Planting succulents in this kind of soil is very simple, and the succulents you grow will be both beautiful and sturdy.
Akadama is formed from accumulated volcanic ash and is also one of the most widely used growing media. It is a highly permeable volcanic clay in the form of yellow round granules, containing no harmful bacteria. Its structure is conducive to both water retention and drainage. Akadama has a pH of 6.9 and is slightly acidic. It also contains trace elements such as silicon oxide, calcium oxide and iron oxide, all of which are very beneficial to the growth of succulents.
Akadama's reputation in succulent circles is unmatched. If someone growing succulents does not understand akadama, then no matter how good their soil mix sounds, it is all in vain. A few years ago, akadama was used very widely, but now it is gradually being replaced by various granular soils, volcanic rock, maifan stone and other cheap stones. Because akadama's reputation was once so great, fake akadama appeared, and it is said to crumble easily with a single squeeze.
The greatest advantages of akadama are its low fertility, slight acidity, breathability and water retention. These four qualities have already met the physiological needs of most plants, and for the physiological characteristics of succulents, they are almost a perfect match. Ordinary beginners using akadama to grow succulents can do a good job without much guidance. Its characteristics greatly lower the threshold for growing succulents, and since its price is neither high nor low, akadama can also be said to be an important factor driving the rapid development of succulent growing in China.
Akadama is relatively suitable for succulents that have grown for several years and have well-developed root systems. If they are newly acquired seedlings or their roots are not well developed, it is best to mainly use a soil mixed with coal cinder, coconut shell and small granules, and you can mix in some akadama for planting, which is more nutritious and helps with rooting. Or using akadama as a top dressing is also very good. The price of akadama is a little higher than other granular soils (such as maifan stone), but whether a granular soil is worth it depends on volume rather than weight. By comparison, akadama's specific gravity is a bit lighter than maifan stone and volcanic rock.
If it is seeds, it is best not to use pure akadama, as it is not easy for them to sprout. In addition, it is summer now and the temperature is very high, so the germination rate is even lower and the seedlings die easily. It is best to wait until autumn to sow. If planting, it is still fine: dry the purchased plant in a shady place, then remove the fibrous roots, put soil into the pot until it is more than half full. If the pot has no drainage hole, first lay large granules of stone to block water, plant the plant in, and then cover it with soil.
In summer, water less overall, but do not cut off water completely, especially for plants that are rooting, as they need water. Afterwards, basically water twice a month, and do not water thoroughly. Within 2 weeks, if the plant looks off, you can dig it out to see whether it has rooted. If it has rooted, do not move it again. That is roughly how it goes. Kanuma soil is acidic (akadama is weakly acidic), so unless it is for certain plants that particularly like acidity, there is usually no need to use kanuma soil; akadama is mainly used.
As for akadama being sterile, I personally speculate it is probably because it has few nutrients, so it does not easily mold or grow green algae. However, when fertilizing or when other soil mixes contain relatively high nutrients and the soil is stuffy and damp, akadama can still develop mild mold and green algae. Still, the extent is lighter than with pumice and orchid stone. A few days ago the temperature suddenly rose; the seedlings did not suffocate, but several pieces of pumice directly turned into fuzzy balls.
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