Succulent Soil Mixing Experience
Today's plant experience article focuses on the topic of succulent soil mixing. Let's follow the editor to check out the specific content together!
There's no need to elaborate on the current popularity of succulents. Many plant enthusiasts find the biggest challenge to be soil mixing for succulents. This article is a plant enthusiast's experience with succulent soil mixing, for reference by fellow enthusiasts.
Important Disclaimer: I am only a新手 (novice) who has been in the industry for two years, obsessed with Sedums. I am happy to summarize the problems and solutions I've encountered during my cultivation process and share them with everyone. This is merely personal experience, and I dare not claim to be an expert, master, or senior! If you find it useful, please read it more carefully; if I'm wrong, please be indulgent. If it offends your eyes, just laugh it off. I, Flower Sister, thank everyone in advance!
The soil for succulents needs to be water-retaining, loose, breathable, and moderately nutritious, so ordinary garden soil is not suitable. For a small number of plants, you can buy ready-mixed soil directly from sellers, but enthusiasts with a variety of species and potting needs will find that buying ready-mixed soil is less convenient than mixing their own. When mixing soil, you need to consider the local climate; successful soil mixing can cultivate more vibrant plants. Flower Sister will share her experience with soil mixing based on her environment.
1. Generally, the soil mix for planting succulents consists of three main categories: peat, granules, and water-retaining media. Within these categories, you can freely mix according to your local climate and temperature. For peat, Flower Sister chooses coconut bran mixed with worm castings; for granules, coal slag and river sand; for water-retaining media, perlite and vermiculite.
2. Soak the coconut brick in water until it expands. A 650g coconut brick is enough for ordinary home planting for a period of time. Soak the coconut brick in water until it becomes fluffy, with no lumps when pinched. From personal experience, soaking in warm water makes it expand faster, and water should be added gradually. After soaking, drain the coconut bran until semi-dry, take four parts, and mix with half parts of worm castings, half parts of perlite, and one part of vermiculite in a larger container.
3. Add three parts of coal slag and one part of river sand to the container, and optionally add some charcoal pieces to inhibit bacteria. Mix all the media well.
4. The final step is sterilization. You can use potassium permanganate and carbendazim mixed with water to soak, but Flower Sister adds EM bacteria. Add EM bacteria according to the ratio to the mixed media, and it can be used when it can be formed into a ball by hand. But if it has been soaked in water, it should be drained and dried to semi-dry before use.
5. The mixed soil can be used at any time. For potted succulents, various mulches can be added, which can cover the messy soil mixture, making it visually more appealing; at the same time, it can better hold the soil in place, preventing soil particles from floating and dirtying the plants when watering. Flower Sister often uses granular鹿沼 (Deer Swamp), granular river sand, bluestone, and pebbles.
This concludes the sharing of the complete content on succulent soil mixing. Have green plant enthusiasts understood it?