Good organic material to start is definitely one of the keys. Mine is a mix of local promix (peat with some local black soil), my own compost, earthworm castings, red volcanic rock gathered locally, neem cake pellets. Then it gets fed with water, water+fresh aloe, water+fresh coconut water, water+unsulphured bs molasses (minimal). I top dress with dead brown leaves and more recycled soil, compost. There are worms in every pot on my roof and they do the work. Only other thing they get would be fish hydroslate. theunconventionalfarmer.com has some good recipes and I have copies of teaming with microbes/nutrients if you want those
And dont forget to get yourself some LAB going.