I'm sorry that I cannot answer all of the questions as I don't have experience with PIG succulents. BUT I will say that if you do choose to use Al's mix for the ground then make certain the water has somewhere to drain. Make sure it is up on a hill or in a raised bed or you will effectively make a swimming pool and all the water will just drain into the area with the gritty mix.

Hi Nicholas, thanks a lot for your comments.

The gritty mix probably isn't a good choice for beds or raised beds because of how thoroughly it will drain with the earth acting as a wick. Where do you live and how well does the underlying soil drain?

Al

Growing in the ground or raised beds is a whole different animal compared to container culture. I asked about the underlying soil because building a bed in a soil that drains poorly creates the bathtub effect unless it's done in one of several ways to eliminate that potential.

Al

Hi, i am in Southern California. I have clay type soil. So drainage is not good.

Your most important issue is how you made the beds. If you created a depression by mixing materials into the clay to soften it or increase aeration, the depression will fill with water during any prolonged periods of rain, unless you've made provisions to drain those depressions when it rains like it means it. Even if you add soil containing a good amount of organic matter on top of clay, soil organisms will eventually "amend" the clay beneath the beds so it holds much more water. IOW, Mother Nature will create something of a bathtub effect on her own, even w/o your help, unless the water that collects beneath your beds can escape to 'somewhere'. Ideally, that would be through a drain tile that empties somewhere downhill from your beds. The soil you use could be comprised of some organic matter that breaks down slowly + builders sand and fine gravel. There are some fine (textured) products made by Profile Corp you could use as amendments, too.

Al

Al, thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.

Is your garden 'flat'? Or is it on a slope? Maybe you can post photos...

I always go by Al's advice; in whatever I asked about, it was always excellent and my plants improved.

Rina

Yes - a slope is an ideal situation and allows you to direct water away from beds easily. Thanks, Rina.

Al

If you added pumice in the planting holes, when it rains heavily, water will move laterally into those holes and fill them with water until the entire water table percolates through the surrounding clay. Essentially, you've created a bowl & then filled it with an airy substance that provides lots of air pockets water will happily occupy when it rains hard or when you irrigate.

I'd defer to others more expert in preparing a succulent bed for the right mix of soil, but I'm thinking that maybe 3 parts of builder's sand, 1 part of pea stone or scoria, and 1 part of OM that breaks down slowly won't be far off. It would be best on top of existing undisturbed soil if you can manage that, and unless you want to leave things to chance, some sort of system that ensures water flows FROM your planting areas should be incorporated into the design. If I was there to actually see the sight, I could be much more specific, but geography is limiting. A local landscaper you trust might be worth paying for an opinion.

Al

Thanks Al. I Really appreciate it