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.
Christine M. Donato says
The succulent soil that I used is holding too much water and my succulents are crying and doing horribly. Can I use this succulent soil (The Next Gardener Professional Succulent and Cactus Soil Mix Fast Draining Pre-Mixed Coarse Blend) as my soil with the sand and perlite as you recommend in the parts you recommend? Please Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never used that specific mix you mention myself, so I’m not familiar with the consistency of it. But yes, you can add sand and perlite to a commercial succulent soil to improve the drainage, for sure.
Crisilda Jamin says
Csn i use sand that was used for overground swimming pool
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’m not familiar with that specific type of sand. But, as long as it’s sterile and coarse, then yes, it should work for this succulent soil mix recipe.
U.sai chandrika says
What can I use instead of perlite or pumice?? I’m not going to effort that much money
Amy Andrychowicz says
There’s not really a good substitute for perlite and pumice, so it’s best to stick with one of those in this recipe. Perlite is the cheaper option for sure, and really not that expensive to buy. Check your local big box store to see if they have it for less.
Barry Gilbert says
Can I use regular play sand such as found at the big box stores, or no? Thank you in advance
Amy Andrychowicz says
It depends. Play sand can be too fine to use for this mix, and it can be hit or miss on whether or not it has been sterilized/washed. You would have to check the package to see if it’s clean, and also look at the grain to see if it’s coarse sand.
Bob says
Hi amy, i hv a succulent was dng good in winters. I watered frm above, it went on fine but suddenly the top part is drying. I dnt knw the reason, indian summers r very hot. How to send u the picture, dat way u cud c n gauge the problem. Is this succulent shade loving or sun. Loving i dnt knw. Meanwhile i hv just removed frm direct sun to a less sunny area.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If it’s really humid where you live, then watering from the top could have caused it to rot. It’s best to water succulents at the soil level, to prevent rot and fungus problems. However, if it’s drying like you mention, then it could be sunburn – especially if you just moved it outside. As for the sun exposure… it depends on the type of succulent you have. You can post a photo on my Facebook page if you want, and I’ll do my best to help. Also, see my guide for growing succulents for more details about care, and to see some of the most common varieties.
Bob says
Thanks amy. I blv i could be sun burn coz it was all lush n green in Winters. As summmer approached the poblem started. Moreover i received a reply on one forum. It is copy pasted below, please advise if it is true.
Meanwhile i wl post the picture on FACEBOOK.
It has nothing to do with the drying up in the center. It’s more the lush growth and heat. As the plant grows bigger the stems sort of collapse and show the dead foliage underneath. As they collapse they also expose the formerly shaded stems to the sun and they burn. Eventually new growth will fill in the bare center.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, the answer you got on the forum makes sense. I’m not sure what type of succulent you have. But I would try cutting it back and see if that helps the center fill back in again.
Geoffrey Ross says
Your succulent mix is 3 parts potting soil. I presume you mean regular potting mix, not soil. Bunnings etc have soil, which is more earthy and much more dense than potting mix which is lighter, less earthy. Can you confirm?
Cheers
Geoff Ross
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, use a general purpose potting mix for indoor plants.
Brittany Kidd says
What potting mix do you most recommend? Would a mix of normal potting soil wprk since you are adding in sand and pumice?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, any type of general purpose potting soil will work for this recipe. Just make sure there aren’t any added water retention pellets or anything like that. I have a link above to the exact mix that I use and recommend.
Jinny Sonah says
When to transfer germinated seeds…I mean which size the plant should be? Also composition of soil mix for plants to be transferred. Thank you for your advice?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you’re talking about succulent or cactus seedlings, then use this soil mix to pot them up. Otherwise, here’s information that will help you…
How To Make Your Own DIY Seed Starting Mix
How To Repot Seedlings Into Larger Containers
How & When To Transplant Seedlings Into Your Garden
Dee says
Can I add more potting soil to succulent mix to propagate other plant cuttings
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you’re rooting succulent or cactus cuttings, that would work. But for others, it’s best to use a mix that holds more moisture.
Vuntha Nula says
I use vermin compost,cocopit,perilite and coarse sand but is vermin compost a bad consistent?
Amy Andrychowicz says
There is no need to add the vermicompost to your succulent soil mix. But, as long as you don’t add so much that the soil will end up holding too much water, then it shouldn’t hurt. I would just skip it though.
Shamir says
Is it okay to use river rocks instead of coarse sand?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would not recommend that substitution, river rocks are way too large.
M says
How much water do you add when first transplanting a jade into a new pot.
I thank you for the simple recipe and will try and get the coarse sand at the hardware store, how much water do I add, v. Beginner with jades
.
Thank you
Amy Andrychowicz says
If the soil in the original pot was fairly wet, then don’t water your succulent after repotting it into the new soil. Otherwise, if it was really dry, then you can give it enough water to cover the top of the soil. Be sure to allow it to completely drain out the bottom, and don’t water again until after the soil dries out.
Reina Gonzalez says
I have sand fron the beach. Can I use that one? It is dry already.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t recommend using beach sand in your succulent potting soil mix. You never know what creepy crawlies are in there. Also, beach sand could contain things like salt or pathogens that can harm your plants. It’s best to buy it at the store to avoid any problems.
Rosa Arnold says
Thank you so much for your informative guide and tips. My husband and I love cactus and succulents but we’re having issues with our organ cactus and our blue glow agave. They are turning yellow as if they were drying up, how would I know if it’s from over/overwatering? What would you recommend
Amy Andrychowicz says
Stick your finger at least 1″ into the soil to check the moisture level each time before you water. If it feel wet at all, then it’s likely you’re overwatering. If it’s completely dry, then it’s time to add more water. Here’s a post that might help you out… How To Water Indoor Plants.
Yomna says
Hello,
I was wondering if I can use peat moss instead of potting soil and also if instead of permulite I can put small rocks? Or can I just use sand and peat moss and skipe the permulite?
Thanks,
Yomna
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, peat moss holds too much water for succulents, so I would recommend using potting soil as recommended. Something like pea gravel may work to add drainage, instead of using perlite. But it will also add a lot of weight to the pot. I have never tried it though, so I can’t say for sure if it will work. You could certainly experiment with it though.
Amie says
Hi. I have gymno seeds here and I want to try sowing it. What kind of soil mix should I use? Thank yoooouuu ?
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can use my DIY seed starting mix recipe.
Darla Gallagher says
Hi, what sort of pots do you suggest planting succulents in?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I recommend using unsealed clay or terracotta pots. They help to wick the water out of the soil, and keep it dryer, which is perfect for succulents.