Quite forgiving and tolerant, growing succulents is easy. However, learning about the Best Soil For Succulents will help you make them thrive forever!
If low-maintenance succulents become difficult to grow in your possession, something must be wrong. Most of the time, it’s the growing medium! Choosing the right soil mix for a succulent plant is really important for its survival in the long run. So, let’s discuss the Best Soil For Succulents so that you can make an informed choice.
Want to know how long do succulents live? Find out here
What do Succulents Need?
The first and foremost requirement is that the soil should be well-draining. The reason why most succulents die is because of root rot. The needs may also vary according to the different succulents. The location also affects the soil type, as indoor succulents are likely to dry out less quickly compared to outdoor succulents.
Best Soil For Succulents
You can either buy a succulent mix specifically produced for growing succulents and cacti or prepare it yourself. While DIYing your own succulent mix, do not forget that these plants grow best in soil that is not very rich in nutrients and drains quickly.
DIY Succulent Potting Soil – 1
You’ll Need
- Potting Soil
- Coarse Sand (Turface or Poultry Grit)
- Perlite or Pumice
Procedure
- Take a container big enough to hold all the ingredients easily
- Pour three parts potting soil, two parts coarse sand, and one part perlite in the container
- Using a trowel or hand, thoroughly mix these ingredients to obtain a mixture of uniform consistency
- The succulent potting mix is ready for use
You can make a big batch of soil and store it for use later. Plastic bags or buckets work fine for storage.
DIY Succulent Potting Soil – 2
You’ll Need:
- Pine Bark Fines
- Turface (an absorptive rock)
- Part Crushed Granite
Procedure:
- Measure all the ingredients in equal parts and take quantities depending on your need
- Take the container and fill it with pine bark fines, turface, and part crushed granite
- Mix all these ingredients together till they form a uniformly consistent material
- That’s it! The succulent potting mix is ready for use
DIY Succulent Potting Soil – 3
You’ll Need
- Potting Soil
- Cactus Mix
Procedure:
- Mix both the potting soil and cactus mix in equal parts together
- Your soil is ready to use!
DIY Succulent Potting Soil – 4
You’ll Need
- Perlite
- Potting soil
- Coarse sand
- River rocks or gravel
Procedure:
- Start by top-dressing the pot with rocks and gravel. This will save the crows from rotting
- Mix equal parts of all the ingredients. Measure the quantity as per your requirement
- You could also add half a teaspoon of white vinegar to the mix to increase acidity, which is something that all succulents like
DIY Succulent Potting Soil – 5
You’ll Need
- Soil
- River sand. Avoid using sea or beach sand as they are high in salt
- Small pieces of stones, granite, or marble
- Compost/vermicompost/leaf compost
- Neem Cake Powder
- Perlite/Biochar
Procedure
- Mix 40% garden soil with 40% of river sand
- Add 5% stones and 5% compost
- Now add 5% neem cake power and 5% perlite to complete the mix
- Mix them all together, and your growing medium for succulents is ready!
DIY Succulent Potting Soil – 6
You’ll Need
- Sterilized Garden Soil
- Coco Peat
- Sand
Procedure
- Mix 45% garden soil and 45% coco peat
- Add the remaining 10% sand into the mix, and the growing medium will be ready to use
DIY Succulent Potting Soil – 7
You’ll Need
- Garden Soil
- Coco Peat
- Sand
- Polystyrene Balls
Procedure
- Mix 40% soil and 40% coco peat together
- Add 10% sand to the mix and top it with 10% Polystyrene Balls
- Mix all of them well together
DIY Succulent Potting Soil – 8
You’ll Need
- River Sand
- Compost
- Perlite
- Coco peat
Procedure
- Mix 35% sand and 35% coco peat together
- Now add 20% compost to the mix
- Mix 10% perlite into the mixture and mix them all well together
DIY Succulent Potting Soil – 9
You’ll Need
- Potting Soil
- Peat Moss
Procedure:
- Mix both the potting soil and peat moss in equal parts together
- Your soil is ready to use!
