The Latest Succulent Soil Mixing Methods: What Soil Is Best?
Succulent plants are also known as fleshy plants, succulent plants, etc. Most grow in tropical desert regions, where the soil is poor (mostly gravel and coarse sand), with only a small amount of soil and organic matter. Such soil is extremely breathable, so when cultivating succulents, you should try your best to use planting media close to their original native environment. Now let us take a look together at what soil is best for succulents!
Principles for Mixing Soil for Succulents
1. Cultivation site: For succulents planted in the ground, drainage should be considered more, and materials with strong drainage such as gravel should be added, while for potted plants, organic matter should be appropriately supplemented on the principle of ensuring looseness and breathability. If planting on a south-facing balcony, the characteristics of being relatively dry and having sufficient light should also be considered, and appropriately adding some substrates with strong water retention such as vermiculite and coconut coir.
2. Different types: Different types of succulents may be “vastly different” in soil preparation. For example, epiphytic types need a certain amount of humus, while some terrestrial types whose native soil is poor and whose root systems are not well developed have lower humus requirements than the former. Not only do different families require different soils, even different genera within the same family have different soil requirements.
3. Cultivation region: The soil for succulents should be prepared according to different cultivation regions. In the north, because the climate is dry, there are certain requirements for the soil's moisture retention ability. In the south, where rainfall is abundant and air humidity is high, there are higher requirements for the soil's drainage and aeration.
4. Growth stage: Succulents have different soil needs at different growth stages. For example, at the seedling stage the root system is not well developed, so the organic matter content should be slightly less, and the soil should mainly be light materials combined with some fine sand, after which the organic matter content can gradually be increased.
Methods for Mixing Succulent Soil
1. Formula 1: 8 parts Kanuma soil + 2 parts Sentama soil + a little shell powder, suitable for cultivating Lithops.
2. Formula 2: 10 parts coarse sand + 2 parts wood shavings + 1 part base fertilizer + 1 part garden soil, suitable for ground planting.
3. Formula 3: 1 part leaf mold + 1 part peat + 2 parts coarse sand + 1 part light material + a little base fertilizer, suitable for cultivating epiphytic types.
4. Formula 4: 3 parts pond foundation stone + 2 parts Sentama soil + 1 part light material + 1 part peat, suitable for cultivating hard-leaved varieties of Haworthia.
5. Formula 5: 2 parts garden soil + 1 part leaf mold + 4 parts coarse sand + 1 part light material + half a part rice hull ash, suitable for cultivating ordinary terrestrial types.
What Soil Is Best for Succulents?
1. Orchiata: Orchiata is a planting medium with a porous structure, a certain water storage capacity, and excellent breathability, also known as pumice, Kanuma soil, floatstone, etc.
2. Vermiculite: Vermiculite is made from mica processed at high temperature, with good breathability and sterility. But it easily pulverizes, and after pulverizing its breathability becomes extremely poor.
3. Perlite: Perlite is artificially processed, with good breathability and sterility. But it easily pulverizes, and it floats up when watering, which is unattractive.
4. Grass peat soil: Grass peat soil is formed by the accumulation, rotting, and carbonization of organic matter, with good breathability, neutral, and a certain amount of nutrients, making it a very good planting medium.
5. Peat soil: Peat soil is formed by further carbonization of grass peat soil, with good breathability, neutral, and no nutrients, making it a very good planting medium.
6. Akadama soil: Akadama soil is formed by the accumulation of volcanic ash, has a porous structure, and is an excellent planting medium with breathability, containing a certain amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
7. Charcoal: Charcoal is made by burning wood, has a porous structure, no nutrients, and has a strong antibacterial effect and the ability to absorb harmful substances.
8. Carbonized husk: Carbonized husk is made from rice hulls carbonized at high temperature, contains a certain amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, has good breathability, and has a strong antibacterial and adsorption effect.
9. Vermiculite: Vermiculite is a natural, non-toxic mineral that has a great effect on soil nutrition and can increase the soil's aeration and water retention.