Methods for preparing soil for succulent plants
This article provides detailed experience on succulent plants, including the soil preparation method for succulents, which is a very useful tip worth collecting!
For succulents, the commercial potting soil (C-S) available on the market has certain limitations, so experienced enthusiasts often prepare their own. What qualifies as high-quality potting soil? Simply put, it should be loose and breathable, have good drainage, have a certain granular structure, and provide the nutrients needed for plant growth. When preparing, it's important to properly mix organic and inorganic materials, avoiding overly fine or small dust.
Here are some commonly used substrates for succulents:
One, organic materials
1. Leaf mold: You can use the market's (C-S) orchid soil or collect fallen cypress or zelkova leaves to compost and ferment, then disinfect before use.
2. Peat: Buried underground for thousands of years, lake plants are now produced in Jilin and Heilongjiang, which are considered good. High-quality peat is brown in color, has high organic matter content, good fiber, loose texture, non-sticky to the touch, and strong adsorption, with a pH value slightly acidic.
3. Sawdust: It has good water permeability and water retention, but due to its high carbon content and low nitrogen content, it is not used alone and can be mixed with nitrogen compounds such as soybean cake for composting.
4. Rice husk ash: Rich in potassium fertilizer, slightly alkaline in pH value. Choose the deep black one, not white, and with uniform structure, not too fine.
5. Snake wood chips: A processed fern (Cyathea) stem. Hard and brown in color, not easily decomposed. Good drainage and certain fertility, it has become a popular growing medium in recent years.
6. Mountain soil: Common types include - Huangshan soil: Low in organic matter, general drainage; Red mountain soil: High in organic matter, sticky when watered, easily compacted after drying; Black mountain soil: High in organic matter, good drainage and not easily compacted after watering. Black mountain soil is generally used.
7. Orchid soil: Commonly used as an orchid growing medium. But it has also proven to be quite good for succulents. Its characteristics are: complete nutrients, good drainage, no pollution, no weed seeds. The granular structure remains good after a year of potting.
In addition to these, there are other substrates.
Two, inorganic materials
1. Vermiculite: A lightweight material with a honeycomb-like structure, good water retention and warmth retention, excellent breathability, and no bacteria. It has a high survival rate as a cutting medium but has no fertility itself and should be mixed with other substrates. Its structure can easily be destroyed after long-term cultivation. Used vermiculite should be screened before reuse.
2. Perlite: A lightweight material made from volcanic stone containing aluminum silicate after high-temperature expansion. Good water permeability and ventilation. But low effective water content, often used as an additive supplement.
3. Coconut fiber: Palm fiber, loose in texture, especially good at water retention. Often used for cutting. The coconut fiber commonly seen in the market is compressed into small blocks, also called "expanded soil." Soak in water before use.
4. Pond stone: Made by high-temperature firing, often placed at the bottom of the pot or mixed with other substrates. If mixed with other materials, the particles should not be too large, about 0.2 centimeters is fine.
5. Stone for planting orchids: Also a planting orchid medium, superior to pond stone, rich in various minerals, effective for growing succulents, can replace the former, but slightly more expensive.
6. Sand: Should be salt-free, not too fine in particle size. Wash and sieve before use, and mix with other substrates. Good water permeability, high oxygen content, large temperature difference between morning and evening, suitable for succulents.
Other inorganic substrates include volcanic stone, coal cake, etc.
In addition, some auxiliary materials such as calcium-containing materials like shell powder, calcium treasure, etc., are commonly used when preparing potting soil. There are also some basic fertilizers like chicken manure, cow dung, etc.
No matter which substrate is chosen or how it is prepared, it must meet the basic requirements of the plant and consider various situations flexibly.
① Prepare according to the cultivation site: For example, the soil for ground planting and pot planting is different. Ground planting should consider more drainage, adding materials with good drainage, such as sand and gravel. Pot planting should appropriately add organic matter on the principle of ensuring loose and breathable soil. If planted on a south-facing balcony, consider the dry and well-lit characteristics, and add some substrates with strong water retention, such as vermiculite, coconut fiber, etc.
② Prepare according to different types: Different types may have "radically different" soil preparation requirements. For example, epiphytic types need a certain amount of humus, while some terrestrial types from poor soil origin with underdeveloped roots do not require as much humus. Not only do different families require different soils, but even different genera within the same family have different soil requirements. For example, the Chinese aloe and the bovine aloe in the Liliaceae family, the former belonging to the aloe genus, is strong in habits, grows fast, and can be supplemented with plenty of basic fertilizer at the bottom of the pot. The latter, a plant of the Haworthia genus, grows slowly and basically does not require basic fertilizer.
③ Prepare according to different cultivation regions: The climate in the north is dry, requiring soil with certain moisture retention capabilities; the south has abundant rainfall and high humidity, requiring soil with better drainage and breathability.
④ Prepare according to different growth stages: Seedlings with underdeveloped roots require less organic matter, with the soil mainly consisting of lightweight materials mixed with fine sand, gradually increasing the organic matter content later.
Actually, soil preparation cannot be explained clearly with simple principles. The key is the cultivator's own experience accumulation over time, eventually finding a set of "self-invented" formulas. The following formulas can be used for reference:
1) Stone for planting orchids 8 parts + orchid soil 2 parts + a little shell powder (suitable for growing Lithops).
2) Coarse sand 10 parts + sawdust 2 parts + basic fertilizer 1 part + garden soil 1 part (suitable for ground planting).
3) Leaf mold 1 part + peat 1 part + coarse sand 2 parts + lightweight material 1 part + a little basic fertilizer (suitable for epiphytic types).
4) Pond stone 3 parts + orchid soil 2 parts + lightweight material 1 part + peat 1 part (suitable for hard-leafed species of the Haworthia genus).
5) Garden soil 2 parts + leaf mold 1 part + coarse sand 4 parts + lightweight material 1 part + rice husk ash half part (suitable for ordinary terrestrial types).
The specific content of the succulent plant soil preparation method provided above is prohibited from being copied without permission!