Houseplant owners are often on a quest to find the best potting soil for their plants, often thinking that if their plant is potted in better soil, then that will solve their plant problems.
In fact, the opposite is true. Replacing soil is one of the most damaging things that can be done to a plant's root system Doing so also tears away many of the tiny root hairs that do most of the work. That is the cause of what is commonly called "transplant shock." When plants are repotted correctly, there should not be any transplant shock. Such shock is not a normal reaction.
The best soil for any potted plant is the soil it is already growing in. Plants are remarkable in their ability to adapt to a variety of different soils. But imposing a sudden change around their roots is not something they can adapt to easily. The nursery potting soil may not "look right" to you, but the nursery knows better than you or any research info you have found online. It is their business to get it right.
(NOTE: If you are purchasing plants online from individuals, then all bets are off!)
New plants should be left in their nursery pots with their roots and soil left undisturbed for at least several months and probably a lot longer, regardless of what you think of the soil's appearance or its porosity. Even the presence of critters in the soil does not warrant replacing the soil. Nor does waterlogged soil justify replacing it.
Before you purchase a plant make sure there are no visible critters in the soil and that the soil is not waterlogged. If it is then don't buy it, regardless of the bargain price.
If you discover pests in the soil, there are ways to treat them that do not require replacing the soil or using pesticides. If soil is waterlogged, let it dry out.
Sometimes, fresh potting soil. Is needed when a plant has truly outgrown its pot or when rooting cuttings for the first time. That is when you need to know what is a good potting mix.
A good potting mix for indoor use will be soilless and either peat or coir (ground coconut husks) based. Garden soils contain a variety of contaminants that are harmless outdoors but not something you want inside. For your indoor plants avoid potting mixes that are described as multip-purpose and contain soil, humus, compost, forest products, and other "all-natural, organic" products. These ingredients are all potential sources of fungus gnat larvae and other undesirable critters. They also tend to keep the soil damp for too long as do water retaining ingredients promoted as "moisture control."
A good indoor potting mix will contain mostly peat moss or coir and have added perlite and a bit of lime to reduce the acidity. When limited to those essential ingredients, you are very unlikely to introduce any pests or diseases to your plants.
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