7 Best Soils for Succulents to Sustain Health & Growth
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Succulents are incredibly beautiful plants, which is why so many people love to make them living additions to their homes. However, they’re also a type of plant that does well within only very specific growing conditions. As a result, they can sometimes be a challenge to grow.
Luckily, lots of gardening companies have products that are specifically designed for succulents. Getting your hands on the right materials, whether that’s soil, fertilizer, or the pots they’re planted in, can make caring for succulents much easier.
In this article, we’re going look at 7 of the best soils for succulents out there. I’m happy to be putting together this article because, although succulent gardeners have lots of options when it comes to potting soils for succulents, not all of them are of equal quality.
Let’s jump right into it!
Key Takeaways
After making a careful review of all the different soils I’ve planted my succulents in through the years, as well as doing plenty of online research, I’m quite happy with the 7 options for the best potting soils for succulents I’ve come up with. Overall, I consider Perfect Plants All Natural Succulent and Cactus Soil Mix to be the best soil for succulents. It’s a soil that has an excellent texture for supporting succulent growth, offering excellent drainage and aeration, both of which are tremendously important for succulents.
I’ve also included some products that have narrower use cases than my top pick, such as Soil Sunrise Hand Blended Jade Plant Potting Soil Mix (which was specifically formulated for jade plants) and rePotme Succulent Soil (which is my recommendation for repotting and propagating succulents).
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Best Overall: Perfect Plants All Natural Succulent and Cactus Soil Mix
Why this is a quality choice: The Perfect Plants All Natural Succulent and Cactus Soil Mix excels as an all-purpose option suitable for a wide range of succulents. Its sandy texture ensures both excellent drainage and a lot of aeration for the roots of your plants. I particularly like that the resealable bag is convenient for incremental use, meaning that you’re always able to have some succulent soil on hand.
Who is this for? This soil mix is perfect for those with a variety of succulents, including snake plants and jade plants, as it provides a suitable environment for all types.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Although some users have reported gnat issues with the soil on Amazon, this seems to be a rare occurrence rather than a common problem.
Component ratio: 65% organic, 35% mineral | Texture: Sandy | Ingredients: Perlite, pine bark, peat moss, and sand | Package size: 4 quarts
Best Budget: Back to the Roots Succulents & Cacti Mix
Why this is a quality choice: I’m a big fan of Back to the Roots Succulents & Cacti Mix for a number of reasons, not least the exceptional value it offers. Even though it boasts an affordable price tag, it has the quality ingredients and composition necessary to be considered one of the best potting soils for succulents. It’s even pH controlled as a result of the limestone it contains, which helps ensure that your plants aren’t harmed by living in soil that’s too basic or acidic.
Who is this for? I’d recommend this soil mix to gardeners who regularly go through a lot of succulent potting soil and don’t want to spend a ton of money on it.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This mix comes with plant food already included, which is definitely convenient, but some gardeners prefer to use their own plant food in order to optimize the growing environment for the exact plants they’re growing.
Component ratio: 60% organic, 40% mineral | Texture: Sandy | Ingredients: Aged bark, perlite, sand, and all-purpose plant food | Package size: 6 quarts
Best Organic: Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix
Why this is a quality choice: Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix stands out for its excellent drainage and sandy texture, creating ideal conditions for succulents to thrive. The nutrient-rich blend, containing lots of compost, can sustain plants for up to a year.
Who is this product for? This potting soil is designed for indoor gardeners passionate about cultivating succulents and cacti.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Although the organic components enrich the soil, overpacking may impede drainage. However, this issue is easily addressed with proper soil layering techniques.
Component ratio: 60% organic, 40% mineral | Texture: Sandy | Ingredients: Compost, peat moss, sand, and limestone | Package size: 10 quarts
Best Expanding Soil: WONDER SOIL Organic Cactus & Succulent Soil
Why this is a quality choice: This tailor-made soil mix for succulents and cacti ticks all the boxes of a good soil for these delicate plants, including an excellent texture and lots of drainage. The unique benefit that WONDER SOIL Organic Cactus & Succulent Soil offers consumers is its compactness. The soil expands on contact with water to three times its original size, meaning that you’re getting a lot more soil than would fit in a regular bag of its size.
Who is this for? The fact that WONDER SOIL Organic Cactus & Succulent Soil is able to expand means it’s compact enough for people who don’t have much storage space to have around.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: It can be a little bit difficult to judge exactly how much soil you’re going to need to fill a pot once it expands, but the manufacturer does offer good guidelines.
Component ratio: 60% organic, 40% mineral | Texture: Sandy | Ingredients: coconut coir, compost, coarse sand, perlite, volcanic rock | Package size: 20 lbs
Best Rocky Soil: Boniosz Bonsai Succulent and Cactus Soil Gritty Mix
Why this is a quality choice: The Boniosz Bonsai Succulent and Cactus Soil Gritty Mix is distinctive because of its high proportion of rocks. This makes it ideal for succulents that thrive in mineral-rich environments. With nearly a dozen attractive patterns available, this mix not only provides an excellent growing medium but also enhances the visual appeal of your plants.
Who is this for? This product is perfect for gardeners who appreciate the aesthetic of succulents growing in rocky and gritty soil.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Given its limited organic content, regular addition of fertilizer is recommended to ensure optimal plant nutrition.
Component ratio: 30% organic, 70% mineral | Texture: Sandy | Ingredients: Red lava rock, black lava rock, maifanitumis, diatomite, and green zeolite | Package size: 1 quart
Best For Jade Plants: Soil Sunrise Hand Blended Jade Plant Potting Soil Mix
Why this is a quality choice: I’ve included Soil Sunrise Hand Blended Jade Plant Potting Soil Mix on this list of the best soils for succulents because of how popular jade plants are becoming. The soil boasts high-quality ingredients packed with nutrients that are sure to benefit your plants. Additionally, it offers consistency, ensuring that you receive the ideal soil mix for jade plants every time.
Who is this for? This product is a fantastic option for dedicated jade plant gardeners looking for top-quality soil.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Although the bag of soil provided is substantial and suitable for a 12-inch pot or multiple smaller ones, some gardeners may require a larger quantity of soil.
Component ratio: 60% organic, 40% mineral | Texture: Sandy | Ingredients: Coconut coir, pine bark, worm castings, horticultural charcoal, and horticultural perlite | Package size: 8 quarts
Best for Propagating Succulents: rePotme Succulent Soil
Why this is a quality choice: The rePotme Succulent Soil is a versatile option ideal for transplanting and propagating several different types of succulents. It’s available in three convenient package sizes, allowing you to purchase the right amount for your gardening needs.
Who is this for? This soil is perfect for gardeners looking to expand their succulent collection or propagate them for gifting purposes.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This soil is relatively more expensive by volume compared to others, so I’d advise considering whether its features justify the higher cost for your gardening projects.
Component ratio: 60% organic, 40% mineral | Texture: Sandy | Ingredients: Coconut coir, sponge rock, perlite, hydroton, and fine vermiculite | Package size: 2 quarts
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Buying Considerations for The Best Soils For Succulents
Ingredients
The best soils for succulents are typically composed of a mix of high-quality organic materials and minerals like sand and rocks. When choosing a soil for your succulents, look for ingredients like coconut coir, perlite, and pine bark. That’s because these organic materials offer a lot of essential nutrients to your plants while also leading to a nice and airy soil texture that allows for adequate drainage of excess water. You should also be aware of exactly which types of minerals your succulents prefer growing in, since some species prefer a sandier soil and others like a grittier or rockier texture.
Quantity
Unlike what many people believe, soil isn’t a product that lasts forever. Once you’ve opened a bag of potting soil, either for succulents or other types of plants like vegetables, it won’t keep its quality for longer than six months or a year ( this is a result of the organic components and fertilizers breaking down). This means that it’s essential that you don’t overbuy soil and end up holding onto it for a long time. I’d recommend carefully estimating exactly how much soil you’ll need by tallying up the volume of each and every pot that you’re planning to fill. This also helps you avoid the opposite problem, which is buying too little soil and needing to make an additional purchase to get all your gardening done.
Texture
Finally, ensuring that you buy a soil with the right texture for the species of succulent you’re planning to plant is essential. Although succulent soils always have a “sandy” texture, there’s actually a lot of variation between different soils that you can describe this way. I’d recommend doing some research into the qualities of the exact species that you’re looking for in order to understand exactly what ingredients will be ideal.
How I Chose These Products
As a long-time succulent gardener, I’ve tried and tested countless different soils for succulents over the years. Some of them have been great for certain plants, but not for others, just like some potting soils have been great for all the different succulents I planted in them and others have been terrible. There’s only a few that I’ve never been disappointed in, and all of those are represented on this list.
However, I was also careful to do a lot of research into each recommendation I’ve made, since I’m aware that my experiences won’t necessarily line up with everyone else’s. Reading online reviews was incredibly helpful for helping alert me to both benefits and drawbacks that I wasn’t familiar with on my own. At the end of the day, I’m quite happy with the list I came up with by combining my experience with the research I did. I hope you agree!
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Final Verdict
Overall, Perfect Plants All Natural Succulent and Cactus Soil Mix takes the top spot on my list of the best soils for succulents. It’s a great all-around succulent and cactus soil that just about any species will thrive in. With a simple online order, you can have a bag of this great soil delivered to your door and be ready to expand your succulent collection.
FAQs
Should succulents be in soil or rocks?
Succulents cannot really grow in environments that are entirely rocky. This is because they rely on the nutrients that soil provides in order to grow. Many gardeners who like the appearance of succulents growing in rock will use a succulent soil as the base for their plants and then cover it with a layer of rocks or gravel. This is an aesthetic choice that won’t impact how well your succulents grow. However, it is advisable to test the soil your succulents are growing in, either through a home test kit or by sending a sample to a lab, to ensure the soil is within the proper pH limits for succulents.
Do succulents need fertile soil?
Succulents don’t need soil that’s particularly ‘fertile,’ but they do still have nutritional needs. That’s why soils for succulent plants contain organic material like peat moss or pine bark. These provide a nutritional boost for your plants. Whether you’re planting in pots or grow bags, it’s essential that your succulents have access to soil that meets their needs.
Is cactus soil OK for succulents?
Yes, you can use cactus soil for succulents in the vast majority of cases. Why? Because both types of plants like growing in the same type of airy, sandy, and well-draining soil. In fact, you can also use succulent soil as a home for your cacti. That’s why many of the entries on this list of the best soils for succulents are actually described as cactus and succulent soil by the manufacturers.
