Best Soil for Succulents – Top 5 Succulent Soils

Succulents need specific soil. In order to make them healthy succulents, one has to find the perfect soil.

The appropriate soil means a healthy plant, while the wrong one can result in many troubles and finally, the loss of the wanted results.

Whether you are planning to use it indoors or outdoors, the best soil needs to fulfill certain aspects when it comes to the soil structure.

It is not easy to find the perfect soil recipe or succulent mix, but I have done my homework. In addition, thanks to my experience and the impressions of others, I have created a list of the best succulent soil mixes.

It will hopefully be of use for you to find your best soil for succulents.

Related: Does Potting Soil Go Bad – The Truth Will Surprise You

The Best Soil for Succulents

There are many debates over what makes succulent soil perfect, and I think that I have found an answer.

The succulent species need proper soil drainage. With the proper drainage, you get well-draining soil that makes your soil the best soil.

Whether you have outdoor or indoor plants you should always try to imitate the natural environment or otherwise their root rot.

For example, wild succulents or tropical plants love sandy soils because they often thrive in beach sand, porous soil, rocks, or cliffsides.

Therefore, always choose a soil composition that has adequate drainage because too much water is not something that these plants are used to.

Here is our list of the best soil mixes for your outdoor or indoor succulents.

1. Kenzoplants Mix Rocks

The first succulent soil mix that we are going to review is Kenzoplants Succulents Cactus Bonsai Gritty Mix Rocks.

Kenzo Gardening has a lot to offer. From simple pieces of advice, creative and decoration ideas to garden design and products like succulent potting mix or pots for your potted plants.

As you probably know many factors contribute to the quality of succulent soils.

We believe that this mix has everything you need to stable your plants, help them breathe and improve their drainage.

Specs:

Key features

First of all, they are tiny rocks. So, it means that if you have wanted some bigger rocks you should look further.

These classy little rocks are a really nice succulent soil mix because most importantly they help your plant breathe. However, bear in mind that what works well for some plants does not work well for others.

For example, if you do not have enough airflow indoors, you need to purchase a gritty mix like this one, with a lot of coarse grit minerals.

On the other hand, if your plant is growing outdoors you need less porous soil in order to ensure optimal drainage and avoid the situation where your soil dries.

Therefore, this product is perfect for ensuring stability and enough water for the newly planted succulent plants. Namely, one of the main roles of this succulent soil is to, metaphorically speaking, “lock” the water and other nutrients to help the potted succulents grow better.

The succulent soil recipe in this potting soil adds a more finished and tidier look to your plant. Moreover, the soil will not shift around.

The size of the bag is pretty practical, and it is easy to use. You just have to tear off the top to use it.

When you use the portion you need from these succulents and cactus soil, you just have to seal it and store it. Of course, you can use it again when you need it.

It goes without saying that this has no expiration date.

We can say that this is the right soil for cactus plants and bonsai. Of course, feel free to use it for other plants that need succulent soil.

Obviously, it is not only cactus mix, but the mix for

A few types of stone that you get in this succulent soil mix are used in the other circumstance and for different purposes, as well.

Firstly, it can be used in aquariums. They keep the water clean and help absorb pollution and dirt.

Secondly, if you have a pet in a terrarium the creative potential of this succulent soil will make it decorated perfectly.

And finally, It goes without saying that this mix can help you in your DIY projects or simple gardening.

2. Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix

Generally, all the potting mix types that we show you are great. So, it is really hard to say that one leaves others in the shade.

However, here is Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix which is one of the most reviewed and used potting soil mixes worldwide.

A great thing about regular potting soil is that it can be used for a variety of plants.

Therefore, if you are aiming for a particular organic soil or soil mix, but you cannot see your type of plant on the label, choose the regular potting soil.

In most cases, you cannot go wrong with that.

One of our favorite regular mix potting soil is definitely this one.

We will try to explain to you why.

Specs:

Key Features:

This potting mix is made predominately for the container plants.

This potting soil is less prone to gnats and fungus because it is made without pine bark or compost.

It has almost anything that a good potting mix needs. First of all, it contains food for plants for at least 6 months. Secondly, this is well-draining soil because you do not need to water it more than usual.

A formula that is to be thanked for the perfectly draining soil makes it super for watering.

However, bear in mind that potting soil is not actually the right soil for succulent cultivation.

But, you can take a couple of precautions to make it work.

This type of soil mix is actually mostly organic soil, which consists of peat moss, pine bark and compost.

However, thanks to the talk with the great horticulturists, I have found out that the claims that this soil mix does not have pine bark or compost are true.

Therefore, although it belongs to the “mainstream” potting soils it is not like commercial succulent soils.

Anyway, let us get back to the topic of how to make it perfect for growing succulents.

When it comes to succulent gardening, you have to avoid a mixture of moisture-retaining crystals and vermiculite. Vermiculite is a mineral that stores water, so it is prone to creating fungus gnats.

Moreover, you need to make sure that your container has drainage holes.

Around three drainage holes would be perfect for your own potting soil.

In addition, if you want to make your ordinary potting soil into the best soil for succulents or at least in the above-average soil for succulents, try a 1:1 ratio of potting soil to gritty mix or grit, or maybe a 1:2 ratio between them.

Trust us, even the best potting soil, like this, cannot cope with the formation of fungus if there are not enough drainage holes. Yes, wet soil is good, but not all the time. Too much water can create wrong soil from the right one.

We have reviewed the offer with two packs, but there are other offers from this manufacturer, as well.

3. Miracle-Gro Cactus Potting Mix

Here is another example of Miracle-Gro product. Miracle-Gro Potting Mix Cactus is a great solution for your garden.

Like I said they have a lot to offer. Therefore, it would be a pity if I review only one of their plant succulents and soil mixes.

Generally, the formula used here is something to think about. No, seriously, it is specifically made for cactus, citrus and plan trees.

Thanks to its fast-draining formula you will not ask yourselves questions like how long soil stays wet.

Instead of that, you will see what wild succulents tend to do in their natural environment. And all that because of the overall drainage that helps in maintaining soil compaction needed.

But, of course, the needed soil compaction needs to be appropriate. Not too solid, but not too weak at the same time.

So, the forest products included in this soil mix formula will ensure that your plants feel like in their own soil.

The price is like all Miracle-Gro products, more or less in line with its performances.

Specs:

Key Features:

Like we said a few times before, this special formula prevents root rot and provides all the necessary food the plant needs.

In other words, a plant will feel like in its own succulent soil because this soil mix provides them with the nutrients and minerals they need.

The ingredients of this soil mix come from the forest. Namely, the ingredients are processed forest products like sand, fertilizer, perlite, wetting agent and ordinary or Canadian sphagnum peat moss.

The ingredients of fertilizer are ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium sulphate and calcium phosphate.

This succulent soil provides 0.01% coated and slow-release phosphate, 0.04% coated and slow-release nitrogen and finally, 0.02% coated and slow-release soluble potash.

In order to use this product, as well as other succulent soils you need to follow a labeled procedure.

When it comes to this product you should choose an appropriate pot with drainage holes and fill a 1/3 of its capacity with this mix.

Second thing you have to do is to loosen the plant’s root ball and put the plant in the selected pot.

When you have added it, add more of Miracle-Gro potting soil, and press it without much force, better to say-lightly.

Then water your plant regularly, and wait for the results.

Annual repotting is strongly advised, of course with the aforementioned product.

However, bear in mind to use it only for the outdoor or indoor plants in containets.

We advise against using it for the in-ground plants or generally, in-ground gardening.

Now a few words about the disadvantages of the product. A few people I know have complained about the gnats and wetness of the soil they have got.

I personally believe that this is not something general about this brand, only few bad ones in the product line.

However, if you receive a product with gnats, and do not want to buy another one, you should bake it in the oven and kill anything that can endanger your plants.

4. Horticultural Lava Rocks

Oupengs’ Horticultural lava rocks can be a great choice and addition to your garden.

It is good for soil drainage, fends off excess evaporation, prevents weeds, and obviously gives an interesting, new look to your garden.

Lava rocks have become more and more famous recently.

It is a type of igneous rock and forms when lava cools down. Generally, this type of rock is porous in nature, and it pops air bubbles as it dries.

Because of the fact that they pop air bubbles, lava rocks have kind of holes all over themselves.

Lava rocks get their color from the minerals present in them. Therefore, there are black, reddish-brown and grey lava rocks.

When it comes to the price and quality of this product, we can say that it is more expensive, but it represents unique landscape succulents.

Specs:

Key Features:

There are two types of volcanic rocks: the felsic and the mafic rocks.

The mafic rocks are rich in magnesium and iron.

On the other hand, the felsic rocks have a lot of aluminum minerals and silicon.

Overall, lava rocks are classified as basalts because of the chemical composition they have.

Within their chemical composition, one can notice a lot of different minerals like pyroxene, magnetite, quartz, plagioclase feldspar, olivine, hornblende, amphibole and biotite mica.

Volcanic rocks do not need too much attention and maintenance, so it is a great soil for succulent plants.

Why are they so great?

Well, it prevents soil erosion and provides optimal health and natural growth. Moreover, lava rocks cannot prevent the growth of weeds, but they can certainly slow it down.

How to use it?

Clean the area where you want to put lava rocks of debris and weeds. If there are weeds below the lava rocks, that would be a problem. So, try to remove all the weeds.

When you have removed all that, use these lava rocks and arrange them in a way you feel is the best.

This lava gravel mulch is not quite huge, moreover, it consists of small rocks so you will get gravelly soil when you finish with the decoration.

If you like this mix of black decorative pebbles, you should try other colors.

This sort of lava rocks does not have artificial colors or fillers.

It prevents not only soil erosion, but it helps in soil pH, and water drainage. It is not actually bonsai jack succulent soil, but plants like bonsai will feel great there.

This type of lava rocks can be used for many other things. You can fill aquariums, terrariums or simply use it for your own DIY projects.

Feel free to wash the rocks before using them because due to the transportation powder might be created.

When it comes to package, it is suitable, and you can use it as many times as you want because the only thing you need to do with it after opening is to seal it and use it again when you need it.

5. CARURBODY Black Lava Rocks

Another sort of black volcanic rock is Carubrody black volcanic rock.

Its attributes are similar to the previous one.

Therefore, it prevents soil erosion because it adds a protective layer. That means that the succulents planted are more stable than others.

Secondly, drainage is improved, so you will not have to worry about the growth of the fungus.

Soggy soil is prone to fungus, but this type of rock prevents it as I said.

Like we said before, if you have cut off the weeds below the rocks you will not have to worry about their growth because the rocks prevent their growth too.

An adequate soil temperature and rapid evaporation are the advantages of using this method.

It is a great addition to your garden.

When it comes to price it is similar to the previously mentioned. Therefore, it is not cheap, but it provides magnificent addition to your growing succulents.

Specs:

Key Features:

If you are passionate and ambitious about your garden then lava rocks are a must for your planting succulents.

It is not like the black gold cactus mix, but your plants like bonsai or cactus will feel like in their own, natural succulent soil.

However, you have to bear in mind that you will need to maintain it well. It means that you will have to replace it regularly.

This can be a huge disadvantage for those who do not like to spend a lot of time in the garden maintaining it.

For those who do not like a lot of maintenance artificial succulent potting mix is the better option.

Although it does not need a lot of maintenance, artificial soils or rocks are often harmful and we do not recommend them.

Like I said before, there are many things that lava rocks are good for. Avoiding clumping of the soil has never been easier because lava rocks are available worldwide.

Things like calcined clay or rehydrate dry peat are great additions but you will gain certain advantages only by using lava rocks.

In combination with reed sedge peat, coarse sand, or clay soils, your garden will be unique and interesting.

When it comes to its use, the rules are the same as for the previous one. You have to clean debris and weed that is below the rocks because only then can your rocks properly function.

Frequently Asked Questions