Succulent ventilation and air permeability are not the same thing - can granular soil really allow air to pass through?

When caring for succulents, we often hear the two terms "ventilation" and "air permeability." Some friends may also habitually assume that these two terms actually mean the same concept. In fact, ventilation and air permeability are completely two different concepts. To achieve ventilation and air permeability, we also need to do different things.

1. First, let's talk about ventilation

Ventilation actually refers to the ventilation of the external environment of succulents; it means finding ways to make the air around the succulents flow. Ventilation has three purposes:

1. To speed up the evaporation of water from the succulent's potting soil, so that after watering, the potting soil leaves the non-air-permeable state in the shortest possible time;

2. To lower the leaf surface temperature of the succulent, and to make water transpire more quickly from the plant's body through the leaves and then absorb more nutrients from the potting soil.

3. Flowing air will reduce the humidity of the surrounding environment, inhibit the number of mold spores in the air, and effectively reduce the incidence of black rot, black mold, sooty mold, gray mold and various other diseases.

This also explains why some friends can cause black rot spreading downward from the wound just by pulling off a leaf. The reason is that the environment where the succulent is placed has poor ventilation, and mold spores invade the plant's body from the wound, causing the plant's black rot. This is also why it is said that in the stuffy hot summer, you should avoid beheading or pulling leaves off succulents as much as possible.

2. Then let's talk about air permeability

Unlike ventilation, ventilation targets the external environment of succulents, while air permeability refers to the air flow inside the succulent's potting soil, thereby allowing the succulent's root system to breathe freely.

Previously, in the article "There Are 3 Reasons for Succulent Leaves Turning to Water, and the Treatment Methods Are All Different - the 2nd Is the Most Dangerous," Xiao Jingzhi Shenghuo mentioned that because of the harsh environment of its place of origin, succulents evolved so that when encountering high temperatures, their leaf stomata close, and then they can only rely on the root system to take on the role of respiration. Therefore, the air permeability of the potting soil is especially important for succulents. If the air permeability of the potting soil is poor, the succulent's root system cannot breathe smoothly, and either the lower leaves turn to water or the roots rot, and then mold invades from the root wound and triggers black rot.

So in pursuit of air-permeable potting soil, everyone uses granular soil, because the gaps between the granules are large, there will be sufficient air between the soil particles, and the drainage is good, with water flowing quickly out from the bottom of the pot without accumulating. Using granular soil is correct, but it is not enough. Granular soil only increases the air in the potting soil, but it cannot make the air flow. It is like being in a big house with the windows closed: there is enough air, but it cannot flow, so you still feel stuffy.

Then, how can the air in the potting soil be made to flow and achieve the effect of air permeability?

1. First, it needs to be combined with ventilation. Air flow in the macro environment can promote air flow in the micro environment, provided that there is an air-permeable flowerpot and large granular soil. Therefore, a ventilated environment and air-permeable potting soil are directly connected.

2. Watering. "Do not water until dry, and when you water, water thoroughly" makes a lot of sense. Watering thoroughly once is equivalent to using water to drive the stale air out of the potting soil from top to bottom, and then after the water flows out, fresh air is drawn in, completing a perfect air flow. If you only spray water on the soil surface, it may only supplement water for the plant and not achieve the effect of air exchange at all.

In short, ventilation and air permeability for succulents are two different concepts, but the ventilation of the environment, the air permeability of the potting soil, and factors such as light, temperature and humidity, and water control all need to complement and coordinate with one another, and none can be missing.

Compiled and published by Xiao Jingzhi Shenghuo, hoping it will be helpful to you.