The best soil for succulents in 2022

This is our review of the best soil for succulents in 2022.

The potting mix can make all the difference in the growth of your succulents. Therefore, you must focus on providing your succulent plant with the proper nutrition. 

I researched and found Superfly Bonsai Succulent & Cactus Soil Mix is the best overall option as succulent potting soil.

But depending on your preferences, you may need something different. If my #1 option is not for you, there are four other soils for growing succulents.

Read on to find out which is the best one for you!

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What to Consider When Choosing the Best Soil for Succulents

Finding the best garden soil for succulents can be complicated, especially for first-time planters. After all, you need to focus on multiple factors and ensure that the chosen soil provides just the right amount of humidity!

Succulent plants are in the best soil for succulents

Here are a few things to consider when purchasing soil for succulents:

1. Drainage

People usually assume that succulents are easy to grow because they don’t require frequent watering. Needless to say, excess moisture can prove to be an enemy for such plants. Therefore, the chosen soil needs to be well-draining. 

Draining soil will allow the moisture to seep out from the bottom of the pot and maintain the correct water levels at all times. You can also add gravel to your soil to make it more porous. 

2. Indoor vs. Outdoor

You can place succulents practically anywhere! However, the soil type will change depending on whether you picked an indoor or outdoor location. In extreme conditions, the level of sunlight and heat can soak up moisture quickly, thus needing more water retention. 

On the other hand, if you live in colder environments, you will require draining soil for outdoor plants. Side by side, the succulent should be able to utilize the irrigation water.

3. Organic vs. Non-Organic Soil

Are you looking to eliminate the chemical exposure from your garden? In that case, I feel going with an organic soil mix might be the best choice. However, these substrates are often more expensive than the inorganic ones. 

Considering that succulents are not used to grow any food, you can also use inorganic soil mixes. 

4. Soil vs. Mineral Ratio

The mineral requirement in the soil mix will depend on the type of succulents you are picking. Generally, these plants require more minerals than soil particles. Therefore, adding coarse grit minerals is the right option. On the other hand, choosing the best soil for succulents with a sandy texture will help drainage. 


5 Best Soil for Succulents Reviews

Once you have picked the correct growing medium, your succulent is likely to thrive. The soil type you choose should have sufficient minerals and an acceptable drainage rate. 

Take a look at 5 soil types I have picked out for you. 

1. Superfly Bonsai Succulent & Cactus Soil Mix 

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For any plant parent, it is crucial to maintain the proper flow of air to the root system. This soil mix contains multiple components that hold water for just the right time and promote healthy roots.

Enriched with Pumice, Akadama, Haydite, and Pine Bark, this substrate provides your plant with the needed nutrient retention. If you are hoping for fleshy stems and vibrant blooms, Superfly Bonsai Succulent & Cactus Soil Mix is your best bet! 

Pros

  • 100% money back guarantee 
  • Comes in a resealable bag to avoid chances of contamination 

Cons

  • Pricing is a bit on the expensive side 


2. Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix

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Planning to grow a jade or maybe an aloe vera plant? Regardless of what succulent you pick, you need to find a specific soil mix to create the right, pH-balanced environment for your plant. 

With the Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix, you get a professionally designed formula consisting of reed sedge peat, perlite, sand, peat moss, and limestone. 

Pros 

  • Organic material
  • No supplementary minerals needed with this soil mix
  • Detailed instructions mentioned at the back of the pack

Cons

  • Lacks quality when it comes to moisture absorption.
  • Only small-sized packets are available


3. Miracle-Gro Succulent Potting Mix

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If you have been searching for an ideal, quick-draining soil mix, Miracle-Gro should be your go-to option. You can use this product for various succulent types like Echeverias, Burro’s Tail, Houseleek, Aloe Vera, and Cacti. 

Here, different elements like sphagnum peat moss, fertilizers, and forest products are combined to form a winning combination. You can use Miracle-Gro Succulent Potting Mix for indoor potted plants and provide them with the proper nutrition. 

Pros

  • The nutrient-rich mix helps prevent soil compaction
  • The water quickly drains. 

Cons

  • Might require more perlite or sand-related components


4. All Natural Succulent and Cactus Soil Mix by Perfect Plants

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One of the most critical factors for any plant to grow is the proper atmospheric moisture. You also need to ensure that the chosen soil mix has the accurate nutrient composition required. 

This substrate is made with different elements like Vermiculite, Lime, Pine Bark Reprocessed, and Natural Wood Moss. Considering the minimal water retention requirement of the succulents, this mix provides proper water drainage. 

In my opinion, there’s no reason for you to shy away from All Natural Succulent and Cactus Soil Mix by Perfect Plants except for its heaviness. 

Pros

  • Helps improve the air circulation of the soil
  • The substrate maintains the soil pH level

Cons

  • Reduced efficacy due to varying atmospheric environmental conditions


5. Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil by Wonder Soil

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If you are looking for a natural soil option that is entirely safe for family and pets, Wonder Soil should be the next purchase. The product provides proper aeration, thus making the plant’s roots more robust and healthier. 

The Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil by Wonder Soil contains multiple components like Mycorrhiza, Kelp, Puma, Worm Casting, Water-saving Polymers, and Coco Coir Mix. As a result, this soil mixture expands four times its size once in contact with water. 

Pros

  • Helps enhance succulent growth with the right minerals
  • Available in a zipped bag to prevent the need to transfer

Cons

  •   Might have to watch for mold


How to Make Succulent Soil?

DIY Succulent Terrarium

Let’s be honest; buying commercially packaged soil can cost you a pretty penny! In such cases, making your mix is an acceptable alternative. You can formulate a substrate with the required nutrients and sand particles based on the type of succulents you own. 

While making the best soil for succulents from scratch, you should also ensure that you add the right amount of water draining and porous components. Doing so will prevent overwatering of the plant. 

If you are not sure about how to begin, worry not! In this section, I have explained all about the soil-making process. 

Everything You Will Need:

  • Coarse Sand
  • Perlite or Pumice
  • Gardening Gloves
  • Plastic Bin
  • A small shovel
  • Measuring Cup
  • Compost and Fertilizers

Note: Before beginning, decide how grainy you want the resulting succulent soil mix to be!


Step 1 – Add Ingredients in the Correct Ratio

Ideally, a succulent mix can be differently composed based on your requirements. However, I will stick to the traditional quantity that has proven to work positively in the past. Here, you need two parts gardening soil and sand, and one part pumice or perlite. 

Step 2 – Make the Soil

Now, take a plastic bin and add some gardening soil to it. Sprinkle some water on the top to avoid dust particles from flying up to your face. 

Next, add the required sand and mix the whole composition thoroughly. Lastly, add perlite or pumice to complete the soil preparation process! 


Frequently Asked Questions

1. What type of soil is best for succulents?

Succulents are known to the ‘low maintenance’ plants because you don’t need to water them constantly. These drought-tolerant plants work well in low moisture conditions and require fewer organic matter. Therefore, grainy soil mixed with sand or perlite is an ideal substrate for succulents. 


2. Can you use regular potting soil for succulents? 

Yes, you can use regular potting soil for planting succulents. However, this soil type is known for high water retention due to less sand percentage. 

Considering that succulents can quickly die due to overwatering, you need to ensure that the soil is completely dried before watering the plant each time. 


3. Can I plant succulents in just rocks?

Yes, you can plant succulents in just rocks. These plants store the water in their leaves and have an incredible draining capacity. However, you will require soil at one point or another. 

Apart from the ideal moisture conditions, succulents also require nutrients to grow. Without soil, it can be challenging for the plant to absorb nutrition directly from the rocks. 


4. Can I plant succulents in pots without holes?

Yes, you can grow succulents in pots without any holes. However, you will have to take proper care of the plant in such cases. So, ensure that the moisture is entirely drained before watering it again. 


Our Verdict

All the soil products listed above are of premium quality. If you want to speed up the succulent plants‘ growth journey, you can safely pick any of the best soil for succulents in this post. 

However, my best choice remains the Superfly Bonsai Succulent & Cactus Soil Mix. With the right amount of water retention and nutrient composition, you cannot go wrong with this option! 


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