good aeration
• Expands three times
• Available in 0.33 and 0.67 cu ft sizes

Pros

• Expands up to three times the original size when exposed to water
• Holds up to fifty percent more water than traditional soils
• Contains rich plant food that can sustain growth for extended periods
• Superior aeration prevents root rot
• Can be effectively used to amend the native soil

Cons

• The growing mix may expand excessively out of the pot
• Some bags may come with a mold problem

Verdict

One of the best things about this soil is that it expands more than three times its original size. So, make sure the pot is large enough before you start adding water.

Overall Rating: 4.5

8. Alphatool 40 MM Expanding Coir Fiber Potting Soil

If you are experiencing slow growth of microgreens with conventional potting mixes, switching to this coir fiber soil from Alphatool might help.

This is a nutrient-rich potting soil that quickly expands when water is added, giving you an abundance of soil for growing your little greens. The thirty pieces of 40-mm coir fiber are packed in a portable package that’s easy to carry.

It’s perfect for containers and pots. Simply take a puck and place it inside a pot or container. Then add water and stir and the coir will expand into loose soil. The expanded coir has superior air permeability and water retention.

But the thing is, the pucks may come in different thicknesses. Some may be less than 70-mm thick.

Key Features

• Compressed coir
• 30 pieces per bag
• Eco-friendly
• Expands greatly
• Container and pot gardening

Pros

• Each puck expands into a rich growing mix
• The coir has good aeration and water retention
• Easy to use with containers and pots
• It is a great option for growing organic food
• Has wide application in addition to growing microgreens

Cons

• Some of the pucks in the package may be thinner
• You may have to enrich it with perlite for superior growth

Verdict

This is a great economical option for a first-time gardener. It will give your microgreens what they need to grow. But you are likely to get discs or pucks of different thicknesses.

Overall Rating: 4.3

9. Window Nursery Expanding Organic Fiber Soil

You can get fast-growing microgreens with this great organic fiber soil from Window Nursery.

It is made of one hundred percent organic coco coir, which is obtained from the coconut tree. The coir is exceptional for microgreens as well as succulents and it is also great for both outdoor and indoor growing.

The coco coir has outstanding aeration, which is good because it improves fertility, richness, and drainage. The coir can effectively retain water to make sure that your little green plants hardly run out of water. This encourages healthy root growth.

This growing medium is compressed into small pucks, making it a cost-effective option for gardeners on a budget. 

Key Features

• Compressed coco coir
• 100 percent organic
• Good aeration
• Up to 10x water retention
• Expands easily with water

Pros

• It is an inexpensive option for gardeners on a tight budget
• Compressed coco coir expand quickly when exposed to water
• Provides good aeration for superior plant health
• Can be mixed with native sandy or clay soil
• Suitable for potting soil, greenhouses, and indoor planting

Cons

• It’s possible to receive pucks that don’t expand
• Some of the pucks may be a little thinner

Verdict

This unique organic fiber soil is a good option for microgreens. Just make sure you get the soil from a trusted supplier to avoid poor-quality pucks.

Overall Rating: 4.3 

Things to Consider When Looking for Soils for Microgreens

The best soil for microgreens is one that gives you the right balance of all the essential things your little green plants need to thrive. These include water-holding capacity, drainage, aeration, and nutrients.

Understand the Ingredients

The most important factor when looking for high-performing soil for growing microgreens is understanding the ingredients.

The primary ingredients that improve the performance of commercial soils are usually animal-based materials or organic plants. These can include the following:

• Coco Coir – Adds to water retention, drainage, and absorbency
• Earthworm Castings – Improves soil structure, water retention, and aeration
• Bat Guano – It is a suitable fertilizer for your microgreens
• Compost – Helps improve nutrient and water retention
• Manure – Reduces leaching and makes nutrients readily available
• Composted Bark – Loosen the soil as well as improves drainage and aeration
• Perlite – Added to improve drainage and aeration for superior root health
• Beneficial Microbes – Do a great job of breaking down organic matter to increase organic content and improve the soil structure
• Sphagnum Peat Moss – Improves the soil’s water holding capacity and only releases the water when needed 

Potting Mix Vs Potting Soil

These two terms are usually used interchangeably by gardeners, but they differ somehow. Potting soil, for starters, may or may not have soil. Potting mix, on the other hand, is mainly soilless. Potting mix, therefore, is sterile, making it a safer option for microgreens because it doesn’t have pathogens.

FAQs

Can soil be reused for microgreens?

You can reuse the soil if the initial plants were healthy and free of pests or any kind of diseases. But it is strongly recommended that you sterilize the soil and enrich it with fertilizer and plant food.

Soil or hydroponics, which is better for microgreens?

When you plant your microgreens hydroponically, you will have to monitor as well as water the plants at least once a day.

But when using soil, it will give your microgreens the water and nutrients they need and hold the rest for later. So, you will be watering the plants less frequently.

Should you add fertilizer to your soil?

Most soils recommended for microgreens contain coir, perlite, peat moss among other things. 

But not all soils are heavily enriched with the appropriate nutrients that your little green plants need to thrive. Adding fertilizer can effectively improve the richness of the soil as well as the health of your plants.

Do all potting soils and potting mixes have gnats?

Several gardeners have claimed to find gnats in their soils. But that doesn’t mean all the soils you will come across will attract gnats. 

Just make sure your soil has the right moisture content and organic matter to avoid attracting gnats. It is also advisable to avoid soils that are claimed to attract gnats most of the time.

Final Thoughts

For this roundup, the overall best growing medium for microgreens is FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil. What makes this soil stand out is the fact that it is ready for use out of the box and it has a budget-friendly price tag. It is the perfect jump start your microgreens need to thrive.

It is composed of the right types of ingredients, including fertilizer, perlite, sphagnum peat moss, and aged forest products. This means it has the best aeration, drainage, nutrient content, water holding capacity, and plant food for promoting healthy growth. You will hardly experience gnats or mold problems with this incredible soil.

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