Rare Leaf Plant Care Tool

How Much Soil Do I Need?

No wizard and no guessing. Choose your plant group, tell us the pot size and how much old soil you are keeping.

Different sized houseplants and pots showing how soil requirements increase with pot size

Three quick choices

Everything stays on one page so you can see what you have selected and change it at any time.

1

What are you repotting?

Choose the closest plant group. This only changes the soil mix recommendation, not the quantity calculation.

2

How big is the pot?

Enter the diameter if you know it, or just tap the closest size. You only need to do one.

Measure my pot

Measure straight across the top opening.

cm
Show me how to measure
How to measure the diameter of a plant pot

Or choose a quick size

No ruler needed. Pick the closest option.

Show visual pot size guide
Visual plant pot size guide from tiny to very large
3

How much old soil are you keeping?

Normal repot is selected by default because it is the most common option. Change it if you are replacing more of the old mix.

Please choose a plant group and either enter the pot diameter or choose a quick pot size.

Your soil estimate
1-2 L

Rare Leaf recommendation

A little extra help before you repot

Pot shape, root size and how much old soil you remove can all change the exact amount you will use.

Visual guide showing different plant pot sizes and approximate soil quantities
Plant rootball and soil requirement size guide
Rare Leaf houseplant repotting visual guide
Rare Leaf soil and houseplant repotting guide

How much soil does a houseplant need?

The amount of fresh potting soil needed depends mainly on the size and shape of the new pot, the size of the plant's existing rootball and how much of the old potting mix is being kept.

A normal repot usually needs much less fresh soil than the full volume of the new pot because the plant and existing rootball already occupy much of the space. This calculator estimates the remaining space and recommends a Rare Leaf pack size where a suitable mix is available.

Estimates are intended as a practical guide. Very deep, shallow, square or unusually shaped pots may require a different amount. For especially large pots, measuring the actual pot is recommended rather than relying only on the visual size guide.