HELP! New to succulents, soil has insufficient drainage, gritty mix?

6 years ago

I need some help! I'm new to succulent parenthood and I have an addiction in a bad way. I've been collecting them within the past month and a half.
I live in Nova Scotia, and I have been finding that it is very difficult to find different varieties of succulents and succulent supplies .

Most of my succulents have come from the local hardware store, and are in particularly pathetic shape, missing leaves, dropy, etc, but no abnormal colouring.
Last week, I bought some cactus soil (unfortunately, Miracle Grow was the only brand I could find at the moment) and a bag of perlite. I mixed it in equal portions, as I've seen many people recommend that as a basic succulent mix. I cleaned the old soil from the roots of the succulents and then left them for three days before I gave them a nice deep water. All of my pots have drainage, and I'm trying to get them all into breathable terra cotta, however, several days later the soil still feels quite wet and some of my succulents outer leaves are starting to yellow and feel a wee bit squishy. I know this is a drainage issue, and I'm freaking out! I don't want to kill them!! Oh, goodness, I would cry!

Can anyone help me figure out what a better soil mix would be? Its been quite rainy in Nova Scotia and the air is quite damp, so I'm thinking I need more gritty soil. I don't want to have to outsource materials, because shipping gets quite expensive.
I've sourced out places to get a different brand of cactus soil, and perlite. I've found that I can buy chicken girt at a local feed store, and finely mulched fir bark at the petstore in town. On Amazon I've found an affordable place to get coconut coir and clay pebbles. I've searched online for turface and pumice, nothing in the province, however, I did find a product called Qualisorb at Canadian tire, which I have seen some people on here using in place of turface.

So I was thinking of trying the bark, qualisorb and chicken grit at a 1:1:1 ratio. Any suggestions for me? And should I remove my succulents from their pots and let them dry? In the meantime, I've got them in a room with a dehumidifier running in an attempt to dry the soil faster. Thank you so much for any help or suggestions! I've got some plant mail on the way and I want to make sure I've got a soil mix that works!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

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Robyn Jefferson
Original Author

6 years ago

Thank you all for your helpful comments and advice. I've been so excited about the succulents, and I may have got carried away in getting too many before I knew what type of soil works best (Who knew that dirt could be such a complicated thing!!) They had seemed to be doing alright until I re-potted them, and I honestly thought that that would make them happier! I'm feeling a little discouraged, and worried that I'm just going to continue to kill them.

I have this crazy idea that I can propagate and raise succulents and bring new varieties into the province. There are so few resources here. Its been insanely difficult to find the plants that I have, and to track down the appropriate soils and materials. I'd love to eventually sell them locally at one of the farmer's markets or something. It would be so neat to see more people enjoying and learning about succulents locally.

I'm going to take my succulents out of the pots, it will be a couple days before I can gather the new potting materials, but I think I'd do best going with a grittier mix and try Rina's suggestion of using perlite, grit and Qualisorb (and I will try the thaw test)

I've got them all in a window, but its more North facing, which isn't idea. I have a HUGE south facing window, but I need to get my husband to help me rig up some shelves out of reach of my preschooler and toddler (haha, otherwise the succulents really won't lost long!)

And yes, I've been soaking, letting them drip dry, and then not watering until completely dry (Except, I haven't really gotten to that point since repotting, as they aren't drying!) Thank you so much for the tip though!! I'll gladly take all the help I can get!

I have 4 succulents in the mail on their way to me from BC, an echeveria blue bird, a graptoveria opalina, a graptopetalum pentandrum superbum, and a graptoveria jules...lets hope I can get my soil right so I don't start killing them too!! No more succulents for me for awhile I think !

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Comments (15)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Too much soil - that is why your mix is wet for a long time.

I would use grit and sifted perlite in equal amounts (40 - 45% of each) and rest in turface/qualisorb. They are relatively dusty, so I would recommend to sift them too (ordinary kitchen strainer is good to use). I would not bother with peat or coco peat. I don't know which 'clay pebbles' you found on Amazon, if Leca - they could be too large. They are available in Hydroponic stores if you have any close by. Good for hydro growing. I don't use bark anymore since it is difficult to get good size (or too pricey to buy ReptiBark for many plants). If you have bark, I would use bit less than 1/3rd - maybe 20-25% of the mix. I keep plants in gravel+perlite+small amount of turface - no soil - and they stay outdoors Spring to Fall.

If your plants are waterlogged, maybe they should be taken out of present soil. They won't die if out for a day or two - even longer if too wet.

Btw, some bags of Qualisorb may not be as good as most; maybe you should try freeze-thaw test to make sure it doesn't fall apart. I have used 1 bag but found turface since and do not buy Qualisorb anymore.
mesembs
6 years ago
Yeah, does look like a bit of overwatering...

In terms of mix, I would bypass bark and Turface (Qualisorb). Just use the cactus soil, grit, and perlite. About 1:1:1 should work, but if anything, less soil, and more grit or perlite.

OR,

You could make a full gritty mix, just substituting perlite for bark. I find that this is way easier than using bark.

Also, make sure they are getting plenty of light. That will help in terms of drying times.

Just ask if you have any other questions!
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hills Hi, it's not about your English (mine isn't that great either:)!), just a timing - your post dropped down since there were many others at the same time, and ppl didn't notice it. The ingredients you mentioned are all pretty good. I never used pumice, zeolith, basalt chips - but they have been mentioned and are being used. I think that any of them would be a good addition to the gritty mix. Just try to keep all the particles similar in size. I use what I can find easily: perlite, grit (I use chicken grit) and turface, mixed in equal amounts (more or less-I don't measure anymore). Bark is one organic ingredient to be added to the gritty mix. I am not using it now since I have hard time to find it small enough. It is a chore to break large pieces... My comments on your plants: the large plant looks good, despite what I think, is peaty potting soil. Peaty mixes don't drain well, often become either too saturated or too dry, and may also attract some pests, especially indoors. Re-potting into well draining mix gives succulents good drainage and air circulation around the root ball. Jades are quite tolerant and your watering must have been good. It has a nice color too, was it outdoors during the summer? The small plant seems to be in same mix, and I think it is potted too deeply. It also looks quite good to me. The size of the pot is fine, but I would put it into gritty and plant it higher. Many use fertilizers with 3-1-2 ratio of NPK. I use MiracleGro 24-8-16. Dyna-Gro Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 is recommended (I can't find it in Canada...) Where are the plants going to spend winter? They should get as much light as possible. I have to use supplemental lights, otherwise they get very etiolated. Last 2 winters they spent in basement, under lights, little cooler temps (no more than 50*F) and they were not fertilized at all - I don't want to 'encourage' growth if there isn't sufficient light and get them etiolated even more. Rina
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Helen Agius (Adelaide,Sth Aus) USDA Z10b
6 years ago
Hi Robyn. I dont know how you water. A good drenching sounded good. But they need to be up off the ground so the water can flow through the mix then straight out the bottom and flow away. You might already do this, but just in case you don't :-)
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
If plants are in water retaining soil, keeping them up from ground will not help enough - it helps some, but fast draining mix (and container with drainage hole) is the answer in the long run. I wouldn't drench plant unless sure of the drainage.

Plants should not sit in water (saucer full of excess water should be emptied if used).
socks
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I commend you for doing your homework. Certainly they need the south window light. Good luck with your plants.
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
Robyn

Good luck with your ideas.

Do you have access to outdoors? It is getting colder now, but next Spring, it would be great if you could grow them outdoors. There isn't usually enough light indoors, and many of us are using supplemental lights indoors. What is your zone? Mine are all still outdoors - but they are well acclimatized since they go outdoors early in the Spring.

Some succulents propagate very easily from leaves and stem cuttings, other better from just stem cuttings. Some may not even propagate from leaves. Many (probably all) will propagate from offsets/pups. These are all from offsets (there are more...):

These var. jades are from stem cuttings, and plants in round pot - except for 2 largest - are from leaves:

Start with few, learn as much as you can about them - but from reliable sources. Reading some blogs that have beautiful photos could be misleading (I said some...)

Potting media is most important - make it simple...next is good light.
Robyn Jefferson
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Yes, I do. I have a nice big porch, which will be perfect next spring. I believe I am in zone 6A, it's starting to get quite chilly here in the evenings, and it is hurricane season, so we've had a couple very windy days, since they aren't used to being outside, I think I'd keep them in for this year. I don't want to do more damage at this point!

Your succulents are gorgeous! Do you use grow lights through the winter? I've been debating whether my south facing window is enough. When it's sunny, it gets plenty of sun, but the winters here are often grey and over cast. Someone on the succulent Facebook group I'm on recommended sunblaster grow lights, so I've been thinking about possibly giving those a go!

I've had at least had some luck propogating! I bought some leaves off Etsy, was given some from friends, and picked some up off the floor while I was buying my succulents at the hardware store. Nearly all are now rooting, and I've got some cute little babies starting!

And thank you socks! I'm trying to get this right!!
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Yes, I am using supplemental lights. I used to have a south-facing room with about 18' of windows, but winter days are so short, there was not really enough sunlight for them. I have many CFL lightbulbs (min. 23w and higher), so am using those. When they run out (maybe I'll before, lol), I'll get T5HO. In the meantime, they work well. I am using about 40 right now (in winter, indoors). One of our members, ewwmayo (he grows great looking and healthy plants), posted his research on lights. Maybe you'll find it interesting- click here -

There is nothing better for plants than outdoors IMO :) Natural light, breeze - air circulation, rain to water them...I hope that plants can stay outdoors for at least another month. It has been chilly here few times during night - as low as 3-4*C! ('feel like' -2*C) but only for an hour or two. So I am still keeping them outside.

How about hardy succulents? Are they easy to purchase where you are? They would be easier to grow...
Robyn Jefferson
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you for linking that post. Very interesting to see! I definetly think that after reading some other peoples experiences (yours included) that grow lights will be the way to go this winter. I can't wait to get them outside next spring though!! I'm sure they'll love it! Its so amazing what a little sunlight can do to their colouring!

We had a really really chilly week last week, almost had to turn on the heaters, but it has warmed back up a bit. The last taste of summer I guess!

I've found a few hardy succulents, I have some cobweb buttons, a sempervivium royal ruby, and some sedum borchii sport growing in my garden. We will see how they do through the winter. The soil here isn't the greatest, very clay like. I've been adding better quality topsoil each year so its slowly improving, hopefully they have enough drainage. My Mom lives down the road, and she has several different hens and chicks. They seem to be thriving, so hopefully mine will too!!
Robyn Jefferson
Original Author
6 years ago
And thank you so much for all your advice and help!! You've really been most helpful, and I've gained a lot of knowledge!! I really appreciate it!
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Robyn

If I may, here is a suggestion: why not learning proper = botanical names of your plants? Common names are good to know, but plants have specific names (and they are written in specific way :) that ppl should be aware of. Common names are often misleading, since same name could, and are often given to very different plants. Knowing proper names help searching for proper information...and is good for business ...JMO...:)

I just learned about new plant from you - I never heard of Sedum borchii sport...If your garden soil is not draining well, grow them in containers. Hope that sedum and Sempervivums are living outdoors?
Robyn Jefferson
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, the sedum and the Sempervivum are outside, except for a few cuttings from the sedum that I have propogating. I know the hardy succulents do best outside, they need a cold dormant period to really thrive.

The sedum Borchii Sport is a really neat looking little plant, very tiny, but it creeps and spreads like mad!

Yes, I will try to use the proper names from now on, the cutesy nicknames are more of a habit. My Mom has had several varieties of sempervivum growing in her garden since I was a little girl. We've always just referred to them as hens and chicks, because it's cute and it seems so fitting! :) But you're right, it is a broad term!
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
Some common names are used only for certain plant but many are not. Google zebra plant for example - and there are quite a few very different plants pictured. Same with many other names. Anyway, JMO...
Robyn Jefferson
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I totally agree with you! My friend gave me a cutting of a Hoya a few years back, and at the time I had never even heard of a Hoya plant and I had no idea there were so many varieties!! Until I turned to google. It took me awhile, but once it flowered I eventually identified it as a Hoya Lanceolata Bella :) So yes, I agree! Knowing the specific scientific name is very important!