Like any other plant, succulents need a conducive living environment to thrive.
However, most of us believe Succulents are resilient. Well, that’s partly true, considering they originally came from the wild. Nevertheless, the right soil type is necessary for succulents to grow healthy.
That said, this post will teach you how to make your own succulent soil. More than that, you’re going to learn its many characteristics and benefits. Likewise, we’ll look at other things your succulent plants need.
So, without delaying further, let’s jump right in!
Why Make Your Own Succulent Soil?
Wild succulents like cacti were tamed by Mexican farmers millions of years ago. Despite being domesticated, some succulents still don’t thrive in home environments. The wrong soil type is usually the culprit.
The good news is you can make your own succulent soil. What’s more? Doing it yourself rewards not only the plant, but benefits you as well.
Advantages of DIY Succulent Soil
While you can shop for succulent soil from a nearby supply store, doing it yourself has some advantages. First is the amount of money you could save. Simply put, DIY succulent soils are cheaper than commercial ones.
On top of that, creating your own soil allows you to modify, change, and experiment with the various recipes. Thus, it allows you to create the most ideal soil for your succulents.
Having an almost perfect mix helps imitate the natural habitat of succulent plants. You see, succulents are desert dwellers, meaning, they flourish in sandy grounds and hot weather. These two elements help water drain quickly.
Planting in a fast-draining environment prevents root infections and fungal diseases too. Wet soil is often the cause of these health issues.
Succulent Soil Characteristics
So, what’s with succulent soil that makes it different from others?
Admittedly, most soil types have something in common. All of them are made of mineral and organic materials. However, what separates succulent soil from others is its porosity and texture.
Unlike the usual soil, succulent soil generally has a lower amount of organic matter. Likewise, it has a higher percentage of minerals than other soil types.
Minerals like sand help absorb water. Thus, you can expect this soil to dry faster than clay. You can give a round of applause to its large particles and sandy texture.
What Do You Need to Make the Best Succulent Soil?
To make the best succulent soil you need two sets of ingredients: organic and inorganic. Let’s check them out.
Organic Ingredients
Potting soil mimics the different attributes of natural soil. Called by others as garden soil, this ingredient contains real dirt. You can use this additive with various gardening containers or large open spaces. When buying one, make sure that it has a good draining ability.
Compost is the second item on the list of organic ingredients. Planters use compost to enhance the soil’s physical, biological, and chemical features. This nutrient-rich additive is made of decomposed plants and manure. You can count that compost will help improve the soil’s fertility.
You can also use coconut coir to make succulent soil. Using coco coir helps improve the soil’s drainage and ability to retain water. Moreover, it keeps the Trichoderma fungus—a bacteria that stimulates plant growth. It accelerates the composting process too.
Lastly, consider using pine bark. As the name suggests, this ingredient is made of pine tree bark that’s shredded into pieces. It keeps moisture and shields succulents from excessive heat and cold. Likewise, it prevents various soil-borne diseases from spreading.
Inorganic Ingredients
When it comes to inorganic ingredients, you may use coarse sand to make soil for succulents. This ingredient consists of crushed sandstone, quartz, and granite. Apart from improving soil drainage, it also acts as a shield against termites.
Pumice is another ingredient you might want to consider. As part of the draining medium family, you’re assured that the soil would enjoy just enough moisture. That’s because it stores water only for a short period before draining it.
If you’re looking for an additive with a neutral pH level, look no further. Perlite has the attribute you need. Moreover, perlite keeps the soil structure light and loose. Thus, its porosity helps air move around the soil. It drains water efficiently as well.
Gravel is another inorganic option that some planters use. It’s admired for its ability to keep the soil warm. Warm soil helps roots develop and grow.
How to Make Your Own Succulent Soil?
Now that you’ve learned the various ingredients for making succulent soil, it’s time to create one. Follow the steps below to create a healthy living environment for your plants:
- Disinfect the trowel, measuring container, and garden bucket. Soak them in one part household bleach and nine part water for 10 minutes.
- Next, wash the tools with dish soap and rinse them thoroughly with water.
- Wipe the tools dry with a clean cloth. Make sure that no water is left.
- Use the trowel and fill the measuring container with potting soil.
- Transfer the potting soil to the garden bucket.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 twice. Now you have three parts of potting soil.
- Do the same with coarse sand and perlite. But this time you only need two parts coarse sand and one part perlite.
- Using a trowel, mix all the ingredients thoroughly and evenly.
Alternative Succulent Soil Combination
You can also make succulent soil using a simple combination.
Try mixing one part of any organic ingredients with two parts of inorganic material. For example, you can combine one part potting soil with two parts pumice.
Just remember to use clean gardening tools in mixing these ingredients. It’ll prevent the soil from getting contaminated.
Storing Your Leftover Succulent Soil
Don’t worry if you have some leftover succulent soil. You can save it for future use. However, you have to store it properly. Here’s how you do it:
- Pour the succulent soil onto a clean tray. Remove unwanted elements like insects.
- Disinfect, wash, and dry a storage container. An airtight food bin is an excellent option.
- Air-dry the leftover soil to prevent mildew and mold formation.
- Place the soil into the storage bin.
- Use adhesive tape around the lid for added protection.
- Label the storage bin with a pen marker for easy identification.
- Tuck away the storage bin in a clean and dry place like a garden shed.
Benefits of Making Your Own Potting Mix for Succulents
Making your own succulent potting mix offers some benefits.
For one, it gives you direct control to prepare the amount you need. The quantity of its commercial counterpart may be too much for your needs. Besides, it’s more expensive than homemade ones.
Additionally, making your own soil lets you spend time with your family. We’re sure your little ones won’t mind mixing and matching those potting mix ingredients.
Lastly, you could choose what additives go into the mix. It allows you to customize the soil’s composition and water retention. On top of that, making your own soil lets you further optimize the drainage and aeration of the soil.
What Do Succulent Plants Need?
Apart from the right soil type, succulent plants have other needs. Providing these necessities help succulents grow even stronger. You’ll learn about them in the following sections.
- Enough Daily Sunlight
Ever wondered how many hours of sunlight succulents need in a day? A succulent needs at least six hours of sun exposure every day. We mentioned earlier that succulents are desert plants. So, they need plenty of daily sunlight to grow healthy.
A couple of caveats here, though.
First, you need to be extra cautious with newly planted succulents. Direct sunlight can scorch them quickly. You can prevent it from happening by using shade cloth. It’ll help regulate the temperature and protect succulents from direct sun exposure.
Furthermore, you need to check if both sides of the plant are getting the same amount of sunlight. A succulent sitting in the same spot the whole day gets to enjoy sunlight only on one side.
For that, we recommend that you rotate your succulent every so often. This will ensure that both sides get equal direct sun exposure.
- Adequate Water
Perhaps you’re asking if a plant used to the scorching heat of the desert needs plenty of water. The quick answer to that is yes. However, you have to be mindful of the season. The time of year dictates how often you should water a succulent plant.
During spring and summer, make sure to water your plant when the soil dries out. So, check the top three centimeters of the soil. If dry, then it needs some watering.
On the contrary, succulents need less water during winter. During the dormancy phase, plants stop exerting effort to grow. It’s their way of preserving energy until the weather goes back to normal.
Even if succulents don’t get plenty of water during winter, no need to worry. These plants can tuck water into their leaves, roots, and stems. Simply put, they have enough in reserve. In addition, refrain from misting succulent plants. Spraying water causes leaves to mold.
- Right Amount of Fertilizer
Compared to other plants, succulents require low maintenance. However, it’s no excuse not to feed them some fertilizers. Similar to water, it’s best to fertilize succulents during the summer season. Conversely, feeding this plant during winter is a no-no.
If you’re thinking of what to give your plants, we suggest liquid fertilizer. What we like about this plant food is its ease of use and affordability. Apart from that, liquid fertilizer likewise distributes its components fast. It’s more suitable for succulents than its slow-release counterpart.
Keep in mind that an ideal fertilizer should have nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. As a reminder, don’t fertilize a newly-repotted succulent. Give its roots time to adjust, which usually takes one month.
Likewise, make sure to water the plant before feeding it. Water prevents fertilizers from burning the roots. To be sure, split the recommended dose of fertilizer in half. Then add one part to a half-full watering can. Reduced dosage further prevents the roots from getting burned.
- Correct Pesticide Application
Mealybugs are one of the many insects that terrorize succulent plants. These pests could impair the plant’s growth. In addition, they deform leaves and cause yellowing. Mealybugs wreak havoc by sucking the sap off the succulent plant.
You have to be quick in getting rid of these tiny monsters. They lay eggs by the hundreds. They’ll not only destroy the host plant, but mealybugs crawl to other succulents too.
For that reason, use 70% isopropyl alcohol to counteract these insects. You may apply this compound using a spray bottle. Additionally, move insect-infested succulents away from healthy plants or vice versa. This will hinder pests from spreading further.
In the end, it’s still best to prevent the onset of mealybugs. So, make sure you don’t overwater your succulents or give them excessive fertilizers. These two are the most common causes of mealybug infestations.
FAQs
Does Succulent Soil Expire?
Yes, succulent soil expires because of its organic content. If stored properly, homemade succulent soil could last up to one year. Moreover, unopened commercial soil stays fresh for up to five years.
What Should I Do With Used Succulent Soil?
You can reuse old succulent soil by adding some amendments to it. You should also sanitize this soil to get rid of soilborne diseases.
Is It Okay to Put Rocks on Top of My Succulent Soil?
Putting rocks on top of succulent soil shouldn’t be a problem. Apart from enhancing the soil’s drainage, many use rocks for aesthetic purposes.
Final Thoughts
So there it is—the complete guide on how to make your own succulent soil.
We’ve learned so far that DIY succulent soil offers several benefits. It allows you to experiment with different ingredients. Thus, it helps the plant live a healthy life. That alone outweighs the time spent in creating this soil.
As it turns out, homemade succulent soil offers the same benefits as commercial ones. The difference is you could get the former at a cheaper price.
What’s more? You don’t have to be an experienced horticulturist to create one. You saw how easy and quick it is to make a well-draining succulent soil.