Some experience with rooting in sand, a classic look back

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Images and text: Curator

Growing succulents in pure sand

Some friends worry about the nutrition problem for succulents; there should not be much nutrition in sand, and will the succulents grow rather thin and weak?

Based on my own experience, they are not thin or weak at all. First, plants are not like animals that must eat; they have the special skill of photosynthesis and can be completely self-sufficient without relying on external nutrients. I remember when I was in school, there was even a Van Helmont experiment in the natural science textbook. Those interested can look up the materials.

Furthermore, the places where succulents originate are not as carefully tended as when we grow them, with granules and nutrients all complete, afraid of shortchanging them. Most of the environments where they grow are rather harsh, such as high mountains, deserts, and the Gobi. This has also evolved wildly varied ways of growing. Although most succulents have gone through artificial domestication and propagation, their tenacious vitality is still fully retained.

Moreover, sand is originally composed of particles from the weathering and breaking down of all kinds of minerals, rocks, and other odds and ends. Its main component is silicon dioxide, which is quartz. But depending on the region, the composition of sand is not completely the same. Sometimes broken shells or crushed ore are mixed in. Everyone knows there can be diamonds in sand, right?

What we usually see is generally river sand, and there will certainly be silt and humus mixed in, so there is no need to worry about nutrition. Sea sand is not recommended, as it contains salt...

Of course, if some succulent friends want to add some nutrients themselves, that is also fine. Decomposed base fertilizer is best. All kinds of nutrients are also sold at flower markets and greenhouses.

This is a leaf I inserted in sand myself

There is another issue, which is - watering

Do not water from the soil surface the way we usually do. As the water permeates downward, it will also make the sand become solid and compact, affecting aeration. To keep the sand fluffy and loose, the correct method should be like when we bottom-water: pour the water into the tray under the flowerpot and let the sand absorb water upward by itself. Generally, succulent friends will surely have a few plastic flowerpot saucers at home, so just put them to use.

Plant roots all have the habit of growing toward water and nutrients. When the water is in the lower layer of the sand, it is just like in nature. To drink water, the plant roots will work harder to grow downward.

Special note (⊙o⊙)! Be sure to pay attention! If there are really too many leaf cuttings, or the container is too large, or there is simply no hole at the bottom and bottom-watering is impossible, then when watering you can use a spray bottle to spray slowly. It is a bit more troublesome, but the sand will still stay fluffy and loose. Absolutely do not water directly! The original poster now uses plastic washbasins, just spraying all the time, spraying every day.

Previously a friend asked me about sand caking and becoming hard. Besides the watering problem, it may also be that there is too much silt in the sand. When choosing sand, try to choose one with larger particles.

Here is a bit more of the [rooting method] I have studied for a long time. It works very well. First, poke a hole in the sand. The sand is very fluffy, so you can just use your finger.

Settle the succulent to be inserted into it

Just like this is fine. Rooting is super fast. Sand itself has very good aeration, and the humidity is also kept very, very well. There is no need to worry about whether it will suffocate. Personally, I feel it is far better than any water propagation. If it is a very large succulent, or a relatively tall one with a stem, sand is not recommended, as it cannot hold it in place. Sand is suitable for some Echeveria types, relatively short, flat, and creeping succulents.

This was inserted earlier and is growing well. I think if using sand, top dressing can be omitted.

This is a little personal experience of mine, and I hope it is of some help to everyone.

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