How to Make a Potting Mix for Succulents and Cacti

Along with finding good light and a watering habit that works for you, a good potting mixture is among one of the most important elements to growing happy and healthy succulents. But what exactly makes up a good mix? In this blog we're going to talk about what kind of soil succulents and cacti prefer, what common organic and inorganic materials are used, and how to make a simple potting mixture that will make future care for these plants effortless.

In their Environment

Succulents and cacti naturally grow in sandy, rocky soil that drains quickly, allowing excess water to escape and helping to prevent rot. During times of drought, these plants have adapted to store water in their leaves and body.

When bringing these beautiful plants into our homes, it’s important to choose a potting mix that mimics this environment. This helps prevent common issues such as rot and overwatering, and reduces the time spent on plant care, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your busy life.

Organic vs Inorganic Materials

There are a few very common ingredients that you’ll find when searching for what to create a potting mixture with for your succulents and cacti. These can be organic materials that retain moisture, and inorganic materials that improve drainage. Let’s go over a few so you know what they are and how they help!

Organic materials

• Peat Moss: Peat moss is a natural, organic material harvested from peat bogs. It’s typically what we see when we think of “dirt” in a potting mix, and is great for retaining moisture.

• Coco Coir: Coco coir is a natural fiber extracted from the outer husk of coconut shells. It has good water retention and is a popular option because it is a renewable byproduct of the coconut industry.

• Compost/Fertilizer: Compost is decomposed organic matter, often made from a mix of plant residues (like leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable scraps) and sometimes animal manures. It’s rich in nutrients and beneficial microorganisms, and helps to retain moisture (should be used in moderation).

Inorganic Materials

• Perlite: Perlite is a lightweight, porous material made from volcanic glass that has been heated to high temperatures, causing it to expand. Perlite improves soil aeration and drainage, helps prevent soil compaction, and retains some moisture without becoming waterlogged.

• Pumice: Pumice is a porous volcanic rock that is formed from the rapid cooling and depressurization of volcanic lava. It provides excellent drainage and aeration (even more than perlite), retains moisture without becoming soggy, and provides some mineral content to the soil. 
• Note: Pumice is slightly heavier than perlite and does better at staying evenly dispersed in your soil over time, whereas perlite tends to float upwards over time.

• Decomposed Granite: Decomposed granite is a type of crushed stone from weathered granite rock. It improves soil drainage due to its coarse texture, allowing excess water to flow through quickly and preventing root rot. However, it is heavier and finer compared to perlite or pumice (which we prefer for their better aeration and lighter weight).

How to Make a Simple Soil Mixture

Starting off simple, you are going to want to grab a bag of premade succulent/cactus mix from your local gardening or hardware store. This is a great place to start because it is often readily available, and there will already be some natural elements mixed in, such as peat moss or perlite, that will help aerate the soil. Fill your container about 70% of the way with this or your preferred organic material.

Next we recommend adding a healthy amount of perlite to help create an even better foundation for your succulents to grow. Add your inorganic material to fill the other 30% of your container, then mix them together with your hands or a trowel. Don't worry about being precise; gardening is more of an art than a science anyway, and we find this to be a great place to start.

*If you’re feeling a little extra lazy then we can save you a trip to the store with our own well-draining potting mix, specifically made for succulents & cacti!

For more Finicky Plants

Certain succulents and cacti, like lithops or moon cactus, can be a bit more sensitive to moisture and be more prone to overwatering than others. In cases such as this we recommend a mixture closer to equal parts (50%-50%) inorganic to organic material, and choosing pumice for increased drainage and aeration. Pumice has a highly porous structure, which promotes rapid drainage of excess water, preventing waterlogged soil conditions that can lead to root rot. It also promotes aeration of the soil. 

Adding Fertilizer or Compost

Besides organic & inorganic material your new soil should include some nutrients for the plants to feed on. Fertilizer or Compost will provide essential nutrients to succulents and cacti to promote their growth and overall health, but should be used sparingly. We recommend using about 10-20% compost in your potting mixture. If you’re not using any compost or your potting mix doesn’t contain any nutrients then be sure to fertilize after repotting the plant. 

After a couple of months when your plant is well established in the new soil, begin fertilizing on a regular schedule during their growing seasons (typically Spring and Summer).

Extra Tips

• Observe your plants over time and keep an eye out for signs of overwatering (yellowing, mushy leaves) or underwatering (wilting, shriveled leaves). Then adjust the mixture as needed.
• Make sure to use pots with drainage holes when repotting to further prevent overwatering your plants.
• Check with your finger or a tool like a wooden skewer to see that the soil is completely dry before watering a succulent or cactus.
• Don’t worry about pH levels for now; this is more of an advanced topic, and most commercial potting mixes will have an appropriate level already.

Conclusion

You should now be able to provide your succulents with a strong foundation that will be key to letting them grow into healthy, long-lasting, and thriving plants. Putting in a little extra work now will help keep things smooth in the long run and allow you to relax and enjoy your plants more in your homes.

Key Takeaways

• Succulents and cacti naturally grow in coarse, rocky, and well-draining soils.
• Organic potting materials, like peat moss, coco coir, and compost, retain moisture.
• Inorganic potting materials, like perlite, pumice and decomposed granite, improve drainage.
• A simple potting mix for succulents and cacti can be made by taking a commercial succulent/cactus potting mix and adding a healthy amount of inorganic material. A ratio of at least 30% inorganic material to 70% organic material is recommended.
• More moisture sensitive plants should use a 50% inorganic to 50% organic mixture.
• Fertilizer should be used sparingly and only during a plant's growing season.