Compost is widely praised in outdoor gardening for enriching soil, feeding worms, and boosting microbial activity. In a garden bed, it’s fantastic. But when it comes to indoor plants, compost can actually hold them back.
Here’s why: compost continues to decompose long after it’s mixed in. Outdoors, this isn’t a problem, but in a pot that may only be refreshed/repotted once every 7-12 months, that breakdown leads to compaction. As the mix collapses, roots lose precious air pockets. Oxygen levels drop, drainage slows, and growth stalls. Many indoor plant issues trace back to poor aeration - exactly what compost creates over time.
Many indoor mixes on the market use compost not because it’s the best option for houseplants, but because it’s cheap and readily available. Compost adds “fluff” or bulk to a bag, helping manufacturers cut costs while making the mix look rich and full. The problem is, that bulk comes at the expense of performance - compost breaks down, compacts, and starves roots of oxygen over time. At HiGrow, we believe indoor plants deserve better. That’s why our blends rely on high-quality, stable substrates like coco, perlite, coco chips, and LECA, which provide the same light, airy structure without collapsing on your plant’s roots.
If you’ve ever wondered why even small businesses that use compost never showcase their “composting process,” it’s because there usually isn’t one. Instead of producing their own, they’re sourcing pre-made compost from landscape supply yards. And where do those yards get it? Council green waste bins. That means the material isn’t nutrient-rich scraps from fine restaurants or carefully selected organics - it’s mostly lawn clippings, woody offcuts, and, yes, even grass that may have been sprayed with herbicides or other chemicals. This kind of compost is cheap and abundant, but it’s far from the premium nutrition most people imagine when they hear the word “compost.”
The difference is clear: while compost can offer a short burst of nutrition, it compromises root health in the long term. HiGrow mixes are built for consistency, with substrates like coco, perlite, coco chips, and LECA that hold their structure far longer than compost ever could. This means healthier roots, bigger leaves, and plants that thrive between repots.
That’s why every HiGrow blend is 100% soilless, designed to maintain structure and airflow for the long haul. Our HiGrow Aroid potting mix range, including Aroid AirLite, Aroid Classic, and Aroid AquaMax, gives collectors the flexibility to choose the perfect balance of moisture and aeration for their anthuriums, philodendrons, monsteras and alocasias. For new cuttings, HiGrow RootStart provides a fine, airy medium that encourages fast rooting without waterlogging. For houseplant staples, HiGrow FicusFlex supports strong woody root systems, while HiGrow FernFriend is tuned for moisture-loving yet delicate fern roots.
For indoor plants that need more than a “one-mix-fits-all” solution, choose HiGrow. Your plants will thank you with stronger growth, better aeration, and fewer setbacks than any compost-based blend can provide.