This research was undertaken to assess the nursery performance of Avicennia marina and Bruguiera cylindrica in the difference substrates such as sand, mangrove soil (clay), and the combination of two (sandy clay loam). The study was conducted at NONESCOST Mangrove Civil Reservation Area for 18 weeks.  The experiment was arranged in a randomized factorial design (2 x 3) x 5, with two mangrove species, three substrates and five replicates; sand for Treatment I (sand), mangrove soil (clay) for Treatment II, and combinations of the two (sandy clay loam) for Treatment III. There were 10 plants every replicate having a total of 50 plants per treatment. Analysis of variance showed significant difference in survival between Treatments I (82+18) and Treatment III (48+7) in A. marina (P<0.05), but none in B. cylindrica (P>0.05). Survival patterns of A. marina and B. cylindrica showed strong negative correlations with time (P<0.001). Different types of substrates tested had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the growth of A. marina in terms of total height, number of axils, and number of internodes developed.  Likewise, length of the first internode, second internode, and the third internode were not significantly different (P>0.05).  For B. cylindrica, the height and number of axils produced was not affected by the different substrates.  Analysis of variance showed no significant differences on the total height, number of axils, and lengths of internodes among treatments at p>0.05.  However, there were significantly different results in the number of leaves (P<0.05) and internodes (P<0.01) produced in B. cylindrica in Treatment II. This study showed the feasibility of using all types of substrates in the nursery of both mangrove species.  However, the best substrate to use for A. marina is sand and mangrove soil for B. cylindrica.