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.
Related Post: How To Grow & Care For Aloe Vera Plants
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.
Susan Lolos says
Hi
Can orchids potting mix be used with the potting soil?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I wouldn’t recommend using wood chips or bark like that in succulent potting soil. As it breaks down, it will hold too much moisture.
Karen Tay says
It s hard to find coarse sand, pumice and perlite in the area I live,can I replace it with pea gravel and play sand?Do I need to sterilize it? Thks.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Humm… I’ve never tried those alternative ingredients in my succulent soil recipe. Pea gravel should be ok, but play sand may be too fine. If it’s coarse play sand, then it should work. I’m not sure how you would sterilize the sand, but I would probably wash the pea gravel in a bucket of soapy water.
Lisa Hawker says
Sterilize sand just as my mom and grandma did with potting soil. In a foil roasting pan in the oven.
Joy says
Where can I find potting soil and perlite in my home
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can find those ingredients at your local garden center or big box store. I’ve also included links in the article for where to buy them online.
Robin Wilson says
That’s exactly what I was wondering because I have those on hand!
Jacinta says
Great info on potting mix. Very educative
Many thanks
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
Gurmit says
Thnx it would serve my purpose .
Nan says
Is coconut hull ok to use instead of potting soil. Or 1/2 an1/2
Amy Andrychowicz says
Coco coir holds too much water, so I would not recommend using that in your succulent soil mix.
Christine says
Hi, do you think this succulent mix will work for lavender plants as well. It seems like it’s the same needs that lavender plants require.
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, they do like a well-draining mix. But for those, I would use a richer, organic soil instead of a succulent mix. Here’s a post that’s all about how to care for them, and has a section about the best type of soil to use… How To Care For Lavender Plants
Chris gibbs says
Thankyou for succulent mix recipe.
I am a beginner, and very excited i found something i think i can be successful in doing. I only jist retired and was looking for something like this. I might have lots of questions. Looking forward to hearing more about succulents.i live in Australia, i really hope we have varieties and colours that I’m seeing on these posts. Thanks Chris
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! Enjoy your succulents, and have fun! Oh, and take a look at my detailed succulent care guide here, that has much more info about the different types too.
Pam Wissmann says
What causes cacti and succulents to get scale and how do you treat it naturally, as the commercial treatment seems to be too harsh?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Here’s a post that will answer all of your questions… How To Get Rid Of Scale Insects On Plants, For Good!
Ana says
Is it ok to use potting soil with Seramis mix in it?
Amy Andrychowicz says
No because Seramis holds too much water for succulents. They need a very fast draining soil mix that does not hold much water.
Mark Schafer says
Hey there, thanks for the recipe! I wanted to ask, should any fertilizer be added to this mix?
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome. It depends on when you plan to use your succulent soil. If you’re going to use it right away, then yes, you could add granular fertilizer to the mix. Otherwise, I would wait to add fertilizer until you’re ready to use the soil.
Oxana says
Hello, and thank you for sharing your succulent soil recipe. However, in the video it says to use 3 parts potting soil, 3 parts course sand and 1 part pumice; where as in your story you mention 3 parts potting soil, 2 parts course sand and 1 part pumice. Would there be any major difference which one to use? Thanks again!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh wow, thanks for pointing that out. The succulent soil recipe in the post is correct, and the video has a typo in it. It should be 3 parts potting soil, 2 parts course sand, and 1 part pumice.
Christine says
Is this mix good to start with seeds as well?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Only if you’re starting seeds for succulents or cactus plants. Otherwise, you should use my recipe for seed starting mix instead.
Clara Zuniga says
Could it be possible to use an orchid potting soil and then adding a bit of sand and perlite? Could the succulents thrive in that?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would not recommend using an orchid potting mix for making succulent soil. Orchid potting medium is made to retain moisture, which is not good for growing succulents.
Christina says
Hello! I used your recipe for succulent soil about 2 weeks ago and replanted all my random succulents because they were starting to die from rot. I used all the right ingredients and the soil definitely gets and stays wet the right amount of time but, my succulents still seem to be dying. I know they aren’t overwatered bc the leaves and such are not squishy and plump like they were in their other pots when they were rotting. They feel like they are dry and they are drooping and shriveling up. The soil feels SUPER gritty. Did I maybe use too much coarse sand? I can’t figure out why they are acting like they are underwatered when the soil I made stays wet for a couple of days like it should.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would check the stems and the base of your succulent plants to make sure they aren’t rotting. If the stems are soft, mushy, or hollow that means they’re rotting/have rotted. It could be that they started rotting after being overwatered even before you repotted them. It’s a very common problem with succulents. Here’s a post all about caring for succulent plants that may also help you out… Succulent Plant Care Guide
Dee says
Love your site! I ordered some succulents that I would like to plant in my garden, not in pots, but in the earth. Do you know if I can use “Dr. Earth’s Exotic Blend Cactus and Succulent Potting Mix”? Or is this just for pots? What would you recommend I use instead if this is not the best medium to work with? I’ve never planted succulents before, and I’d like them to thrive outdoors. Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your soil is already sandy/rocky, then the succulents should grow very well there. I would be sure to choose a location that doesn’t get a lot of water, and rainwater drains very quickly. If you don’t have sandy soil, then I would amend it with coarse sand, and maybe some perlite or rocks before planting your succulents.
Phong Huynh says
Thanks !
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Rod M. says
Hello, great post, I just bought some fat plant san diego succulent specific soil. 1 gallons worth and thinks it quite expensive. Still have different species of top cuttings drying. I have read alot lately about water propagation and people have great succuess and even leave them in water and grow them permanently via hydroponics. Can you do an article on this and or your thoughts. They say they thrive as the water prevents fungus and infection as they stay immersed in water. Also, since I am tight on $$ an I poke some holes in stryo and or plastic cups for planting the cuttings once the bottom dries out? Then once they root a bit replant into normal pots/containers. You can really make containers out of anything as long as you can poke holes, correct? Now, I have an aloe in a 3″ pot that has so many pups I think it needs to be seperate and replanted. Do i simply seperate, let dry for a few days then replant the pups and mother in other containers. She seems to be struggling lately with no changes other than the pot is literally overun with pups to the point the soil cannot be seen at all. Thoughts. Thanks.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Succulents don’t like a lot of water, they prefer dry conditions. You could root cuttings by suspending them above water, and the stems may even root in water. But, I suspect that the stems would eventually rot if left in water for too long. As for separating your aloe plant, here’s an article with all the details of how to do that… How To Propagate Aloe Vera By Division.