Succulent Soil
Finding the best soil for succulent is the most important thing when looking to cultivate the plants. Perfect soil for succulents is one that adequately drains while holding onto the right amount of water. This is because overwatering is one of the ways to kill a succulent plant, which is linked with the type of soil in use. If you are struggling with succulents and don’t know where the problem is, the answer is always in the soil. Succulents need a different type of material from other plants, which means you will have issues if you purchase a wrong mix. This guide explains everything you need to know about succulent soils. It reviews top commercial succulent soils, covers factors for different growing conditions, and shares a recipe to help get the correct at home.
Why Soil Matters To Succulents
Soils are essential for plant life and critical in many environmental challenges facing the earth.
Succulents depend on soils as a suitable medium for growth, as they provide physical support for anchoring the root system. These plants differ from other kinds of plants because they have adapted to dry environments with inadequate water. Still, they need soil to provide essential nutrients such as moisture, nutrients, and anchorage for it to thrive and survive.
When it comes to growing succulents, the type of soil used is crucial because not all potting soils are equal. The ideal soil for plants should be gritty enough to drain quickly and dry entirely within a short time. When looking for the right succulent soil, it is essential to consider its drying time to determine whether it is ideal for the plant.
Many variables influence how long soil stays wet, including soil structure, the quantity of water added, and airflow. As such, the preferable type has a unique composition, including little clay to hold water and a lot of large particles such as sand. Soil matters for the succulents must provide the required ingredients for growth. The plant will not survive in non-soil arrangements and will ultimately die due to a lack of nutrients. For example, the plants will grow roots and demand for a more suitable succulent plotting mic and thus cannot survive in terrariums without soil.
Perfect succulent soil is the one that drains water well. Drainage is always vital when it comes to succulents because their ability to tolerate drought means they cannot withstand wet soil. The growth of plants at home requires mimicking their ideal natural growing conditions, which involve sandy, gravelly soil. Other succulents thrive in small, rocky crevices because they allow better root. In essence, the succulents prefer soils that are usually considered weak for other garden plants with little nutrients and large pores.
Can You Use Regular Soil for Succulents?
The most crucial requirement for succulent soil is its ability to drain well and quickly, such as the gritty soil mix. This well-draining soil mix prevents root rot and ensures that fungi do not breed in there. This means you cannot use regular soil for planting succulents because they may not provide the right conditions for growth. Instead, succulents need quick-draining soil that slows down water just enough so that the roots have time to take a sip without drowning.
The use of regular soil may not be an idea because it has higher proportions of organic compared to mineral matter, thus affecting the draining by holding too much water. It may also not be suitable due to higher nutrient content affecting succulent growth. If succulents are planted in ordinary soil, they will simply rot, grow at a faster rate or fail to thrive. Root rot is a problem that will arise when you don’t have adequate draining soil for your succulents. It happens when the plant is left in standing water or overly wet ground for long, causing the roots to drown and begin to rot. This is why you cannot use regular soil for succulents.
Succulents require loose soil that drains freely because they come from environments with low moisture content. This is not characteristics of regular soil that tend to have higher density and an ability to hold moisture for long. Therefore, soil for succulents should be made a little different from the regular garden soil to make them thrive. If you are planning to grow plants in the standard material, you must provide the right ingredients that will provide adequate moisture drainage, such as adding Perlite. For example, you can use the regular type if you augment it and make it more porous and suitable for succulents. This can be achieved by introducing extra minerals such as Perlite to improve its drainage and the ability to hold water.
How to Prepare Your Soil for Succulents
A succulent mix needs to be non-compacting and free-draining, without having too many nutrients that can affect the growth of a plant. Anyone who needs an accurate mix for the succulent plant but doesn’t want to purchase commercial soils can prepare their own recipes using several ingredients. The basic ingredients are perlite, potting soil, and coarse sand, which are mixed in the correct ratios. Perlite is used to improve the soil drainage and ensure the succulent soil does not hold too much water. Course sand also helps improve drainage and prevents compaction, as it contains all sorts of sized particles to allow the natural growth of succulents. On the other hand, black soils introduce the needed nutrients to the soil.
There is no one perfect way of making a potting soil mix for succulents, which means different people will use variant procedures to prepare the soil. For example, some people might use some minerals over others when preparing the mix for succulents. Some of the ingredients to make your soil for plants include the right amount of organic and mineral components. Start by mixing equal parts of natural and mineral materials to make gritty succulent soil, then combine different ingredients by introducing other minerals such as pumice.
What Is Gritty Soil?
There are two main types of succulent substrates as far as succulents are concerned, which are soil and grit. The line between these two may appear blur, but there is a significant difference between the two. Gritty soil refers to the mixture that gets saturated by heavy rains but dries out rapidly. The most important thing about gravelly soil is that they were well-draining due to having large particles, coarse texture, and more pores. The average particle size for this mixture is large enough to allow for water drainage and thus making it ideal for succulents. The gritty mix is a commercial term for a substrate with little or no organic matter. This substrate will have several ingredients, such as perlite, pumice, and expanded clay, among other materials.
How to Replenish Soil That Lost Its Nutrients Succulent Soil
Succulent soils require appropriate nutrients to support plant growth and for maintenance purposes. However, there is always a risk of soil losing valuable metals such as nitrogen, calcium, and carbon when it is not maintained well. The soil nutrients and fertility can be replenished by including the use of fertilizers, organic inputs, and the use of mineral materials. The minerals improve the ability of the soil to hold moisture while providing several nutrients needed for the succulents to thrive. Also, the organic matter can be useful in improving the soil drainage and other nutrients crucial for the lush soil.
Succulent Soil Factors
Organic Vs. Mineral
Soil is made up of both organic and mineral components, where organic are things that were once alive, and minerals are natural inorganic substances. The organic elements include tree barks and other plant debris, while inorganic or minerals include gravel, both of which are necessary for the soil. Organic matter is one of the main ingredients in any soil for succulents as it helps improve the ability of soil to absorb nutrients. The organic matter provides nutrients and stores water necessary for plant growth. The typical natural elements used for succulent soils include peat, coir, and mulch.
Inorganic or mineral matter is needed in succulent soul to improve their drainage by making the soil porous and improving aeration. The mineral constituents improve the drainage, thus making it ideal for succulents. For example, perlite and pumice are used as mineral materials in the succulent mix. They contain between 25 to 50 percent organic matter combined with mineral elements.
There are several organic and mineral ingredients to choose from when making your succulent soil. Potting soil is a natural matter, while Perlite, fine gravel, and grit are examples of minerals for the lush soil. When selecting minerals, you must avoid those that store water, such as non-calcined clays. You need the right ratio of organic to mineral material in succulent soil to support the plant without causing rot. For example, lush soil with the correct ratio of these components informs the amount of water needed for the plants depending on the environmental conditions and the variety being grown.
Texture and Porosity
Another vital component of succulent soils is the difference between texture and porosity. Mostly, the mineral portion is categorized into texture types based on the grit size that brings into mind large and small pores, as well as fine texture and coarse grit. The proportion of each soil affects how much water a soil can hold as well as how long it takes for the soil to dry.
When examined in terms of texture and porosity, three types of soil comes into mind that differs from the size. Based on this analogy, there are three types: sand, silt, and clay, with sand having large texture and porosity while clay having small pores and grit. Sand with large particles and pores dries out faster than clay soil with low texture and porosity. This means sand soil is ideal for succulents with good drainage than regular garden soils. Sandy soils are preferred for plants because it drains out faster than clay soils and will not lead to root rot.
Soil Reviews
The first thing to consider when looking for the best soil for your succulent is how well the soil can absorb and drain water. The different mixes available on the market for commercial purposes contain the most important nutrients and required structure. The soil mixes are usually designed for succulents with the right drainage and a correct mixture of organic and mineral materials.
- Potting Soil: Drainage Grade B
The regular potting soil is not often used when growing succulent soils but can be modified by adding some organic and mineral components to make it work. It is not the best choice because it tends to retain water more often and therefore affects the perfect growth of these plants. Mostly this potting soil comprises organic materials such as compost and peat moss, which affects its ability to drain water quickly. It also has a dense structure compared to other succulent soils, with the high density affecting its ability to dry quickly.
If you have the regular potting soil and want to make it idea for succulent, start by picking the lightest mixture, you can find while avoiding any material with moisture-retaining crystals such as vermiculite. Also, use a container with a drainage hole and ensure you water less frequently to keep the ground dry. In case you want to turn the standard potting soil into a fast-draining succulent mix, then take mineral grit and mix at a 1:1 ratio.
- Black Gold Cactus Mix: Drainage Grade C
This cactus mix has better drainage than the regular potting soil hence the name cactus mix. This means the mix has good drainage and takes little time to dry and remove all the excess water. The unique feature of this soil is a perfect mix between organic and inorganic matter, with almost half of the blend comprising of perlite or pumice. The remainder is a mixture of compost and worm castings to ensure it does not hold moisture for more than a day.
In essence, the black gold cactus mix soil can be used for cultivating succulents due to having slightly better drainage than the regular potting soil. This soil has some pumice that improves its porosity, but it mostly comprises of compost, forest products, and worm casings, among other organic components. However, it is ideal for some succulents such as the thin-leaved plants and works best in host climates to help in faster drying. If you are dealing with plants that demand rapid drainage, you might want to look elsewhere as the black gold cactus mix may not be the perfect soil. Even adding Perlite to the mixture could not be enough in improving its drainage for longer.
- Miracle-Gro Cactus Palm & Citrus Potting Mic Drainage Grade B
This is one of the recommended soil for succulents due to having better drainage and faster drying. The mix comprises of an organic base of forest products and peat moss combine with sand and added perlite. It is a standard mix for succulents that can be used to gauge when a container of succulents needs water. This means anyone who tends to over-water their plants and those growing low-water plants such as cacti cannot use this mix for their succulents.
Miracle-Gro is a well-known brand for succulent soil and therefore trusted to be used for growing succulents at home. This soil drains well and comes with several minerals, including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, to encourage growth without burning vulnerable plants. However, the peat in this soil can make it somehow challenging to rehydrate after the soil has completely dried. Growers can turn this drainage grain B into grade A by mixing it with an equal volume of mineral materials. Grade a soil mix will be an idea for growing most succulents both indoors and outdoors.
- Bonsai Jack Succulent And Cactus Soil Drainage Grade A
This is the best soil for succulents as it has a great balance of everything that will help the plant thrive. This soil is pre-mixed and ready to use mix, which is a whole different level when measured in terms of price and performance. The most impressive thing about this soil is its fast drainage, which prevents overwatering and any risk of root rot. This succulent soil is also used because it dries out in a matter of minutes, while the gritty mix provides a leeway allowing succulents to grow faster.
Also, the Bonsai jack succulent and cactus soil mix retains the right amount of water while promoting adequate drainage, making it perfect for succulents. In essence, this is an ultra-lightweight and airy soil that is ideal for water absorption, evaporation, and density. It is worth the price and will benefit anyone who has the habits of sometimes watering succulent too often.
DIY Succulent Soil Recipe
A soil mixture for succulent plants should have a perfect crumbly structure that will promote the plant’s good health and keep them looking their best. One recipe for making succulent soil can involve 1-part perlite, 2-part coarse sand, and 3-part potting soil. Mix the 3-parts potting, 2 part coarse sand, and perlite until thoroughly combined. Start with the potting soil and moisten it a little to keep the dust down from other components and make mixing easier. After that, add sand and mix it up in small parts to ensure even mixing without worrying about forcing them together. This allows the soil to come apart and become fluffy. Lastly, add the perlite and stick to the moisture in the mix until it is distributed evenly.
An excellent way of checking an appropriate soil texture when preparing the mix is by feeling it when moist and determining whether it is crumbly when squeezed. A proper soil mix for succulents is the one that is crumbly and coarse, and when pressed, it falls apart. In case the soil remains compact and forms a lump after pressing, you will need to add more inorganic matter such as perlite. Also, check the moisture level of the mix to ensure it is adequate.
Mixing your succulent soil is requires more effort, but it is an excellent way of saving money while getting the perfect blend. Most commercial mixes are expensive and may not contain all the needed nutrients for your particular varieties and growing conditions. If you want to make a balanced succulent soil to cultivate plants, start by getting the required ingredients comprising of organic and mineral components. Organic material can include potting soil, compost, and pine bark and coconut coir. On the other hand, the mineral material includes gravel, perlite, and coarse sand and volcanic rock.
The first step is to mix one-part organic material with two-part mineral material such as one part potting soil and two-part coarse sand. You can pick from any combination of the natural and mineral material when making succulent soil. The primary thing is to ensure the total volume is one-third organic matter and two-thirds mineral material in the mix.
Soil Options for Making Succulent Soil Recipe
Having the right soil mix for your succulent goes hand in hand with proper watering to ensure succulents’ survival. Over-watering of the succulents can lead to rotting of the roots, and an under-water can weaken it, which is why the right soil mix and proper watering techniques are required. The type of soil for succulents determines who much water is retained, which is why you should choose the correct soil combination.
Potting Soil
There are many varieties of potting soil to choose from when making a recipe. Before deciding on one, you must first check for the ingredients of the potting soil f determine whether it has the right amount of texture and porosity. Good potting soil should contribute to drainage and not moisture retention if the purpose is to grow succulents. This means you avoid pear-based potting mixes as they do not support plants.
Sand
A well-drained soil demands that you use a coarse grit such as builder’s sand to make succulent soil. This is different from beach sand since this type can desiccate succulents with salt. However, sand should be considered as the first element when preparing to cultivate succulents.
Perlite
Another ingredient for making soil recipe for succulent plants is perlite, which is a natural, volcanic glass. When mixed with an organic matter, perlite makes a soil light and airy, thus improving its drainage system. However, be cautious not to confuse Perlite with vermiculite, as the latter retains moisture in the soil instead of draining it.
Gravel
Gravel is needed in the succulent soil recipe to improve its drainage when mixed with potable soil. However, instead of layering gravel at the bottom of a non-draining pot, mix gravel with the soil and prevent a succulent from rotting. When selecting gravel, look for the particle size that is 1/8 inch or ¼ inch in diameter that can enhance drainage. Thus it is important to rinse the gravel to remove fine dust particles that can clog soil pores and reduce drainage.
Other Mineral Possibilities
Some other possible minerals to use in the succulent soil recipe include decomposed granite, chicken grit and, diatomaceous earth. These materials can be substituted in equal volumes during the recipe. Other materials include peat moss and coconut coir, whose application depends on the type of soil in use. For example, one-part coconut coir should be used for every two-part mineral ingredients in indoor succulents.
Outdoor Soil for Succulent Landscaping
The soil requirements for outdoor succulents differ from the succulents in indoor pots since the ground is less strict than the indoor. The outdoor landscape still needs a sandy, gritty soil with a gravel mulch to ensure it drains well and can dry quickly. However, the nature of outdoor conditions means you can get away with a less than perfectly draining soil than the indoor soil. This is because outdoor environments get more sunlight and airflow, and are in a greater volume of soil than the indoor environment. The sunlight makes it possible to draw water out of the soil through evaporation.
The easiest way to improve drainage in the outdoor soil without changing the soil structure is by molding it into raised beds and building a topography. This helps increase the surface area exposed to the sun while allowing gravity to do some of the drainage work. Most outdoor soils support lush growth without much maintenance when compared to indoor plants. However, they still need frequent watering and checking for the state of the soil to facilitate their growth and survival.
However, when planning to use outdoor soil for lush landscaping, it is important to avoid using heavy clay soils because it easily saturates with standing water. Clay soil is never recommended for succulent cultivation, whether there is enough sunlight or not. Despite the qualities that make outdoor succulent cultivation successful, clay soil alone cannot be used for the landscaping unless it is mixed with massive quantities of sand. However, it is easier to select a location with sand soil than trying to amend clay soil by adding sand and grit.
Peat moss and coconut coir are some of the materials used for outdoor succulents in hot climates. However, these materials differ in the sense that some succulents cannot grow in pear but thrive in coconut coir. A mix of coconut coir with added perlite is tailored to young plants in greenhouses as well as hot outdoor climates. Peat moss cannot be used in succulent soils because they become hydrophobic when dry and start repelling water. Rehydrating pear moss after it becomes dry can take time and regular soaking before the soil is fully saturated. Since succulents require the soil to be completely dry before watering, it makes it difficult to use peat moss for growing succulents.
Apart from its performance, there is also an aspect of environmental sustainability when comparing peat moss to coconut coir in cultivating succulents. Peat is not only poorly suited to the water regimen of succulents, but it is also less sustainable on the environment compared to the coconut coir. This is because peat is harvested from wetlands of Sphagnum moss that is not easy to decompose. Also, peat does not develop quickly, and its destruction can lead to air pollution through a carbon sink.
This is different from coconut coir, which is a fibrous byproduct that comes from husking coconuts. This material regenerates faster than peat bogs, making it environmentally sustainable. It also helps to put to use the massive quantities of what would be waste products to help in growing succulents. However, coir cannot be used for all situations because it is light and can store a lot of moisture. This makes it a decent choice when used for succulent outdoor growing with hot climates but unsuitable for indoor potting plants.
However, this material can be improved to grow succulents indoors or in humid climates by improving the drainage. For example, you can add coarse sand or perlite in a 2:1 ration with coir soil to improve its drainage. The added sand or gravel also improves the drying time of coir similar to that of Miracle-Gro Cactus succulent potting mix.
Conclusion
Succulents are easy to take care of, provided you plant them in the right soil with adequate water and sunlight. However, there is no perfect succulent soil that applies to everyone, as people require different soils to suit a variety of growing conditions. Therefore, you only have to get a gritty, well-draining soil for your succulent that is at least 50 percent mineral materials by volume. At the same time, pay attention to the amount of time it takes for the soil to dry completely as well as its drainage level.
Watering is also crucial for succulent maintenance, which is why you need to pay attention to the land and how well it handles the drainage and watering. A layer of rocks at the bottom of a non-draining pot does not make the soil ideal for succulents. Instead, these rocks can create large pockets in which water collects and breeds bacteria. Therefore, anyone planning to raise succulents at home must understand the importance of having lush soil that supports the growth of these plants. Ensure you match your substrate to the plant since every plant has specific needs that are different from one another.