If you’re a succulent lover, you’ve probably wondered whether you can plant your favorite cactus in regular potting soil. You might have also asked yourself whether succulents need special soil to thrive, or if they’ll grow just fine in any old potting mix. You’re not alone in your curiosity.
Many people are curious about how succulents can be grown in their homes, and whether or not they require special care. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions, it is possible to plant succulents in regular potting soil without them dying.
In this article, I’ll explain why using regular potting soil isn’t a good idea for most succulents, and other cacti, how you can make your own mix that’s perfect for them (and other drought-tolerant plants), plus what kinds of ingredients go into it.
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to care for succulents once they’re planted in their new homes by mixing up their own special blend of potting soil just right!
Can you plant succulents in regular potting soil?
You can definitely grow succulents in regular potting soil, but they won’t be as happy as they could be. That’s because regular potting soil are too heavy and compact for succulents to stay healthy.
Succulents are drought-tolerant plants, which means that they don’t need a lot of water or nutrients to survive and thrive in their natural environments.
Succulents need a soil that drains well because they are prone to root rot if their roots stay too wet for too long.
Regular potting soil does not drain well, meaning it won’t work for succulents. Succulents also need a soil with good drainage because they live in dry conditions in nature and don’t like sitting in wet soil all day!
What Happens When You Use Regular Potting Soil For Succulents?
Succulents are used to dry conditions and need well-draining soil. Regular potting soil will cause problems for your succulent plants because it doesn’t drain as well as they need.
If there’s too much water in their pots, it could rot their roots or prevent them from getting enough oxygen to survive. To avoid these problems and make sure your succulent is healthy, only use cactus/succulent soil for planting your plants!
Best soil options for succulents
Now that you know what to avoid, let’s talk about what you should use instead.
Cactus Soil: This is an all-purpose mix that works well with both cacti and succulents alike. It’s made up of equal parts sand and peat mosses, which means it’s good at retaining moisture but also drains quickly when watered. This mix also contains gravel or stones to help with drainage and aeration/oxygenation of the roots of your plants.
Pumice: Pumice is another great choice for growing succulents because it holds moisture well without becoming too soggy or compacted like other types of soils can be if they are not properly cared for (which can cause root rot).
Pumice also has excellent drainage qualities so you don’t have to worry about your plants drowning in their own waste products like other types of soils can do if they become too wet or compacted over time (which could also cause root rot). Pumice does not contain any fertilizers or nutrients either so you’ll have to add those yourself periodically throughout the year if you want them to stay healthy long term!
Coco peat: Coco peat is the best soil for succulents because it doesn’t compact and retain too much water, which can cause your plants to rot. It also contains a lot of nutrients and is easy to work with, which makes it perfect for growing succulents in containers.
Coco peat is made from the fibers of coconuts and is a great alternative to peat moss. It does not break down easily, so you don’t have to worry about it becoming compacted over time or releasing excess nutrients into the water that could harm your plant. It also contains many minerals that help improve nutrition for your plant as well as prevent root rot from occurring.
Perlite: Perlite is one of the best soils for succulents because it is lightweight and drains water extremely well. It also helps to maintain proper air circulation around your plants, which is crucial for their health.
Perlite is an excellent additive for any type of potting soil. You can find it in bags at your local nursery or garden store.
How Can I Make My Own Succulent Potting Soil?
There are many different recipes for succulent potting soils. Some people use only sand and perlite, while others like to add in some compost or even vermiculite. Here’s a recipe that will work well:
1 part coarse sand (you can use builder’s sand)
1 part perlite or just some gravel
1 part composted bark
Mix these ingredients together in a large bucket, then fill your pots with the mixture. If you have any left over, use it for your next batch. This is a great recipe if you want to make your own succulent potting soil without spending a lot of money on store-bought products.
Should I use sand in my succulent potted pot?
Yes! Sand is a great addition to your potted succulent as it will help with drainage.
Adding sand to your succulent pot will help with drainage and prevent the soil from becoming too waterlogged.
It also helps to improve drainage in clay pots, which can often become water-tight after use. In addition to its drainage benefits, sand also helps with aeration, which means that the roots of your plant can breathe and grow more easily.
If you’re using regular potting soil, make sure you add plenty of sand to help improve drainage.
Soil aeration is very important for succulents
Soil aeration is very important for succulents. Succulents need good drainage and soil aeration is the best way to get this. Soil aeration helps improve water loss by allowing air into the soil, so that roots can access oxygen and water. Soil aeration also helps with oxygen exchange, which is crucial for healthy root growth of all plants (including succulents).
Soil aeration allows water to drain out of the pot, keeping it from sitting around in a puddle at the bottom where it could potentially cause root rot or mold. It also allows excess moisture to evaporate, which prevents over watering or overwatering your plant!
How to care for your succulent?
Watering
How often you water your succulent depends on the variety. Most are drought tolerant and can go weeks without being watered, but they can still benefit from a drink every week or so. The best way to water your succulent is to let it dry out completely between waterings. You can also test the soil by sticking your finger into it up to the first knuckle; if it feels moist at all, wait another day before watering again. When you do water them, use room-temperature tap water (never cold or hot) and never let the plant sit in standing water for more than a few minutes.
Placement
To care for your succulents, you’ll need to be sure that they get the right amount of sunlight. Succulents need a location that gets sunlight for most of the day but not too much! The leaves should look green and healthy, with no brown or crispy edges. If they’re getting too much sun, move them away from windows that face south or west.
If you can’t find a spot where your succulent will get plenty of sun throughout the day, consider supplementing its light with artificial plant lights. Place these near your plant’s leaves (but not touching them) and turn them on after dusk each evening until bedtime each night.
You may also want to try moving it closer to a window so it can get plenty of indirect natural light during those times in between its daily periods with direct light exposure.
You should also make sure there’s good air circulation around your new friend by placing it somewhere where it won’t get damp since this will cause root rot problems down the road! Also remember that succulents love warm temperatures but hate cold ones so keep yours away from drafts coming from open doors/windows or air conditioning vents nearby!
When to repot your succulent?
When to repot: It’s best to repot succulents in the spring or fall, when they’re actively growing and not dormant. If you don’t want to wait until springtime, you can do it in the summer as well. Dormant plants are less likely to survive transplanting because their roots have already become established in one pot and won’t be able to handle another change of environment. However, if your plant is suffering from root rot or other issues caused by overwatering or improper drainage, it may need immediate help before its roots recover on their own.
How do I repot my succulent correctly?
First loosen up any dirt around the edges using a spoon or trowel this way there won’t be any breakage as you remove your plant from its current container.* When removing your plant from its old container (if needed), take care not to damage its roots while doing so.
To avoid damaging them further while transplanting them into their new home try pulling up gently at each side first instead of pulling straight up toward yourself this will reduce stress on those important little strands!
Next , put your plant in its new container, making sure it sits at the same depth as before. You can use a pencil or chopstick to mark where your succulent’s previous soil line was, and then gently fill in around it with new soil and water it well. Finally , place your succulent back where it was before. That’s it! You have successfully transplanted your succulent.
Propagation
The most common method of propagating succulents is by cutting. A cutting is just a piece of a plant that grows roots and becomes an entire new plant. You can take cuttings from succulents grown healthy in a soil.
To take a cutting, first decide which part of the plant you want to use as your cutting. Succulents grow all over their bodies so there isn’t one particular part that is better than others for taking cuttings. I usually choose between leaves or new growth at the top of the plant since both are easy to find and tend to grow quickly once separated from their mother plants
Conclusion
With all this in mind, you should know that not all succulents can survive in regular potting soil. If you’re looking to grow your own succulents and want them to thrive, it is important that you get the right type of soil for your plants. This will ensure they stay healthy and happy!
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