What Even Is Substrate? (And Why Your Plant Hates What Came in the Pot)
Let’s get something out of the way:
Most store-bought “indoor plant soil” is garbage.
It’s peat-heavy, moisture-trapping, pest-prone, and usually wrong for most houseplants.
If you’ve ever brought home a new plant and watched it slowly go sad in the pot it came in, it’s probably not your fault. It’s the substrate.
🌱 Wait—What Is Substrate?
Substrate is just a fancy word for what your plant is growing in. It could be soil. It could be moss. It could be a mix of bark, charcoal, perlite, and more. It's the base layer your plant lives in, drinks from, breathes through, and grows into.
Good substrate:
Matches your watering style
Supports the plant’s natural root structure
Drains well and holds the right amount of moisture
Doesn’t turn into a soggy block or bone-dry clump
🧠 Different Plants = Different Needs
Ferns don’t want the same thing as cacti. Aroid roots love airflow. Succulent roots need to dry fast. Even you as the plant parent matter. Do you water on a schedule? Forget for weeks? Hover every day? That’s why I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all soil. I believe in custom substrate that works for both you and your plants.
Introducing the Sit A Second Substrate Collection
I hand-mix every bag in small batches using ingredients chosen for performance and forgiveness. Whether you're overwatering, underwatering, or just trying to figure out what your plant even is, I’ve got you covered.
🌿 Chronic
For the chronically distracted plant parent.
Moisture-retentive, nutrient-rich, and loaded with extras like slow-release fertilizer and pest control. Perfect for Monstera, Philodendron, and other medium-thirst aroids that like to be kept steady without staying wet.
Think of it as the “set-it-and-forget-it” mix.
🍃 Curate
For the intentionally over-involved plant parent.
Chunky, breathable, and made for climbing aroids and clear-pot people.
Great for Philodendron, Epipremnum, and Monstera with thick roots that want airflow and structure.
You curate everything else—why not your substrate too?
💧 Cozy
For roots that like to be tucked in.
Moisture-retentive and soft without being soggy.
Best for ferns, begonias, rooted cuttings, and baby plants that like steady hydration.
Cozy is not beginner-friendly—it’s for plant parents who know how to manage moisture with care.
🪨 Crumble
For your desert jewels and dry divas.
Rocky, gritty, and quick-drying.
Built for succulents and cacti who hate staying wet and love a fast-draining, low-organic mix.
Less soil, more stone—just how your dry girls like it.
🛍️ Not Sure Where to Start?
Each listing includes guidance on which mix fits your plant and your watering style. You can also always start with a quart to test the feel before upgrading to a gallon.
Because no one should have to learn the hard way that soggy roots = sad plants.
