After years of trial and error, I finally came up with the perfect DIY succulent potting soil mix. This is the best, and it’s super easy to make too!
In this post, I will share my homemade recipe and ingredients with you, and show you exactly how to make your own.
I don’t buy succulent soil, I make my own. It’s much cheaper than the commercial stuff. I find that those pre-made mixes (at least the stuff I’ve purchased in the past) are light on drainage, and hold more water than I like.
So way back in 2013, I came up with my own mix, and it’s perfect! I’ve been using it for all of my succulents ever since, and they love it.
My goal in developing this recipe was to use common ingredients that you can find at your local garden center, big box store, or online. Plus, I use them to make my other homemade potting soils too, so they are all very reusable.
The Best Soil For Succulents
The best type of potting soil for succulents is a well draining, sandy mix that allows the water to flow through quickly, without becoming compacted.
When readers reach out to me about problems with their plants, most of the issues they have are caused by overwatering. This is by far the #1 cause of death for succulent plants, and that is why it is so important to use the right type of soil for them.
If you don’t want to make your own, then you should buy a high quality brand. Read the package to make sure it’s porous, drains quickly, and does not retain moisture.
Related Post: How & When To Water A Succulent Plant
How To Make Succulent Soil
Below you’ll find all of the details about how to make your own. Since you control the ingredients, you can modify my potting soil recipe to get the perfect mix that both you and your succulent plants will love.
Supplies Needed
You’ll only need a few supplies to mix your succulent soil. So grab these items before you get started…
- Measuring container* (to measure your ingredients)
- Hand trowel
- Container for mixing (I use a bucket or my table top potting tray)
* You can use anything for this, like a measuring cup, a scoop, or a hand trowel.
DIY Succulent Soil Recipe
You only need 3 ingredients for this recipe. You should be able to find them at any garden center, home improvement or big box store, or order them online.
- 3 parts potting soil
- 2 parts coarse sand (turface or poultry grit)
- 1 part perlite (or pumice)
What is a “part”? – A “part” is just a generic unit of measure. For example, if you use a 1 cup measure, then this recipe converts to 3 cups potting soil, 2 cups sand, and 1 cup perlite.
Related Post: How To Make Your Own Cactus Soil Mix (With Recipe!)
How To Mix Potting Soil For Succulent Plants
Making your own DIY succulent potting soil is very quick. All you need to do is dump everything into your mixing container (bucket, potting tray, wheelbarrow… whatever) and stir it all together.
Use a trowel, a large spoon, or your hands to mix it. Just make sure the ingredients are evenly combined once you’re done. That’s it. Told you it was easy.
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DIY Succulent Potting Soil Ingredients
Below I will describe each of the 3 ingredients you need, and also give you alternatives that you can use if you can’t find any of these locally.
All Purpose Potting Soil
Pretty much any type of regular potting soil will work as the base to make your succulent soil. Use whatever you have on hand (as long as it’s fresh and sterile).
However, don’t use cheap dirt, garden soil, mixes that contain vermiculite, or any type that says it has added moisture control or retains water. Succulents need a well draining potting soil, not one that holds moisture.
Related Post: Succulent Plant Care & Ultimate Growing Guide
Coarse Sand
To prevent soil compaction, I recommend buying coarse sand rather than the really fine stuff. If you prefer, you could use turface or poultry grit as a substitute instead.
Just don’t use sand from the garden, the beach, or a sandbox (you never know what nasties will be in there).
Related Post: How To Care For A Jade Plant (Crassula)
Perlite or Pumice
Perlite is a very lightweight organic soil amendment. It’s the white pieces that look like Styrofoam that you see in many commercial mixes.
It retains very little moisture, prevents compaction, and adds drainage – which is exactly what we want for our succulent potting soil.
You can usually buy perlite at any garden center or home improvement store. But sometimes it’s hard to find, so you can substitute for pumice if that’s easier to get where you live.
Related Post: Propagating Succulents From Stem Cuttings Or Leaves
Storing Your Leftover Succulent Soil Mix
You could mix up a big batch and store the leftovers for later. That way you’ll always have some homemade potting soil on hand when you need it for repotting your succulents.
You can keep it on a shelf in your basement, garage, or a shed. But make sure to put it in an air-tight container so bugs can’t get in.
If you don’t have an air-tight container, you can buy one of these bucket sealing lids, which works with a five gallon bucket.
Related Post: How To Make An Indoor Succulent Garden
FAQs
You certainly could use regular potting soil for your succulents. However, make sure that it dries out completely between waterings, or they will rot.
Planting your succulents in regular potting soil increases the risk of overwatering, because it tends to retain too much moisture. It’s best to use a fast-draining, porous mix instead.
The differences between general potting soil and a succulent mix are the ingredients and the consistency. Regular potting soils are made of organic materials that retain moisture, while succulent soil is porous, and designed to drain very quickly.
My succulents do very well in my DIY potting mix, and making my own saves me tons of money. Now that you know how to make it, your plants will thrive too.
Do you make your own succulent soil? Share your recipe or tips in the comments section below.
R Cowan says
Can we use “kitty litter” as a substitute for perlite etc.?
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, because the clay absorbs and holds onto water.
Rosie M. says
Hello!
I repotted my succulents about a week ago. I made your recipe, but I used the play sand sold at the big box store as it was what I had on hand. Will the fine sand damage the roots? My succulents are still kinda small.
I saw a video that said the play sand could “burn” the roots because of added minerals. Now I’m concerned.
Should i make a new batch with coarse sand and replant?
Thank you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
If the play sand you used is super fine (like FL beach sand), then it’s not going to be very helpful with drainage. However, if it’s the basic stuff that has larger granules and small rocks in it, then it should be fine, and won’t harm your succulents. I have used that with this recipe before without any issues.
Rosie M. says
Thank you for your prompt reply! Sadly, it is the super fine sand. If I mix a new batch of the succulent recipe with coarse sand and start again, will that be too much stress for the plants? Sorry about all the questions. I’m a new plant parent. 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you tend to overwater, then it might be a good idea to add the coarse sand to the mix and repot your succulents. But if you are good about keeping the soil on the dry side, then they will be fine.
Kerry says
I have been using your homemade potting soil (coco coir, perlite, vermiculite) to repot/renew all of my houseplants…can I use this potting soil as in your succulent/jade soil recipe (potting soil, poultry grit [couldn’t find course sand], perlite)?
Amy Andrychowicz says
The regular houseplant soil recipe you’ve been using isn’t ideal for succulents because it retains too much water, it’s best for tropical plants. I definitely recommend using the recipe in *this* tutorial for your succulents.
Kerry says
Thank you for your response. I was wondering if I could use 3 parts of your potting soil recipe (coco coir, perlite, & vermiculite) as the potting mix portion of your recipe? So instead of buying potting mix (I have been making my own potting mix using your recipe since I have so many other non-cacti/succulent houseplants), I can add the additional materials (2 parts poultry grit & 1 part pumice) to make the cacti/succulent mix.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Good question! Yes, you can use my houseplant potting soil recipe as your base for this succulent soil recipe.