Regular potting soil from your yard won’t work for succulents since they need soil that drains. Select cactus soil or potting soil that has been mixed with sand, pumice, or perlite. Be gentle when repotting because succulent roots are extremely brittle.
Size
Choose a pot that is just big enough for the plant to grow in, but not too big. The circumference of the appropriate pot is 5–10% greater than the size of the plant. Choose pots with a maximum excess space around the sides of an inch or two. The delicate roots will spread if the pot is too big before the plant has a chance to develop. There won’t be any room for the roots to spread in a pot that is too tiny.
Style
The ideal pot should not only complement your style and decor but also the physical properties of the plant. Tall pots look excellent with upright-growing succulents, like aloe. Low-growing cultivars, like Echeveria, look fantastic in little pots. Not to mention spillers with trailing growth tendencies like String of Pearls. Spillers in shallow pots or hanging plants look fantastic and grow well.
Material
There are many different types of materials for pots. The most prevalent materials are wood, terracotta, metal, ceramic, and resin. Terracotta or ceramic pots work best for succulent plants. Both of these materials allow for proper air and water circulation because they are both breathable. Just keep in mind that both ceramic and terracotta are weighty, especially after adding soil and plants.
Pick resin or plastic pots for larger plants, especially ones you plan to move around. Your back will thank you for using those lighter pots as you move or reposition plants.
Drainage
Before you plant and cultivate succulents, the most important thing to understand is that they don’t like a lot of water. Even before you develop a watering schedule, this is relevant. Without adequate drainage, water that accumulates at the bottom of a container without anywhere to go may cause root rot in your succulent.
The ideal pots for succulents, regardless of design, are planters with drainage holes in the bottom. Since many succulent planters lack drainage holes, you can use any of them as long as you keep in mind to water succulents sparingly and keep an eye on them frequently.
What do you put in the succulent pot’s bottom?
Soil: Cacti and succulents do best in permeable, well-draining soils. To improve drainage, the bottom of the container can be filled with gravel or expanded shale. Vermiculite and common potting soil combine to create an excellent succulent mixture.
Can succulents be grown in normal potting soil?
I’ll address some of the most prevalent queries concerning succulent soil in this section. Ask your question in the comments section below if you can’t find it here.
Can you use regular potting soil for succulents?
For succulents, you could probably use ordinary potting soil. It might work quite well, especially if you frequently forget to water your plants or if they are small. However, make sure the soil thoroughly dries out in between waterings to prevent them from rotting.
What happens if you plant succulents in regular potting soil?
Succulents planted in normal potting soil run the danger of being overwatered. Your succulents may quickly decay if the soil absorbs too much moisture.
What is the difference between potting soil and succulent soil?
The components and consistency of succulent soil and regular potting soil are different. Succulent dirt is permeable and created to drain very rapidly, unlike regular potting soil, which is composed of organic ingredients that hold onto moisture.
Making my own potting soil helps me save a ton of money, plus my succulents thrive in it. Your succulents will flourish now that you are aware of the ideal soil to use and have my formula for creating your own.
Do succulents require a deep container?
Succulents should be planted in pots that are about 10% broader than the plants themselves. Choose the shallow pot whenever the choice is between a deep or shallow pot. The pot’s depth should be 10% greater than the plant’s depth.
Let’s clarify using instances from real life:
- Grab a 2.5 (the best option) to 4 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal outcomes if you have a 2 inch succulent.
- Grab a 4.5 (the best option) to 6 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal results if you have a 4 inch succulent.
Can succulents be grown in just rocks?
It should be obvious that succulents will thrive when planted in rocks given these circumstances. They drain very well and do not retain water, which eliminates the possibility of root rot. This does not include another component of soil, though, since all plants need nutrients.
Although succulents are not particularly hungry plants, they do need certain nutrients to grow. Other micronutrients like zinc or iron are needed in smaller levels, whereas macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are essential. The plant won’t grow at all or last very long without these nutrients.
By their very nature, rocks don’t release nutrients quickly enough to keep the plants alive. They are composed of minerals, but since they decompose so slowly over time, they are not appropriate for growing on their own. Additionally, they often don’t retain enough moisture, allowing the roots to quickly dry out after draining practically instantly.
Sadly, this means that succulents cannot thrive permanently without soil in rocks. If not given regular care, they may survive for several weeks or even months on the nutrients found in the stems and leaves.
Can I grow succulents in plastic containers?
Which is preferable for succulents and cacti: plastic or clay pots?
This argument has been around for a while—at least since the late 1960s, when I first developed an interest in indoor plants. At the time, I was informed that terracotta pots (unglazed pottery) were the ideal container for succulents and cactus, which are a type of succulent “more air to reach the roots since they could breathe (were porous). Additionally, they lost water more quickly due to their porosity, and succulents didn’t like to sit in soggy ground. It made logical at the time, and there is some truth to it, but…
In actuality, plastic pots work just as well for growing succulents as clay ones. And given how costly terracotta pots are right now, I predict that most succulent lovers use plastic more frequently than clay.
That “As long as you use a potting mix with lots of air gaps, it doesn’t matter that terracotta pots dry out more quickly than plastic ones (potting mixes have significantly improved in aeration since the 1960s!) and water your plants appropriately by not watering again until the growth medium is completely dry. If the plant is carefully placed in well-aerated soil, the difference in drying times between soil in terracotta pots and soil in regular pots will probably be negligible.
But terracotta pots would be a better option if you tend to overwater (and ideally, you’d learn not to do so!). That would also be true if you frequently place your succulents in dim areas where they don’t get enough light, develop slowly, and consume little water. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t be mistreating your succulents in this manner. (They enjoy lots of light in general!)
The implication of the foregoing is that you should probably choose plastic if you have a tendency to forget to water. That might only prolong the life of a highly drought-stressed succulent by one or two days.
Of course, you can use either one if you’re just a typical houseplant owner who pays attention to watering requirements.
What Commercial Succulent Growers Do
The fact that commercial succulent nurseries have mostly converted to plastic from terracotta pots, which they formerly used almost exclusively, is revealing, in my opinion. Now, that’s primarily due to cost—terracotta pots are just so dear! However, they would still be using clay pots if they were truly necessary for maintaining the health of succulents.
In fact, it’s fashionable right now for succulent nurseries to grow succulents in flimsy, inexpensive plastic containers before slipping them into more decorative cachepots to boost sales. When watering these, all you need to do is take the “grow pot” out of the cachepot 10 to 30 minutes after watering and drain any extra water.
Other Pros and Cons of Terracotta and Plastic
- Even though terracotta pots are heavier and may support taller succulents better, a plastic pot might just as easily be inserted into a large cachepot.
- As already stated, terracotta is pricey. There are some plastic pots that are, but you can easily locate affordable ones.
- Plastic pots can be considered pollutants unless they are recycled or reused, which I do and believe most gardeners do (ditto).
- Over time, the outside surface of terracotta pots frequently acquires pale mineral stains where water once permeated and evaporated. However, some designers consider it elegant and even refer to it as patina, so that drawback might be perceived as a benefit.
- There are practically no limits to the shapes, sizes, textures, and colors of plastic pots. Even some of them precisely mimic clay! Terracotta has a lot more limitations. Although there is a considerable variety of sizes and forms, and it could potentially be available in a wide range of colors (owing to various clays as well as dyes and stains), terracotta typically only appears in the well-known brownish-orange shade that we have come to associate with it.
- Most polymers are less brittle and less likely to break than terracotta. However, I do not advise testing this by dumping any kind of pot from a significant height.
- Plastics can withstand frigid temperatures better, and some of them are really thought to be weatherproof. Terracotta pots should never be left outside in subfreezing temperatures since they may fracture. Still, if you don’t leave a pot outside in subfreezing temperatures, it will generally last longer.
- In the past, terracotta pot shards that could be found by (hopefully accidently) shattering terracotta pots were frequently utilized as a drainage layer in pots. But drainage layers have long been frowned upon in horticulture, and as a result, most terracotta fragments today probably end up in the trash.
- Because they evaporate moisture (and evaporation has a cooling effect), and because they are rather thick, terracotta pots shield plant roots from heat better than most plastic ones. When put in direct sunlight, black and other dark colors of plastic can dramatically heat up the soil in a pot. However, if heat is a concern, you could achieve the same appearance by encasing the pot in a pale-colored cache-pot or utilizing white and other light-colored plastics.
However, as long as it includes a drainage hole, it usually doesn’t matter what kind of pot you choose to grow your succulents.
How To Grow Succulents | Succulent Plant Care Info
Sempervivum, Jovibaraba, and Sedum are winter-hardy plants that can grow in zones 3–9.
Light:
The majority of succulent species require from half a day to a full day of direct sunlight. It is advised to find some afternoon shade in particularly hot places. Succulents planted in excessive shadow will extend outward in search of more sunlight. Enough sunlight will help succulents grow into gorgeous, vibrant plants.
Planting:
Plants should be gently removed from their containers and planted, making that the soil level is maintained at the same depth as it was in the container.
Keep in mind that most of our plants came straight from the cold frames where they were shielded from the harsh sun and drying winds. For the first week, give your plants and garden décor some shade and cover to gradually adapt them. Every few days, extend the length of the day by a few hours. This will make it possible for a smooth transition.
A layer of pebbles or pea gravel sprinkled on the soil surrounding the plant will be beneficial to your succulents. Additionally, it is highly ornamental.
Soil:
Succulents require soil with good drainage. Make sure the place has good drainage and is not in a low region that would remain wet before planting in the garden. You can buy cactus soil for container gardening or add sand, gravel, or volcanic rock to your potting soil for enhanced drainage. You should have a drainage hole in the container you are using for planting, or you can fill the bottom of the container with crushed rock before adding the planting medium. Spreading gravel or tiny pebbles on top of the ground can add a lot of style.
Watering:
After planting, water the area thoroughly and wait a short while before watering again. Wet feet bother succulents, who don’t like them. Water whatever you do thoroughly. They will require less water once they are established.
Fertilizer:
Succulents generally require relatively little fertilizer. During the growing season, they only require monthly watering and a balanced fertilizer.
Flowering:
Each type of sedum blooms at a different period and in a variety of pink, red, and yellow hues.
After the second or third year, Sempervivums will flower. From the middle of the main rosette, which has a cluster of flowers, a flower stalk will emerge. Sempervivum blooms are open, starry, and typically pink. They are carried above the plant on a stem with several blossoms. Fortunately, there are always chicks born earlier from the base that grow in a ring around the mother plant to continue for subsequent years. The monocarpic crown that generates the flower head dies off after flowering. Twist the stalk off gently once the blossom fades, then plant a chick where it was.
Winter maintenance:
Typically, established succulents in the garden do not require winter protection. Snow frequently provides protection for chilly locations. Balsam boughs can be used as a light winter mulch in cold climates without snow cover, but this is typically not necessary.
Shipping:
When your plants are delivered, gently open the package as soon as possible. Once you have unpacked your things, water your plants properly and let them drain well because we ship plants on the dry side. Early-spring shipping succulents could have some dry edges and a lackluster appearance. This is typical, and their color will deepen when exposed to sunlight. Sempervivums change color with the seasons, and each variety has a certain time of year when it is at its most vibrant.
Uses:
Succulents can be used in countless planting scenarios. The most interesting containers and troughs are those with a variety of colors, textures, and behaviors. Succulents make lovely plants for rock gardens. There is always color since there are so many different bloom times.