What kind of soil is needed for growing succulents?
You may not know what kind of soil is needed for growing succulents and the recommended soil mixture for beginners. Let's learn about it together below.
Most succulent plants have thick leaves, are cute and adorable, and as the temperature drops in autumn and winter, their leaf colors become colorful and very beautiful.
Autumn is another good season for growing succulents, and it's hard to resist buying your favorite ones. However, many hobbyists, although they really like succulents, often find that they rot and wither after buying them, which is very unfortunate.
Succulents are very afraid of waterlogging. Many hobbyists may dig up some garden soil and plant them in pots like other woody flowers when they buy them. After watering, the soil has poor permeability and does not dry up for a long time, easily forming waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. This is one of the reasons why many hobbyists cannot grow succulents well. Therefore, before growing succulents, it is necessary to prepare a loose and well-ventilated growing soil, so that the plants can grow vigorously and are less likely to rot. Below are some commonly used substrates for growing succulents, and several materials can be used to prepare the growing soil.
1. Peat soil
Peat soil refers to the soil deposited in mountains, rivers, lakes, and swamps, which is rich in humus and has the advantages of water and fertilizer retention. When growing succulents, in addition to using materials such as vermiculite, perlite, and volcanic rock, you can add some peat soil to increase the soil fertility and make the plants grow more vigorously.
2. Decomposed leaf soil
Decomposed leaf soil is formed by the decomposition of various broad leaves, is light in weight, and rich in nutrients, and is commonly used for growing flowers. When growing succulents, adding a moderate amount of fully fermented decomposed leaf soil can also increase the soil fertility and promote plant growth.
What kind of soil is needed for growing succulents?
3. Vermiculite
Vermiculite is a natural mineral, light in weight, with good water absorption and fertilizer retention, and can be used to improve the soil. It is commonly used for growing flowers and vegetables. When growing succulents, you can add some vermiculite granules to increase soil permeability and reduce root rot caused by excessive watering.
4. Perlite
Perlite is a type of lava ejected by volcanic eruptions, light in weight, with many small pores and good water absorption. When growing succulents, adding some perlite can increase soil looseness and aeration, preventing soil compaction and waterlogging.
5. Coal cinder
In rural areas, coal briquettes and honeycomb coal are often used for heating and cooking in winter. The coal cinder left after burning is also a good material for growing succulents. After high-temperature combustion, coal cinder is clean, sterile, light in weight, and rich in mineral elements. After rinsing the coal cinder granules clean, it becomes a good material for growing succulents.
6. River sand
When visiting the river during holidays, you can also collect some clean river sand to prepare the growing soil for succulents. River sand has good water permeability and aeration and is also a good material for growing succulents. However, it has few nutrients and needs to be used in combination with other substrates.
When growing succulents at home, you can choose to use the above materials to prepare the growing soil. It is best not to use garden soil entirely, as it can easily cause waterlogging and root rot due to its high stickiness, and is also not conducive to plant rooting.
The specific introduction of the soil needed for growing succulents and the recommended soil mixture for beginners shared above is for reference by netizens.