Ruqayyah Snyder
Succulents are extremely popular garden plants in Australia due to their ability to thrive with minimal water. When it comes to potting succulents, it is important to use a mix that drains well and does not retain too much moisture, as this can lead to root rot. While commercial potting mixes are readily available, making your own succulent potting mix can be a fun and rewarding experience, allowing you to customise the ingredients to your specific needs. This involves combining ingredients such as perlite, coarse sand, and a base potting mix, with the option to add compost for extra nutrients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soil | Break away quite a lot of soil as succulents grow with small root systems |
| Pots | Pots with drainage holes are important to prevent root rot |
| Watering | Water once a week in summer, once a month in winter |
| Fertiliser | A little dressing of slow-release fertiliser is perfect |
| Gravel | Add gravel to throw the plants into relief |
| Perlite | Use one to two parts perlite for drainage |
| Vermiculite | Vermiculite increases water and nutrient retention, so use it sparingly |
| Coir fibre | Mix one part perlite with one part coir fibre for an ideal seed-raising and cutting-growing mix |
| Commercial mixes | Commercial mixes tend to retain water for too long |
| Peat | Avoid soil mixes that contain peat as they can lead to root rot |
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What You'll Learn
The benefits of making your own potting mix
Making your own succulent potting mix has several benefits. Firstly, it ensures that the mix is fast-draining, which is essential for succulent health. Traditional potting soils are designed to hold water, but succulents store moisture in their leaves, so excess moisture in the soil can lead to root rot. By creating your own mix, you can ensure the right balance of ingredients for optimal drainage. This might include adding rocks, pebbles, gravel, or horticultural charcoal powder, which absorbs excess moisture and prevents mould and mildew.
Another advantage of making your own mix is that you can avoid using peat, which is often included in commercial mixes. Aside from the environmental impact of peat extraction, peat is unsuitable for succulents as it holds too much moisture, leading to oxygen deprivation in the roots. By crafting your own mix, you can select ingredients that promote healthy drainage and avoid the pitfalls of peat-based mixes.
Customising your own potting mix also allows you to cater to the specific needs of your succulents. While succulents are generally low-maintenance, they benefit from occasional fertiliser boosts during their active growth season. By making your own mix, you can add fertiliser as needed and create a fertile and nutritious base for your plants.
Finally, while the upfront costs of creating a custom succulent mix may be higher, your mix will last longer than commercial alternatives. This is because it contains less organic matter, which tends to disappear over time. As a result, you can reuse your custom mix for repotting, saving you money in the long run.
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Ingredients to use
The ingredients you will need to make your own succulent potting mix include perlite, coir fibre, gravel, and a small amount of compost. Perlite is a natural mineral with a high water content that loosens soil and increases aeration and drainage. One source recommends a ratio of 40% potting mix, 20% perlite, and 40% coarse sand. Another source recommends a ratio of 50% soil, 20% perlite, and 30% sand.
When using perlite, it is important to wear a dust mask rated for filtering silica particles to avoid breathing in the fine dust. You can also moisten the perlite with water to settle the dust before use. Vermiculite is another natural mineral that can be used in potting mixes, but it increases water retention, which is not ideal for succulents.
It is important to avoid using peat in your succulent potting mix, as it is difficult to rewet once dry and can hold too much moisture, leading to root rot. Instead, use a small amount of compost as a slow-release fertiliser. Compost is nutrient-dense and rich in beneficial soil microbial life, which makes nutrients more readily available to your plants.
You can also add a little dressing of slow-release fertiliser and gravel to your potting mix to provide additional nutrients and improve drainage.
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Ingredients to avoid
When making your own succulent potting mix, there are several ingredients that should be avoided. Firstly, it is recommended to stay away from peat-based mixes. Peat is difficult to rewet when dry, and once rewetted, it holds too much moisture, which can starve the roots of succulents of vital oxygen and lead to rot. While it is generally recommended to avoid peat, if it is present in only a trace amount, it should not cause these issues.
Soil mixes that contain a significant amount of organic matter should also be avoided, as they retain too much water. Succulents are prone to rot in cool and wet conditions, so it is important to use a mix that drains quickly. Commercial mixes often contain wetting agents, which can cause the plants to stay too wet. Additionally, avoid using beach sand, as it can desiccate succulents with salt.
When it comes to fertiliser, while it can be beneficial for succulents during their active growth season, it is important not to overdo it. A little dressing of slow-release fertiliser is perfect, but too much fertiliser can cause issues.
Finally, while horticultural charcoal powder can be beneficial for absorbing excess moisture and repelling pests, it is not essential and can be avoided if desired.
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The importance of drainage
When it comes to succulent potting mix, drainage is crucial. Succulents are known for their low water requirements and drought tolerance, so ensuring the potting mix drains well is essential to prevent overwatering and root rot.
Secondly, good drainage is vital because it regulates the moisture level in the potting mix. Succulents thrive in dry conditions and require minimal water. A well-draining mix ensures that water is available to the plant but does not remain stagnant, allowing the roots to access moisture without becoming waterlogged.
Additionally, drainage plays a role in nutrient availability. As water drains through the potting mix, it carries nutrients with it. A mix that drains too quickly may allow nutrients to leach out before the plant can absorb them, while a mix that drains too slowly may result in nutrient buildup and root burn. Therefore, finding the right balance is essential.
Finally, drainage affects the weight of the potting mix. Coarse sand, for example, improves drainage but increases weight. Lighter amendments like perlite can be used to improve drainage while reducing the overall weight of the potting mix, making it easier to manage, especially in hanging baskets or large containers.
In conclusion, drainage is a critical aspect of succulent potting mix. It ensures that succulents receive the right amount of water, prevents waterlogging, promotes oxygen circulation, regulates nutrient availability, and affects the weight of the mix. By understanding the importance of drainage, gardeners can create a custom mix that suits the unique needs of their succulent plants.
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How much potting mix you'll need
The amount of potting mix you'll need for your succulents will depend on the number of plants you're potting and the size of the containers you're using. Succulents are slow-growing plants and don't require a lot of soil, but they do need the right type of soil to thrive.
When potting succulents, it's important to use a well-draining mix with a lower percentage of organic matter than traditional indoor soil mixes. You can create your own mix by combining sand, potting mix, and perlite or pumice. A good starting point is a ratio of two parts sand, two parts potting mix, and one part perlite or pumice. You can adjust the ratio depending on the type of succulent and your personal preference.
If you're using a commercial potting mix, follow the instructions on the package to determine the appropriate amount for your containers. Commercial mixes tend to retain water longer, so be careful not to overwater your succulents. It's also important to choose a container with drainage holes to prevent root rot.
When mixing your own soil, you can blend the ingredients in a mixing bowl or on a tarp, depending on the quantity. Use a garden trowel or your hands to ensure the ingredients are evenly mixed. If you're mixing dry ingredients, add small amounts of water to ensure the potting medium is moist but not wet.
By following these guidelines and choosing the right type of soil for your succulents, you'll be able to determine the appropriate amount of potting mix needed for your specific requirements.
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Frequently asked questions
The general recipe for a succulent potting mix is one part perlite, one part coir fibre, and one part potting mix. However, some sources suggest adding coarse sand to the mix as well.
Perlite is a silicon-containing natural mineral with a high water content. It is lightweight and helps to loosen the soil, increasing aeration and drainage. When handling perlite, it is important to wear a dust mask to protect yourself from the fine dust that can be inhaled.
You can use an organic or all-purpose potting mix as your base. However, it is important to avoid mixes that contain peat as they can hold too much moisture, leading to root rot. If you are mixing your own, it is better to use a mix with less organic matter, as succulents thrive in nutrient-poor conditions.
Making your own succulent potting mix can be more expensive upfront than buying a commercial mix, but it will last longer and you can reuse it when repotting plants. If you only have a small number of succulents, it may be simpler to buy a commercial mix. However, if you have a large number of plants or want to create your own mix, you can determine the quantity you need by measuring how much soil your plants require.
