Use these 3 media for succulents, and the potting soil will be breathable and less prone to root rot

For beginners, what soil to use for growing succulents is definitely a question worth studying. It is not that this question is very complicated, but that there are too many choices and it is hard to know which to choose. Each type of soil has its own characteristics, and flower lovers can choose a suitable soil according to the text below and their own actual situation. There are many medium formulas for succulents, and the main point is breathability and drainage. There is a most famous three-second principle, which means that when you water, the medium should completely absorb the water within three seconds; if it takes more than three seconds, add more grit. In my soil mixes, nearly half is grit, cinder.

Ceramsite, as the name suggests, is ceramic granules. Early ceramsite was mostly made by directly firing, crushing, and screening shale, and was irregular in shape (mostly flaky). The spherical lightweight ceramsite that appeared recently uses clay (mainly composed of aluminosilicate) as the raw material, adds appropriate chemical raw materials as expansion agents, and is fired at high temperature.

The internal pores of ceramsite are filled with air when there is no moisture. When there is sufficient moisture, it absorbs part of the water and can still retain some gas. When the moisture around the roots is insufficient, the moisture inside the ceramsite diffuses through its surface into the pores between the ceramsite particles, for the roots to absorb and to maintain the air humidity around the roots. We generally place ceramsite at the bottom of the pot or use it as a top dressing. It can absorb excess moisture and prevent root rot.

Coarse sand can also be used to grow succulents, that is, river sand. Clean river sand can be mixed with peat as a cheap growing soil for beginner enthusiasts. The ratio of river sand to peat is 7:3. The ratio is not fixed, and flower lovers can adjust the ratio themselves. How to grow the plants well is the key. Why use this medium? Coarse sand is used because coarse sand will not compact, is breathable, and is very heavy, so it can be used to adjust the specific gravity of the soil. Almost all growing media are relatively light, so if you are planting relatively tall plants, adding some coarse sand is still necessary.

Can wood shavings be used to grow succulents? Actually, yes. Mix them with garden soil and ferment for half a month, then they can be used. Find a large plastic bag. If the bag originally has holes, seal all the holes with tape. Mix the wood shavings and soil evenly and put them into the plastic bag. Spray them moist with a spray bottle. They do not need to be too wet; just moist is fine. Squeeze out the air in the bag, then tie the bag opening tightly. It does not matter if some air remains in the bag, because it will be consumed during fermentation. This creates an anaerobic fermentation environment. Put the tied bag in a dark place.

What top dressing soil is best for succulents? The top dressing soil itself should be heavy, such as Maifan stone, akadama, river sand, green zeolite, etc. The reason is very straightforward: if it is not heavy, the top dressing soil is easily washed into disorder when watering, losing the meaning of top dressing. Typical examples of this are lighter soils such as kanuma soil and kiryu. Not only are they easily disturbed by watering, they may even be blown away by strong wind. Finally, a very important point about top dressing is that when planting succulents, you should reserve space for the top dressing soil. If the top dressing is too high, it is also easily washed away when watering.

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