Adjusting TropicSoil™

TropicSoil™ is formulated to provide the perfect base for a wide range of plants, from tropical trees and flowering shrubs to herbs and vegetables. However, each plant has its own specific requirements for optimal growth, such as drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient levels. Each adjustment in this guide is measured for 1 cubic foot of TropicSoil™, making it simple for you to tailor the soil to your specific plants. Whether you’re cultivating fruit trees, perennial flowers, or cacti, these adjustments ensure that your plants receive the ideal environment they need to thrive.

No Adjustment

Perennial Flowers: Roses, Peonies, Coneflowers, Daylilies, Black-Eyed Susan
Leafy Greens: Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard
Fruiting Vegetables: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants
Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage
Groundcover Flowers: Creeping Phlox, Ajuga, Creeping Thyme, Liriope, Creeping Jenny
Alliums: Onions, Garlic, Shallots
Root Vegetables: Carrots, Beets, Radishes, Turnips
Ornamental and Shade Trees: Maple, Dogwood, Magnolia, Birch, Willow, Redbud, Tulip Tree

Minor Adjustment

Fruit Trees: Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Cherries, Citrus Trees, Avocado
Adjustment: 1 cup dolomite lime

Nut Trees: Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans
Adjustment: 1 cup worm castings

Pollinator-Friendly Flowers: Lavender, Bee Balm, Salvia
Adjustment: 1 cup perlite for lavender

Flowering Shrubs: Hydrangeas, Butterfly Bush, Lilacs, Camellias, Gardenias
Adjustment: 1/2 cup peat and 1/2 cup sulfur

Mediterranean Herbs: Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Marjoram
Adjustment: 2 cups perlite

Fruiting Vegetables: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants
Adjustment: 2 cups rock phosphate

Vining Fruits: Grapes, Passionfruit, Kiwifruit
Adjustment: 1/4 cup fine bark

Tropical and Subtropical Trees: Banana, Papaya, Mango, Guava
Adjustment: 1 cup worm castings.

Cacti and Succulents: Echeveria, Sempervivum, Aloe Vera, Agave, Pachyphytum
Adjustment: 2 cups fine bark.

Bulbs and Tubers: Tulips, Lilies, Iris, Gladiolus
Adjustment: 1/4 cups of fine bark per cubic foot to improve drainage and prevent bulb rot.

Flowering Trees: Jacaranda
Adjustment: 1 cup worm casting

Tropical and Subtropical Trees: Coconut
Adjustment: 1 cup sand

Perennial Vegetables: Asparagus, Rhubarb
Adjustment: 1/2 cup worm castings

More Adjustment

Evergreen Trees: Pine, Spruce, Cedar
Adjustment: Add 1/2 cup peat and 1/2 cup sulfur

Moisture-Loving Herbs: Mint, Lemongrass
Adjustment: 1 cup, compost, a handful of leaf mold

Cacti: Saguaro, Prickly Pear, Organ Pipe
Adjustment: Add 1 cup perlite, 1 cup sand, 1 cup pumice