Examining suitable soil for succulents: The most crucial factor that causes succulents’ death is over-watering and using inappropriate soil. The better growth of any plant, especially fleshy plants such as cactus and succulents, depends on choosing the suitable soil. Succulent plants are generally more sensitive to high watering and high root humidity than to low watering and drought; this has made us more careful in choosing the type of soil for this type of plant. Succulent soil should be light and have good drainage and nutrients for plant growth (Best soil for cactus).
Using soil like garden soil and mixing it with sand for succulents is one of the mistakes that most people make because, after a short period, the plant dies.
Stay with us to explain how you can make succulents at home or, if you buy them from stores, how to choose it.
Characteristic of succulent soil
The most critical factors that succulent soil has is high drainage and lightness of the soil. Since succulents are drought-resistant plants, they do not need too much moisture in the soil. The soil of their pots should be porous and allow water to pass, so when you water the plant, the water should come out from under the pot after 5-10 seconds, and if it takes more time to come out, you should know the soil has low quality. (However, if you want your plant to grow well, it’s better to water it from the bottom of the pot). Another essential point you should consider is the soil pH; succulents prefer pH 6.0-6.5 for growth, so it’s better to use humic acid every three months. Using peat moss as a nutrient supplier in your soil composition and feeding the plant with different fertilizers during the growing season (spring to late summer) can remarkably affect your plants.
Succulent soil composition
succulent soil can have different combinations, and both of them are good. The first one is a combination of sand + potting soil + perlite, and the second one is a combination of cocopeat + perlite + peat moss + double-salt building sand + a little coal. In the following, we consider both types and their characteristics.
To make suitable soil for succulents, in the first considered combination, you should combine two parts of sand, two parts of potting soil, and 1 part of perlite for use.
To make a suitable soil for succulents in the second combination, combine 40% sand + 20% peat moss + 20% cocopeat + 20% perlite and add a little charcoal.
Coarse sand
Note that an important part of any succulent soil mix is its sand; sand improves drainage and respiration in plant roots.
Potting soil
you don’t need to use potting soil, which is sold in the markets for your succulents. Only 40% of the potting soil should have this type of soil. This soil is responsible for supplying the plants’ needed nutrients, so it is used in the main composition.
Perlite in succulent soil
Perlite is a volcanic rock with the important element of soil, i.e., silica, and is classified in the category of volcanic glass. This soil expands 4 to 30 times its initial volume when heated to a specific degree. The primary role of perlite in succulent soil is to make porosity, which can significantly help drainage and decrease the soil weight. Perlite increases air and oxygen circulation around the roots, making the roots grow better and absorbing high nutrients. Also, remember that perlite is used for plant propagation.
Sand washed twice
To raise the drainage and porosity of your plant’s soil, we recommend you use twice-washed building sand.
Peat moss in succulent soil composition
In the second combination, we should add some peat moss to our soil to have nutrients. You may ask what peat moss is and what features it adds to succulent soil. Peat moss is a special and rare type of peat. Peat is created in swamps and areas with very high humidity. Its first function is to provide needed nutrients for plant growth, and it has low acidity. Its pH is 3.5-6, which is excellent for plant growth. It’s better to use peat moss instead of rotted manure because manure will cause fungal disease in your plants and damage them.
Cocopeat
I personally recommend cocopeat for your soil because it works great both for reproduction and mixing soils. You should ask yourself what is cocopeat, I should say cocopeat is a type of growing medium that is made from coconut husk fibers and in some cases from coconut tree bark (the bark is compressed). Cocopeat plays a very significant role in plants’ root formation or root filling in cactus and succulent soil. Cocopeat keeps the humidity of the soil well and transfers it to the roots.
Should we use charcoal for succulent soil?
Try to use a small amount of charcoal in the soil composition of succulents or any other plants because charcoal helps your plant grow by having significant potassium. In addition, there is a natural fungicide; after repotting, don’t worry about the plant becoming fungal.
Conclusion of suitable soil for succulents
In this article, we have tried to tell you the right combinations for succulent soil and teach you two soil combinations that we also use. You can also use particular cactus soil for succulents, but if you want a perfect combination at home, it is better to use cocopeat + peat moss + perlite + washed sand. Indeed, if you are using ready-made soil, be sure to disinfect the soil of the pot so that it does not suffer from fungal disease and root rot; in addition, high drainage in the soil is very important for succulents that you must pay attention to.