Want your succulents to fill the pot to bursting? Add these things to the bottom of the pot - loose and airy.
How do you grow succulents fast? During the growing season, place your succulents somewhere with long hours of sunlight rather than the strongest light. When supplementing light for your plants, you should extend the duration of light, not increase light intensity just because the light is weak. If you want your succulents to fill the pot and grow more and more, the first thing is to make sure the plants stay alive and healthy with a good root system. When it comes to soil, it must be well aerated and highly permeable to water. At this point you can line the bottom of the pot with some larger-particle growing medium, such as the widely used large expanded clay pebbles; besides that, there are also some free airy materials, such as crushed brick tiles or various nut shells, all of which are excellent airy, water-permeable materials.
In fact, there is no such thing as the most ideal succulent soil mix, only a mix that suits your own succulents. Being able to achieve a soft, airy texture, good drainage, a certain granular structure, and being sterile and pest-free all make it suitable for succulent growth. In succulent pots lined with nut shells, the roots of the succulents inside grow very well developed and robust, and nut shells also contain some nutrients that are gradually released to supply the plant as it grows. Peanut shells, walnut shells and so on, used as a base layer in the pot, can make succulents quickly grow more new roots, and the effect is really quite good.
Plant ash can promote rooting, suppress pests and diseases, and also serve as fertilizer. I have found it works very well and it is worth recommending. You can mix soil according to how well developed the succulent's root system is. Although succulents like granular soil, when it comes to the ratio you should still follow the principle of "small particles for small seedlings, large particles for large seedlings." If the air humidity in your area is high and there is a lot of rain, then increase the proportion of granules; conversely, if you are in a dry area with little rain, then use a bit more water-retaining medium (peat, etc.) and a bit less granules.
How do you grow succulents into big, large pots? The next most effective method is to switch to a bigger pot. Repotting gives the succulent space, which is also very helpful for it to grow bigger or form clusters. A pot about twice the width of the succulent's crown is suitable; be sure not to make it too small or too large - too small and it struggles to grow big, too large and watering becomes a hassle. How amazing is switching to a big pot? Basically for varieties from the same period, in order: Echeveria 'Blue Bird', Kalanchoe luciae (flapjacks), Aeonium 'Zwartkop' (black rose), and Haworthia cymbiformis - some tough, easy-to-grow varieties that are very suitable for planting in big pots and letting them do their own thing. Some people grow succulents in garden soil, and the succulents they grow turn out fast-growing and big. The main reason is that garden soil contains more nutrients. If you want succulents to grow fast and big, a base fertilizer is still quite necessary.
The ancestors of succulents grew in arid regions, where their roots could not absorb water for long periods. To survive, their stems and leaves gradually became thick and fleshy, relying on the water stored inside their bodies to stay alive. So when there is too much water, they will only keep growing taller and taller, and that directly causes leggy growth. Only after water control, letting them have a sense of being short of water, will the succulent use its leaves to store water the next time it is watered, and only then will the leaves become thick and fleshy. Of course, during this period you also need to combine it with plenty of sun. Summer temperatures are very hot - you all know what summers in Jiangnan are like - stuffy, hot and humid, with especially many thunderstorms. Getting soaked and then immediately hit by strong sun is a major taboo for succulents! If the water droplets on the leaves are not blown off right away, they act just like a magnifying glass and scorch the succulent's leaves! Therefore in summer you must provide shade and shelter from rain.
To prevent leggy growth: some plant lovers always have many doubts about watering succulents. Those who have grown them for some years know that, in fact, as long as succulents are within their growing season, you can completely relax and water boldly. Of course, for beginners, being cautious is definitely safer. Many people understand the principle of "better dry than wet": succulents given little water will not die of drought - at worst they just look poor - but too much water can very likely drown them. This idea has also led plant lovers to widely believe that succulents are by nature "drought-loving."
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