Special

Taro / Kalo Soil Mix

Wants the opposite of a tree mix: moisture in, not water out.

Why Taro needs its own blend

Taro is a wetland crop that thrives in moisture-holding, organic-rich ground where a tree would drown. This blend pulls the cinder back and adds coir and compost to hold water, the reverse of our drainage-first tree mixes. Flooded lo'i taro skips the mycorrhizae; dryland taro can add it.

What the blend does for the plant

  • Holds Moisture

    Coir and compost keep the root zone wet, the way taro wants it.

  • Stays Rich

    Compost-forward for the steady organic matter taro draws on.

  • Cinder Pulled Back

    Far less cinder than a tree mix, so water stays in.

  • Tuned to the Setup

    Flooded lo'i skips the fungi; dryland taro can add them.

What's in the blend

Volcanic topsoil Body and cation exchange We stock
Cured compost Organic matter and biology We stock
Coco coir / peat Moisture retention Hilo sourced
Black cinder Light drainage, pulled back We stock
Biochar Water and nutrient holding We stock
HVO base blend Broad organic soil feed We stock
Dolomite lime Calcium, magnesium, pH Hilo sourced
Kelp meal Potassium, trace minerals Hilo sourced

Planting tips: taro (kalo)

  1. Match the mix to your setup: Use the moisture-holding blend for wet, lo'i-style growing. For dryland taro, lighten it and add the fungi.
  2. Keep it wet: Taro wants constant moisture. In dryland beds, mulch heavily and water often.
  3. Plant huli firmly: Set the huli (top cutting) firmly so it stands up, with the base in contact with the soil.
  4. Feed the leaves: Healthy, broad leaves drive corm growth. Keep organic matter and moisture steady.
  5. Give it time: Taro takes many months to mature. Even moisture and rich soil the whole way beat any push.

Get this blend

  • Request the full blend

    We mix it to order from our topsoil, cinder, compost, and the amendments above, tuned to your site and plant age.

    Request the Avacado Blend 

  • Already have your soil? Get the pack

    The Taro Nutrient Pack is the amendments and biology only, in a foil pouch. Add it to your own base. Serves Taro / Kalo.

    Shop the nutrient pack 

Growing something not on the list?

We blend to order from what we stock and what we bring in bulk from Hilo. Tell us the plant and the site, and we will spec a mix.

Request a Custom Mix