Experience the pinnacle of aroid growing excellence with AJ's Ultimate Aroid Mix - the meticulously crafted, professional-grade substrate that represents years of perfecting the art of aroid cultivation. This isn't just another growing mix; it's AJ's personal formula that has transformed countless plant collections across Australia, bringing together 9 premium components in precise ratios to create the ultimate growing environment for your most treasured aroids.
Why AJ's Ultimate Aroid Mix Is Australia's Premium Choice
- Professional Formulation Excellence: Expertly blended using AJ's years of experience growing rare aroids, this mix delivers the exact balance of drainage, aeration, and moisture retention that creates explosive growth
- 9-Component Precision Engineering: Each ingredient serves a specific purpose - from micro-drainage to pH stability - creating a growing environment that outperforms any single-component substrate
- Proven Results Across Australia: Trusted by serious aroid collectors from Sydney to Perth, this mix has consistently delivered the spectacular growth that transforms ordinary plants into showstoppers
- Universal Size Compatibility: Perfectly formulated for plants in 100mm to 200mm pots without additional additives, making it the go-to choice for your entire aroid collection
- Ready-to-Use Professional Quality: No guesswork, no measuring, no mixing - just open the bag and give your aroids the premium foundation they deserve
The Science Behind AJ's Ultimate Formula
Triple-Grade Perlite System: Three carefully selected perlite grades (Fine 1-2mm, Medium 2-4mm, Chunky 8-12mm) fill every gap in the mix, creating optimal aeration pathways whilst providing graduated moisture retention from micro to macro levels.
Triple-Grade Orchid Bark Foundation: Three premium New Zealand pine bark grades (Mini 3-6mm, Medium 9-12mm, Chunky 18-25mm) provide the structural backbone that aroid roots love to grab onto, creating the natural epiphytic environment these plants crave.
Dual-Grade Vermiculite Innovation: Two vermiculite grades (Fine 1-2mm, Coarse 3-8mm) act as expanding moisture reservoirs, making root contact whilst providing time-release hydration that shrinks and expands with watering cycles, giving roots breathing time.
Coco Component Excellence: Premium coco husk chips provide additional aeration and create humidity micro-pockets within the pot, whilst fine coco coir fills remaining gaps and adds sustainable moisture retention.
Activated Charcoal Mastery: Carefully integrated charcoal fragments provide crucial pH stabilisation, absorb impurities from water and nutrients, and reduce nutrient leaching, creating a buffered growing environment.
Perfect For Your Entire Aroid Collection
- Monstera enthusiasts wanting explosive fenestration and dramatic leaf size increases
- Philodendron collectors seeking the chunky substrate that encourages vigorous climbing and aerial root development
- Anthurium specialists needing the perfect balance of moisture and drainage for healthy flowering
- Serious plant collectors wanting professional-grade results without the complexity of custom mixing
- Anyone ready to upgrade from basic potting mix to achieve truly spectacular aroid growth
Care Instructions & Professional Usage Guide
Important Watering Considerations: This is a non-soil mix that requires adjusted watering practices. Water when feels dry or when you can no longer see condensation within the pot (only works with clear pots), allowing water to flow through completely. The mix will feel different from soil - trust the components to do their work.
Seasonal Care Strategy: During Australia's growing season (September-March), the mix provides optimal drainage for frequent watering. In cooler months (April-August), the moisture retention components maintain plant health during slower growth periods.
Professional Enhancement: Supercharge your results with Growth Technology Foliage Focus at 3-5ml per litre for explosive foliage growth, and consider Growth Technology Rootzone at 1ml per litre monthly for enhanced root development.
Climbing Plant Integration: Perfect foundation for Grow Vertical Propsticks - the chunky components provide excellent support whilst the moisture-retaining elements can be used to fill the propsticks themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is AJ's mix better than making my own?
AJ's Ultimate Aroid Mix represents years of testing and refinement to achieve the perfect ratios of all 9 components. The precision blending ensures consistent results every time, whilst sourcing and measuring individual components would cost significantly more and take considerable time to perfect.
How do I transition my plants from regular potting mix?
Gradually transition by mixing increasing ratios of AJ's mix with your current substrate over several repottings, or simply repot directly - most aroids adapt quickly to the superior growing environment. Monitor watering frequency as this mix drains faster than soil-based substrates.
Can I use this mix for plants other than aroids?
Whilst specifically formulated for aroids, this mix works brilliantly for most epiphytic and tropical plants including orchids, bromeliads, and other plants preferring chunky, well-draining substrates. It's particularly excellent for any climbing or vining tropical plants.
How long does the mix maintain its structure?
The combination of slow-decomposing bark, stable perlite, and durable vermiculite means this mix maintains its structure and performance for 2-3 years. The gradual breakdown of organic components actually enriches the mix over time whilst maintaining drainage properties.
AJ's Ultimate Aroid Mix represents the culmination of years of passion, experimentation, and dedication to aroid excellence. This is the exact mix that has transformed AJ's own collection and countless others across Australia - now available to elevate your aroid growing to professional standards.
Shipping & Greenhouse Collection
Let's Talk About How Your Plants Get to You!
Alright, so here's the deal with shipping - we try our best to send all our plants potted and ready to go, but sometimes due to larger orders or when we're moving through some big changes, we'll send some plants semi-bare rooted. If you haven't come across this before, it basically means we carefully remove a bunch of the soil before packing them up. I know that might sound a bit scary if you've never ordered plants online before, but trust me, this is actually a really smart way to do it! The main reason we do this is because it creates so much more room in the box, which means we can fit way more plants in one shipment for you. More plants in one box = more green goodness arriving at your door at once! The plants honestly handle the journey better without all that heavy, wet soil sloshing around too. Just make sure you've got some fresh potting mix ready to go when your green babies arrive, because they'll want to get tucked into their new home pretty quickly!
Now, let's chat about what actually fits in our boxes. We can safely fit about 4-6 plants in one box, or if you're stocking up on supplies, one box can hold 3 bags of medium plus 1L of Growth Technology. We really don't recommend adding heavy items with your plants though - it just puts extra stress on your precious plants during transit and limits how many we can fit. If your order ends up being heavier than our standard box can handle, we'll reach out to you about additional postage fees. We're always transparent about costs, no sneaky surprises!
When Does Everything Ship Out?
Here's how our timeline works - we process and ship orders the week after you place them. So if you order on a Tuesday, your plants will get packed and sent out sometime the following week. We ship Monday through Friday (because let's be real, we all need weekends to recharge!), and we're aiming to get your order out within 4-6 business days of processing. Sometimes things take a tiny bit longer because we're a small but mighty team, and we take absolute care in making sure every single plant is packed perfectly. Like, we're talking individual attention for each plant here. We don't rush this stuff!
Once your order ships, you'll get an email with your tracking number. If you haven't received that tracking email, it just means we're still working on your order - it hasn't left us yet. Please be patient with us! We promise we're working as fast as we can while still making sure everything is done right. We pack orders in chronological order to keep things fair for everyone, so no one's getting special treatment or jumping the queue. First come, first served, that's how we roll!
The Journey to Your Doorstep
All our orders ship with Australia Post, and here's something cool - they operate 24/7! That means even if your order gets sent out on a Friday afternoon, it's still making its way to you over the weekend. The postal system doesn't sleep, and honestly, that's pretty amazing for getting plants to you quickly. You can generally expect your plants to arrive within 2-7 days after we ship them, depending on where you are in Australia. Metro areas tend to be quicker, regional spots might take the full week, but either way, your tracking number will keep you in the loop the whole time.
And here's the thing that always blows people's minds - our plants are absolute troopers. We've tested this extensively, and they can genuinely survive in their boxes for up to three weeks if needed. Obviously we don't want them sitting around that long, but life happens, mail gets delayed sometimes, and we want you to know that your plants are prepped and ready to handle whatever the postal system throws at them. While we do our best to avoid delays, occasional unforeseen circumstances may slightly impact delivery times, but rest assured, your plants are packed with extra care and are tougher than you think!
Quarantine States (WA, NT, TAS)
We currently only ship directly to non-quarantine states. Unfortunately, biosecurity restrictions make it pretty complicated to send plants to Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. But don't worry, we've got a solution for you! If you're from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase plants from us, we recommend using Paradise Distributors' concierge service. They're absolute legends and can handle all the biosecurity paperwork and requirements for you. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing so they can give you all the details and help you out: info@rareplants.net.au
Come Visit the Greenhouse! (Rockdale)
If you're local or just love the idea of picking up your order in person, we've got you covered! Greenhouse collection from our Rockdale location is available the same week you make your purchase. Our opening hours are always changing, so make sure to check booking availability on our 'Visit the Greenhouse' page before purchasing. After you've paid for your order, just head over and book a time slot that works for you. You'll get to pick up your plants AND have a wander through the greenhouse while you're here, which honestly is such a vibe. Just please wear a mask if you're feeling unwell - it's a small space and we want to keep everyone safe and healthy!
Catch Us at Markets!
We do regular markets around Sydney and would love to meet you in person! If you'd prefer to skip shipping altogether and grab your order at one of our market stalls, just email us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com and we can arrange collection at an upcoming market. It's a great way to chat plants face-to-face, see what else we've got on the day, and save on postage!
Questions? We're Here for You!
If you've got any questions about shipping, tracking, or literally anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com. We love chatting with you guys and we're always happy to help troubleshoot, answer questions, or just talk plants!
Much love from the GG's Team 🌱
