Back to the Roots All-Purpose Potting Soil (6 Quarts), 100% Organic & USA Made, for Indoor and Outdoor Plants, Succulents, Flowers, and Vegetables

While this wasn’t my first experience working with plants, it was my first time needing to completely replace soil to rescue a plant from gnat-infested soil. I chose Back to the Roots Organic Coir, 51 Quart Expanding Soil because I wanted a clean, organic option that would help eliminate pests rather than reintroduce them. I also was working with a small space to replant. I did this in the bathroom. I placed the compressed block directly into a 27-gallon tote and added water let it expand and did a little chopping with a spatula. What stood out the most was just how much soil this product produced. Expanding the coir directly in the 27-gallon tote nearly filled the entire container, which really exceeded my expectations for a single compressed block. The soil has a rich, fine texture and looks evenly hydrated and well-aerated, as shown in the image. It was easy to work with and didn’t feel heavy or muddy, making it ideal for gently replanting without compacting the roots too tightly. Overall, this expanding soil made a stressful plant-rescue situation feel manageable and successful. The lightweight texture retains moisture while still draining well, which is especially important when dealing with fungus gnats. Since switching to this soil, the plant feels more stable and supported, and the surface stays clean instead of soggy. For anyone needing to refresh contaminated soil, repot stressed plants, or simply wants a clean and reliable organic growing medium, Back to the Roots Organic Coir delivers excellent volume, quality, and peace of mind. Picture is of the newly repotted plant.

I’m always in search of the perfect soil blend that supports seed germination, seedlings, mature plants, and indoor and outdoor vegetables. The Back to the Roots expanding soil has become a key ingredient in my DIY mix. The directions suggest adding 7-10 gallons of water, but I use about half that. I place the 12x12x4 brick in a 21-gallon bucket and follow this process: • Pour on 2 quarts of water • Let it expand • Scrape off the slightly moistened soil • Sift • Repeat until the entire brick is sifted This method avoids over-saturating the soil, separates out fibrous coconut husk, and leaves behind rich, airy, fluffy soil. The sifted fiber is debris-free and works beautifully as top dressing mulch. I’ve noticed slightly lower germination rates when using pure coco coir, and some seedlings tend to die off around the 3” mark. To improve results, I mix my sifted coir with vermiculite, perlite, and a bit of horse manure. One of the photos show the original brick material, sifted soil, and fibrous husk - all from the same process. The other photo shows the soil blend in use, in a batch prepared from an earlier coco brick using my sift/blend method. The video clip captures the sifted soil texture as it sprinkles from my hand into the bucket. I appreciate that this product is odor-free, 100% organic, and upcycled. My plants respond well to it, and it’s become a reliable part of my soil-building process.

Back to the roots is the best soul I have found yet and I have tried many. My plants never get overwatered in this sore for the drainage that it gives to my plants they never get overwatered again. I mix Burprer bone meal into it and it is also the best. I do a lot of cuttings off my coleus plants and never had roots grow so strong and beautifully. Between the perfect soil and the perfect fertilizer for my plants they are blooming so beautifully and fast. Never had this happen before my roots has never been so healthy my plants is never been so healthy it has been since I have switched to these two things. Very pleased I am and I am thinking about raising my flower bed with this soil but then they will never get overwatered either. You are not go wrong by using the soul or using the fertilizer I have said connect beautifully together. Wish I could give you a 10 star but there is only five but I still give you a 10.. Thank you for the best soil that makes my plants grow strong and beautiful.

recently purchased this potting mix, and overall, I’m quite satisfied. The soil feels light, airy, and well-draining, which made planting very easy. My plants seem to be thriving so far, and the mix retains moisture without feeling too soggy. However, about a week after planting, I noticed some small mushrooms popping up in the pot. While it initially worried me, I learned that this is common with organic-rich soil mixes. The mushrooms are harmless and indicate the presence of healthy microorganisms. I just removed them and adjusted my watering routine to avoid overwatering. Pros: • Light, airy texture • Holds moisture well without becoming compact • Perfect for indoor and outdoor plants Cons: • Mushrooms may appear due to the organic material • Requires careful moisture management to avoid fungal growth

I bought this expanding coir soil specifically to use as bedding for my vermicomposting bin, and it turned out to be a perfect choice. Once hydrated, the texture becomes soft, fluffy, and holds moisture evenly—exactly what earthworms need to breathe, move, and thrive. There are no additives or chemical smells, which gave me peace of mind knowing my worms were in a safe, organic environment. What I liked most is how clean and easy it is compared to typical dirt or peat-based mixes. It expands way more than you expect, so one block goes a long way. The worms burrowed into it immediately and started breaking it down, and I noticed activity and casting production increased within just a few days. It also controls odor naturally and keeps good airflow in the bin. If you’re into vermicomposting or setting up a worm farm, this is one of the best bedding bases you can start with—light, airy, and holds the perfect amount of moisture without getting muddy or compacted. Highlights: Expands a lot with just water (cost-effective) Ideal moisture retention and airflow for worm health 100% organic and safe for composting No mess, no odor — very beginner-friendly

This works perfect for growing microgreens! I still have these blocks I bought 2 years ago and they're still as dense as the day I got them. There's no weird smells. The texture is coarse, but there's some powder. There isn't a bunch of strings like some other cheaper ones. It's perfect for a growing medium. It really holds a lot of moisture so just be careful not to over water it or you'll get mold, which can be taken care of with a diluted spray of wither hydrogen peroxide or vinegar!

It's ok for a base or to add to real soil. It doesn't expand as quickly. For the cost get real soil for happier plants.

I used several bricks of coco coir to add organic matter to a 10x12sqft garden plot that was previously hard, compacted Arizona clay soil and sand. It works beautifully with our soil- coco coir soaks up moisture but releases it slowly, and by doing this, it also soaks up tons of excess minerals and locks them up, which I am confident will help prevent caliche buildup. Tilling the first few inches and mixing with a rough 1:1 coir-to-clay ratio, then covering with a top layer of a denser, 1:2 coir-to-clay mixture, resulted in firm beds that are a little spongy when compressed down by hand, which is exactly what I wanted for starting seeds in situ. This stuff is fantastic- it works exactly how you expect it to, and you can just drench it with your hose, so hot water is not required, it’s just slightly faster. I was able to hydrate a whole brick in about 20 minutes this way. It is an excellent soil amendment, especially if excess minerals or fertilizer are a concern. It also works somewhat as a mulch, and I regularly dust a thin layer on top of my plant beds to ensure their roots remain fully covered. I go through it extremely quickly whenever I need fresh soil, so if you have plans beyond a few pots, having one or two extra bricks will not hurt, and you can store it indefinitely until you need it. I will note here that using this alone will be sufficient for some plants, but you should have a source or clay, sand, or some other inorganic substrate to blend with coco coir most of the time. It is not prone to rotting quickly, but like any organic matter it will begin to decay once moist. In my experience (I’ve planted a few separate greenhouses and plots with it) it tends to pick up the odors already coming from your garden. This is probably because the coir becomes a host to the bacteria and fungi that are currently living around you, so keep that in mind if you’re concerned about odor- it actually smells kind of fresh and woody when first hydrated, but that will change after a few days or weeks once it’s been colonized by local bacteria and fungi. If the odor becomes a serious problem, it is likely you have a larger microbial issue with your garden, and it is not directly the coir, but it could potentially add to that problem. I would argue that, over time, it may improve your soil health, and by extension reduce unpleasant odors once a new microbial equilibrium is reached- but definitely test it in a small area or pot if you want to be sure. I have never had a major issue with odor that didn’t resolve itself after some amount of time, but allowing it to dry out will almost certainly be effective. Overall, it’s a low risk soil amendment, and I’ve never encountered any serious issues with it. If you’re new to gardening, it is extremely forgiving and easy to use, compact for storage, and can be used for pretty much any project. I’ve successfully used varying amounts in soil for tomatoes, herbs, plants native to the Sonoran desert, cacti, wildflowers, and roots.