Chonk monster comparing houseplant potting mix with mineral PON

CHONK DIRECTORY · Indoor plant care · Guide 3 of 9

Choose between soil and PON

Choose the growing system you can maintain. Neither potting mix nor mineral PON is automatically better.

4 min picture guideReviewed 29 August 20269 sources

Picture guide · three scenes

Choose the medium. Reset the routine.

Compare root-zone structure, the pot setup and its instructions. Neither potting mix nor mineral PON is automatically better.

01Start with structure

Scene 1

Potting mix is not garden soil

Skip dense garden soil; choose lightweight media balancing water and air, then match general, aroid, cactus or orchid mix to the plant.[1][2]

  • Skip garden soil
  • Balance water and air
  • Match mix to plant
02Choose the setup

Scene 2

PON is not one watering method

Mineral PON can fill a conventional pot or an irrigation planter. The pot setup changes how you water, so follow its instructions.[2][8]

  • Mineral substrate
  • Conventional or reservoir
  • Follow the setup
03Transition carefully

Scene 3

Top-water before the reservoir

For LECHUZA irrigation planters, soil removal need not be complete: top-water for 12 weeks with little reservoir water, then switch.[2][8]

  • Keep some soil
  • Top-water 12 weeks
  • Reservoir later
Open the full substrate checklist

01

“Soil” usually means potting mix

Houseplant mixes are normally lightweight growing media rather than garden soil. Roots need support plus a useful balance of water and air; ordinary garden soil is usually too dense for a container.[1][2]

02

Compare the systems

These five current UK-available examples cover different jobs. This is an unranked comparison, not an audited sales ranking:[3][2][4][5][6][7][8]

  • General houseplants: Houseplant Focus Repotting Mix Peat Free.
  • Specialist potting media: Premium Monstera & Philodendron Blend, Cactus & Succulent Focus, or graded-bark Orchid Focus.
  • Mineral substrate: LECHUZA-PON; it can fill a conventional pot or a compatible irrigation planter, each with different instructions.

03

Follow the transition setup

Moving from potting mix to semi-hydro changes the root environment and can fail during transition. Trial one healthy plant and follow the exact product or planter instructions. For LECHUZA irrigation planters, complete soil removal is unnecessary: top-water for the first 12 weeks with as little water as possible in the reservoir, then use the water shaft. In conventional pots, continue top-watering.[2][8]

Explore the plants

Plant Index entries connected to this guide:

Five UK-available examples · checked August 2026

Five current UK houseplant substrates

An unranked snapshot of five current UK-available products covering general, specialist and mineral media. It is not audited sales data or proof of superior performance. Choose by plant and follow the current bag or planter instructions.

Evidence used (9 sources)
  1. 1
    Growing Media (Potting Soil) for Containers ↗University of Maryland Extension
  2. 2
  3. 3
    Peat-free compost choices ↗Royal Horticultural Society
  4. 4
    Houseplant Focus Repotting Mix Peat Free ↗Growth Technology — manufacturer page
  5. 5
  6. 6
    Cactus & Succulent Focus Repotting Mix Peat Free ↗Growth Technology — manufacturer page
  7. 7
    Orchid Focus Repotting Mix Peat Free ↗Growth Technology — manufacturer page
  8. 8
  9. 9
    LECHUZA-PON Potting Mix ↗LECHUZA UK — official UK distributor