How to Prepare Soil for Succulent Planting
Main content introduction: This article covers the topic of preparing soil for succulent planting, providing detailed information on green plants and flowers. Read on for a comprehensive introduction.
How to Prepare Soil for Succulent Planting
The best results for growing succulents are achieved with a granular soil mixture consisting of peat, coconut coir, vermiculite, perlite, volcanic rocks, and akadama soil. However, different soil mixtures are required depending on the growth stage of the succulents. For seedlings, the proportion of granules should be reduced, while for older plants, a soil with a higher content of granules should be used.
Many succulent enthusiasts mistakenly believe that proper watering, scientific fertilization, and suitable light exposure are sufficient, but this view is too one-sided.
Because no matter how careful the maintenance is, it is based on the growth period of the succulents, and there is a very crucial step before planting succulents:
carefully preparing the soil. Only by preparing suitable soil according to the growth characteristics of succulents can better promote their growth, as most of the energy needed for growth is obtained from the soil.
So how to prepare soil for succulents? Before answering this question, it is necessary to understand the soil characteristics of succulents.
Succulents prefer to grow in loose, breathable, and well-draining soil, which is very beneficial for root development and avoids waterlogging later on. This reduces the chances of root rot and leaf edema. Below are three small methods for preparing soil:
① Leaf Mold Soil, Garden Soil, Coarse Sand
This is a common soil preparation method, where leaf mold soil refers to the soil mixed from decaying leaves, branches, and roots.
This type of soil is rich in humus, has sufficient nutrients, and good breathability and looseness, which can promote the growth and development of flowering plants.
However, it has a disadvantage: it can easily carry pests, so it needs to be sun-dried and disinfected before use.
Garden soil is the soil found around vegetable gardens and green belts, which is very common and convenient to use.
Coarse sand has good drainage and breathability and is generally clean and free from germs, making it a good substance for growing flowers and grass.
Mix these three substances in a ratio of 1:2:2. The resulting soil has optimal breathability, drainage, and fertility-looseness, completely matching the soil characteristics of succulents and being the preferred choice for succulent soil preparation.
② Peat Soil, Granular Soil
Peat soil is rich in nutrients and has breathable and loose properties. Using it to grow succulents can promote root growth. However, peat soil has a disadvantage: it easily compacts, which is not good for root respiration, so it needs to be combined with granular soil. Granular soil can increase the space between the soil particles and prevent compaction.
Mix peat soil and granular soil in a certain proportion evenly. This combination complements each other's strengths and weaknesses. The resulting soil is not only fertile but also breathable and well-draining.
This type of nutrient-rich soil also reduces the chance of soil compaction and hardening, which is very beneficial for the growth of succulents, making the plants robust and the leaves plump.
③ Perlite, Coconut Coir, Peat Soil
Many people do not know what perlite is. Perlite is actually an acidic igneous rock formed by the cooling of volcanic eruptions.
This material has strong breathability and water permeability, can lock in nutrients in the soil to prevent loss, and is the best substance for mixing potting soil.
Coconut coir has good insulation and moisture retention properties, is ventilated and breathable, and is clean and inexpensive, making it suitable for growing succulents.
However, using only coconut coir and perlite to grow succulents can easily make the roots weak and even rot, so it still needs to be combined with peat soil.
Mix these three substances in a certain proportion, and after mixing, they can be used to plant succulents.
In fact, apart from these three methods, there are many other ways to prepare soil for succulents. No matter what substances or proportions are used, as long as the resulting soil meets the growth requirements of succulents and promotes root growth, it is suitable.
Have you understood the detailed introduction of how to prepare soil for succulent planting provided above?