Soil-based mix

Also known as: Potting soil, Garden soil, Compost-amended mix, Container mix

Properties

pH effect	varies by source
Water retention	high
Drainage	moderate
Oxygen to roots	moderate
Bacterial surface area	high
Reusability	moderate (2-5 cycles)
Cost tier	low
Weight	moderate

How it affects the system

Brings its own biology: any aquaponics or hydroponics system that uses soil ceases to be aquaponics or hydroponics in the strict sense
pH depends on source: peat-based mixes run acidic (5.5-6.0), compost-heavy mixes run neutral to slightly alkaline
Holds nutrients between waterings: reduces the frequency and precision required for nutrient management compared to soilless systems
Pest and pathogen vectors: introducing field soil into a clean indoor setup is the most common route for fungus gnat and root-knot nematode infestations

System compatibility

Works well in:

soil bed
wicking bed

Avoid in:

NFT channels
deep water culture (rafts)
media bed (ebb and flow)
drip
dutch bucket

Care notes

Used in wicking-bed systems and traditional in-ground or raised-bed gardens. The site lists soil-bed as a system option because many readers grow some crops in soil alongside their hydroponics/aquaponics setup; the garden planner skips chemistry rules in soil-bed mode.

Crops that work in soil-based mix

231 edible crops in the catalog list this medium as compatible.

Sources

Data drawn from: rhs-uk, university-of-florida-ifas. Last verified 2026-05-13.

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