Typical “Chunky Soil Mix”… What Are You Really Paying For?
- Professor Monstera
- Jan 30
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 31
Walk into almost any plant shop or scroll social media and you’ll see it everywhere:
big bark chunks, white stones, pumice, perlite. It looks clean. It looks premium. It photographs well.
But here’s the uncomfortable question most people never stop to ask:
What is your plant actually getting from this?
The Problem With “Chunky” Soil Mixes
Chunky mixes are marketed as premium because they look structured and airy. And yes, they drain fast and hold plants upright.
But that’s where the benefits largely end.
Most chunky mixes are:
Low in actual nutrition
Biologically inactive
Structurally focused, not biologically functional
In plain terms, the soil itself is not feeding your plant.
That’s why growers using these mixes rely so heavily on:
Constant fertiliser schedules
Bottled nutrients
Supplements to “correct” deficiencies
The plant isn’t supported by the soil system.
It survives because of external inputs.
So ask yourself:
Where is the nutrition coming from between feeds?
What is happening at root level when you’re not adding something?
Is this soil designed for plant biology… or just visual appeal?
Soil Should Do the Work — Not You
In nature, plants aren’t fed on a schedule.
They live in biologically active environments where:
Microorganisms break down organic matter
Nutrients are cycled continuously
Roots are fed steadily, not in spikes
That system is missing from most decorative chunky mixes.
Which brings us to the alternative.
PM Genetics Living Soil: A Different System Entirely
PM Genetics Living Soil is not built to look impressive on top.
It’s built to function where it matters — at the roots.
This is a living system, not a substrate.
What makes it different:
Active microbiology that feeds roots continuously
Natural nutrient cycling instead of feed-and-crash patterns
Even moisture retention, not extreme wet/dry swings
Improves with age, instead of breaking down and needing replacement
Designed to support plant health, not just hold the plant in place
In this system, the soil works with the plant.
You stop forcing growth.
You support biology — and growth follows.
The Real Comparison
Chunky Mix
Looks good in photos
Holds structure
Relies on you for nutrition
Requires constant intervention
Living Soil
Feeds plants naturally
Supports long-term root health
Reduces dependence on bottled fertilisers
Becomes more effective over time
One is decorative.
The other is functional.
Ask Yourself This
What if:
Your soil fed your plant every day?
Roots didn’t depend on fertiliser spikes to survive?
Watering was often enough?
Your plants grew stronger with less effort?
That’s the shift from substrates to systems.
The Solution
If you’re tired of chasing deficiencies, overcorrecting with feeds, and wondering why your plant still isn’t thriving — the issue may not be the plant.
It may be the soil.
PM Genetics Living Soil is built for plants.
Not photos.
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