Important tips for choosing soil for cacti and succulents

Succulents have a poorly developed root system. Growing cacti requires loose soil containing peat, river sand, and vermicompost. The soil should be well-aerated and drain quickly. A high-quality potting mix will ensure the seedlings have a long, disease-free life. Learn how to choose the right soil for planting succulents and cacti.

Land requirements

The composition of the soil mixture for succulents differs from that for other houseplants. What type of soil should you use?

• absence of clay and other water-retaining substances;
• the soil mixture includes perlite, hand sand, gravel;
• It is recommended to make a drainage substrate that dries quickly;
• at the bottom of the pot, drainage is made from small stones and broken bricks;
• Cacti grow well in soils with neutral acidity.

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When growing succulents, it's important to apply fertilizer appropriately—excessive amounts can cause the plant's fragile skin to crack. To ensure natural gas exchange, cacti are grown in ceramic or plastic pots with a hole in the bottom. To prevent the soil from becoming hard, loosen it periodically and add peat moss.

Preparing soil at home

The soil should be well-drained, porous, and light. How to make a potting mix:

1. Mix turf soil (50%), peat (30%), and sand (20%). If the plant has a thick root system, add a little loamy soil.
2. Place perlite or small crushed stone or pebbles at the bottom of the pot.
3. When planting, add one of the following fertilizers to the soil: Gumi, Kemira Plus, or Agricola. Compost or humus can be used instead of store-bought fertilizer.

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The soil must be disinfected. To remove harmful bacteria and fungi, water the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, steam it in a water bath, or freeze it. Rinse the drainage system and growing container under running water. To ensure proper growth, cacti are planted in tightly packed containers. When repotting, increase the container's diameter by 2-3 cm.

The best time to plant succulents is the first few months of spring, when the cacti emerge from winter dormancy. To minimize root disturbance, transplant the plant by transshipping it along with its root ball. The succulent will establish itself more quickly if you don't water it for a week after repotting.