You are probably wondering what is the best soil for succulents. I have done different experiments in choosing the ideal soil for succulents. Not to mention how many succulents that I have killed in the process of perfecting the right soil for them to thrive in.
I have been growing succulents for a few years now and I have tried various soil mix combinations that helped my succulents thrive and be happy.
The best soil for succulents based on my experience as a succulent grower is one part of sandy potting soil and two-part horticultural grit. You can use perlite, LECA and sand as an additional or replacement for grit. This will ensure fast-draining succulent soil for your plants. It is ideal to promote good aeration and fast drainage in your pot to avoid overwatering or any fungal rot.
Read more: Why Succulent Leaves Turn Yellow or Brown?: Causes and How to Fix them
How to choose the best soil for succulents?
Choosing the best soil for succulents can also depend on your own environment, where you would plant your succulents, material availability and budget. Let me share with you more details on different possible options for you. Picking the right ingredients for your own soil mix is crucial.
Succulent growers around the world have access to various soil mix ingredients available to them and suit their budgets. As for me here in the UK, I can share with you the succulent potting soil ingredients that I can easily access in my local garden centres, groceries and online shops.
Succulent potting soil ingredients
Soil
The soil is the nutritious part of your soil mix. However, succulents are known to live and survive in arid conditions. So having less rich organic soil would be ideal. You can use regular potting soil for succulents.
My personal preference is the John Innes No. 2 Garden soil and the Westland Alpine Soil.
The John Innes No.2 has less peat content and has a more sandy texture to it. It is ideal for succulent growing as you don’t have to add sand into your soil mix as it is already mixed in the bag. It typically comes in 25L to 35L bags.
The Westland Alpine Soil is a soil mix available in the market. As it says in the tin, it is specially formulated for Alpine growing e.g. Succulents and cacti. It also has less peat and organic contents. It typically comes in 25L bags.
Horticultural Grit
Usually made up of small sharp rocks, sand and pebbles. They are essential to improve the soil draining capabilities. The horticultural grit also helps to promote good air circulation in the root system, thus helping them to grow healthy and make the plant stable.
In growing succulents, having a fast draining soil is very crucial in making them happy and grow well. Remember, when in doubt, add more grit! Since succulents’ natural habitat are in the arid environment, they don’t mind being planted in less organic medium.
Perlite
Perlite is a volcanic glass that is heated to around 800 degrees Celsius and it causes it to expand. It is super light and yet porous. It is ideal as an alternative to heavy horticultural grit.
Some succulent growers prefer to use perlite due to its lightweight and fast-draining properties. However, Perlite is expensive than horticultural grit. It typically comes in small 5L bags.
LECA
LECA stands for Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate. It is a popular growing medium for soilless horticulture. Mainly used for semi-hydroponics and hydroponics. I personally love using leca due to its sustainability and it helps to promote good air circulation on the roots.
In succulent growing, LECA is mainly used for increasing the drainage within the soil mix most especially when filling a large pot. This will make the large pot lighter for manual handling.
Another good way of incorporating LECA into the soil for succulents is to make it a drainage reservoir at the bottom of each pot. The LECA will serve as an extra layer of a good drainage system for your plants whether they are indoors or outdoors.
I wrote another blog post about growing succulents in LECA and semi-hydroponics.
Horticultural Sand
Horticultural sand is another key component for the ideal succulent soil mix. When mixed into the soil and other key components of the succulent soil mix, it provides good draining features to prevent the growing medium from holding too much water for too long.
Some pre-made garden soil has some horticultural sand like the John Innes No. 2 and Alpine soil.
Molar Clay Cat Litter
Molar clay cat litter is also used as one of the key ingredients for succulent soil mix. Only use the molar clay an alternative to grit or other key ingredients in creating a fast draining soil mix for your succulents.
Molar clay is a fired clay granule that is moisture absorbent that is ideal in keeping the succulent and cacti roots dry. This also promotes a fast draining and good aeration soil mix for your succulents.
Here in the UK, the common molar clay cat litter used by succulent and cacti growers are Sanicat Pink. You can probably find another alternative depending on the country you are in just make sure that its composition is made from Molar clay.
Can you use regular potting soil for succulents?
Yes, a regular potting soil can be used for succulents. Adding extra components to make the soil mix fast-draining would be ideal. You can add some horticultural grit, perlite, sand, leca and/or Molar clay cat litter.
Read more: Helpful Gardening Tips for Beginners from 8 Plantitas and Plantitos in the UK
How do you make cactus and succulent soil?
I like mixing my own succulent soil. Here are recipes on what I use and used in growing succulents. I typically put a layer of LECA in the pot prior to putting the soil mix and the succulents.
Succulent soil mix option 1:
1 part soil
2 part horticultural grit
Succulent soil mix option 2:
1 part soil
1 part Molar clay cat litter
1 part horticultural grit
Succulent soil mix option 3:
1 part soil
1 part horticultural grit
Succulent soil mix for larger pots:
1 part soil
1 part horticultural grit
1 part LECA
Incorporating LECA can help to fill the pot fairly quickly and make it lighter for manual handling.
Do I need to put rocks in the bottom of a succulent planter?
Yes, It is advisable to put some horticultural pebbles or LECA in the bottom of a succulent planter. It will help from avoiding the plant in sitting from excess water for too long that it should have to. Thus, improving the fast-draining capabilities of the succulent soil mix and will make your plant truly happy and healthy.
What is the best soil for outdoor succulents?
The best soil for outdoor succulent is a fast draining soil mix. Mixing the soil and good portion of horticultural grit and other soil drainage enhancer will make it suitable for outdoor succulents.
Whether you are planting your succulents directly to the ground or in a pot, make sure that you will need to prepare your soil to ensure its water draining capabilities.
Choosing porous garden pots will also give you an additional helping hand in creating a fast water draining soil environment for your succulents. I personally like to use terracotta pots and stone planters that has a hole at the bottom of the pot for drainage.
Always put a layer of horticultural pebbles or LECA at the bottom of the pot to have an extra layer of drainage reservoir for your succulents.
What is the best soil for succulents indoors?
The best soil for succulents indoor is a fast-draining soil mix. Mixing the soil and water drainage enhancer like perlite, grit or LECA can help your succulents thrive indoors.
Always make sure that the pots you will be using have a bottom hole drainage and porous. If you are using a ceramic pot or glass vase with no drainage hole always make sure to use a layer of horticultural charcoal at the bottom of the pot. This will help absorb extra moisture when watering.
I hope that helped you in choosing the best soil mix for succulents.
Let me know in the comments what is your favourite best soil mix for succulents!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ryazan Tristram
Succulent and houseplant collectorI’m Ryazan, confessed succulent-holic and proud plantita (plant mom) based in Birmingham, UK. Proud succulent hoarder for a couple of years now and my collection keeps growing! Let me help you to turn your home into a succulent and houseplant oasis that you will love!