The type of succulent soil you use can greatly affect the health of your succulents. Poor soil can result in root rot and the eventual death of the succulent. You can avoid this by using appropriate soil mixtures. Succulent soil needs to be porous, well-draining and slowly release moisture to the roots. There are 2 categories of soil medium: organic and inorganic. The best soil mix incorporates both organic and inorganic elements. Succulents do not like their roots to be wet for very long and need very good drainage. Normal garden soil holds too much water, and you’ll need to amend it by adding inorganic grit to provide proper drainage. We recommend using cactus soil as a base for succulent soil mix as it retains less water and has more air pockets for breathability.
If you are growing succulents indoors, your soil mix needs to hold a greater composition of inorganic material to improve the drainage as the lack of air circulation indoors will inhibit evaporation of soil moisture, hence leading to rot. If your succulents are outdoors and exposed to rain, your soil mix also needs to hold a greater composition of inorganic material.
Inorganic and organic soil components
What are some inorganic soil amendments you can add to improve your soil drainage?
1) Pumice
It is whipped volcanic glass that is made up of tiny air bubbles. This means that pumice is a lightweight volcanic rock that makes it perfect for use as a soil amendment. The porous rock is ideal for use with cacti and succulents as well as other plants that require excellent drainage and air circulation.
The porosity of pumice allows microbial life to thrive while maintaining soil structure better than perlite. Planting with pumice also has the advantage of a neutral pH along with a variety of trace materials. There are many advantages to growing plants in pumice. It reduces water runoff and fertilization by increasing soil absorption in sandy soils. It also absorbs excess moisture, so roots don’t rot.
Additionally, pumice improves aeration and stimulates the growth of mycorrhizae. Pumice doesn’t decompose or compact over time like other soil amendments, which means it helps to maintain soil structure. It also keeps clay soils loose over time for continued soil health. Pumice is a natural, unprocessed organic product that doesn’t decompose or blow away.
Succulent grown in pumice
2) Perlite
Perlite is a lightweight granular material that’s white in colour. It looks and feels like little bits of polystyrene but is actually made from expanded volcanic glass, heated to 1000°C until it expands to many times its original size. It’s lightweight, sterile, and easy to handle, and does not decompose. The pH is balanced as well.
Perlite’s expanded nature makes it extremely porous, so it can absorb water, but it also improves drainage, so is ideal to mix into soil to ensure water drains freely. Other materials that perform similar functions are vermiculite, grit, and sharp sand.
Perlite can give off fine dust, do take precautions when handling perlite as inhalation of the fine dust can cause respiratory irritation. Wear a mask while handling and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Perlite for succulents
3) Lava rocks
Lava rocks are any form of rock that is created when lava or magma erupts through the earth’s surface and cools.
Lava rock granules do not rot or decompose, is breathable and permeable to water
Lava rock granules are porous and help with improving soil drainage, it can also be used as topping to prevent underlying soil from flowing out upon watering
If you occasionally forget to water, the porous grains will release stored water to the plant roots. Accidental overwatering does not result in damaging waterlogging if a layer of lava rock lies on the bottom of the vessel as drainage.
Succulents grown in lava rock
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