Suitable soil for succulents

Fertile garden soil

It refers to the fertile soil in a vegetable garden or flower garden that has been improved, fertilized and carefully cultivated. It is a slightly acidic soil that has been broken and sieved, and has been free of weed roots, gravel and insect eggs.

Leaf mold

It is leaf mold composed of dead branches, fallen leaves and rotten roots. It is rich in humus and has good physical properties, is conducive to fertilizer retention and drainage, and the soil is loose. Slightly acidic. It can also be made by piling up fallen leaves and fermenting them.

Culture soil

The cultivation soil is formed by piling up a layer of green grass, dead leaves, broken branches and a layer of ordinary garden soil, pouring in decomposed cake fertilizer, letting it ferment and decompose, and then crushing and sieving it.

Peat soil

The plants in the ancient lake and swamp areas were buried underground and decomposed into incomplete special organic matter under conditions of flooding and lack of air. Peat soil is rich in organic matter and is difficult to decompose.

Coarse sand

It is mainly composed of sand particles with a diameter of 2-3 mm and is neutral. Coarse sand does not contain any nutrients and has ventilation and water permeability functions.

moss

It is a thick, long, tensile-resistant plant material with the advantages of being loose, breathable and highly moisturizing.

Vermiculite

It is a mica-like substance formed by heating silicate materials at 800-1100℃. It has good air permeability, large porosity and strong water holding capacity, but it tends to become dense after long-term use, affecting ventilation and drainage effects.

Perlite

It is a natural aluminum-silicon compound, an expansion material formed by heating crushed igneous rock to above 1000℃, and has a closed porous structure. The material is lightweight and ventilates well.

Soil recipes for succulents

General type: 1 part each of fertile garden soil, peat soil, coarse sand and perlite.

Lithops: 1 part fine garden soil, 1 part coarse sand, 1 part coconut bran, and a little rice husk ash.

Root fine shape: 6 parts peat soil, 2 parts perlite, 2 parts coarse sand.

For succulents with slower growth and fleshy roots: 6 parts coarse sand, 1 part vermiculite, 2 parts granular soil, and 1 part peat soil.

Euphorbiaceae: 2 parts peat soil, 1 part vermiculite, 2 parts fertile garden soil, and 3 parts fine gravel.

Small leaves: 2 parts of leaf mold, 2 parts of coarse sand, 1 part of rice husk charcoal.

Stem shape: 2 parts of leaf mold, 2 parts of coarse sand, 1 part each of loam, rice husk charcoal, and broken brick slag.

Spherical thorny plants: Use a mixture of fertile garden soil, leaf mold, coarse sand, a small amount of bone meal and dry cow dung.

Epiphytic cactus: Use a mixture of leaf mold or peat soil, coarse sand and a small amount of bone meal.

Columnar cactus: Use a mixture of potting soil, coarse sand and a small amount of bone meal.

Soil preparation demonstration

Succulent plants in general

Half of succulents prefer a mixture of garden soil, peat soil, coarse sand and perlite in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. This mixed soil contains a certain amount of humus and has good drainage, which is suitable for the growth requirements of most succulents.

Slow-growing succulents with fleshy roots

Succulents with slower growth and fleshy roots do not require much humus, but do need good aeration and drainage. Therefore, a mixture of coarse sand, vermiculite, granular soil and peat soil in a ratio of 6:1:2:1 is most suitable.

The potting soil for succulents is generally required to be loose and breathable, with good drainage and containing an appropriate amount of humus, with neutral soil being preferred. However, a few succulents, such as Sansevieria, Desert Rose, Senecio, Alopecuroides, and Haworthia, require slightly alkaline soil, while the Aizoaceae genus Anemone prefers alkaline soil. All cultivation soils must be strictly disinfected before use. When using, spray water on the cultivation soil, stir evenly, and adjust the soil moisture before potting.