Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix: succulentsandsunshine.com/jack Magic Succulent Soil: succulentsandsunshine.com/magic Coconut Coir: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06W9F7XDY/ Peat Based Soil: amzn.to/3BwwE7S For more information on soils for succulents, check out this article: succulentsandsunshine.com/yt-mainsoil If you're ready to keep learning more about succulents, be sure to sign up for our free cheat watering cheat sheet and best succulent tips: www.succulentsandsunshine.com/yt-succsneedwater
Cool test! Thanks for showing us the after with watering! That was eye opening! I make my own mix it has seemed to work out well. I do mix a gritty mix in with the organic soil with extra percalite Thanks Cassidy!❤
I mix my own succulent and cactus soil. I tried the Bonsai Jack succulent soil and while it worked fine at first over a few months time the small amount of soil that is in the mix would filter down through the rocks to the bottom of the container and stay moist….more moist than my succulents liked. I do buy Bonsai Jack’s pumice. It is the best that I have found. Very uniform in size and mixes well with my other ingredients. It has become very difficult to find decent perlite. If I buy the typical perlite that you find in the garden center it is mostly powder and very small pieces of perlite. Not helpful at all for succulents. I have switched to using pumice instead. I don’t use pots that do not have drainage. Why have to guess if your water is reaching the bottom? Bottom watering is certainly helpful with some types of containers. When the upper layers of the soil become damp you know that the soil has enough water. I have some succulent arrangements that are in larger pots that I cannot bottom water. Having the right soil for the arrangement means I know just how much water the container needs. There are holes in the bottom of those pots and the pots are not very deep so watering them is fairly simple.
Thanks for the video. I mainly use the bonsai Jack gritty mix and mix a little coconut coir and cactus mix too. I have been watering from the faucet with a tiny stream, until it comes out the bottom and then set it in a tub of water for a few minutes. I never thought about transferring diseases from the water. So I guess maybe use smaller tubs to set a single plant?
If it's been working for you, I wouldn't stress too much. Just keep an eye out for problems when you're watering and don't overlap if any plants look like they might have an infestation or infection.
Mostly watering. Succulents don't need a lot of nutrients, but you can supplement with something like work castings, or add a bit of coconut coir or pine bark fines over time to replenish what's been used.
I was given a tiny peanut cactus section about 3/4 inch long. I researched it and found a suggestion to let it root in regular potting mix. It is now firmly rooted. Should I repot it into a different soil? Should I leave little potting soil sticking to the roots? Should I water it in? How many hours of plant lighting should it have?
I'd probably leave it there until it gets a little larger. Cactus are hard to tell when they need or don't need water, so I'd err on the side of watering less frequently. If you have it inside, I'd place it near a window that gets bright light all day long.
I do make a small commission if people purchase any of the soils mentioned through my links. However, I used to make the gritty mix myself (for about 3 years) and found it was the best option for my succulents. I've been using Bonsai Jack's pre-mixed soil since then. But, as I mentioned in the video, almost anything can work if you are "reading" your succulents before watering. The pre-bagged mixes are mostly convenient rather than having to share a recipe or mix something yourself.
Thanks so much for all of your tips and knowledge sharing! I took your course in 2020 and now have a beautiful succulent section in my home :)
I started making my own potting soils a few years ago & pretty much only use my own mixes now.
That's a great way to go!
Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix: succulentsandsunshine.com/jack
Magic Succulent Soil: succulentsandsunshine.com/magic
Coconut Coir: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06W9F7XDY/
Peat Based Soil: amzn.to/3BwwE7S
For more information on soils for succulents, check out this article:
succulentsandsunshine.com/yt-mainsoil
If you're ready to keep learning more about succulents, be sure to sign up for our free cheat watering cheat sheet and best succulent tips:
www.succulentsandsunshine.com/yt-succsneedwater
Cool test! Thanks for showing us the after with watering! That was eye opening!
I make my own mix it has seemed to work out well. I do mix a gritty mix in with the organic soil with extra percalite
Thanks Cassidy!❤
Thanks for showin
I mix my own succulent and cactus soil. I tried the Bonsai Jack succulent soil and while it worked fine at first over a few months time the small amount of soil that is in the mix would filter down through the rocks to the bottom of the container and stay moist….more moist than my succulents liked. I do buy Bonsai Jack’s pumice. It is the best that I have found. Very uniform in size and mixes well with my other ingredients.
It has become very difficult to find decent perlite. If I buy the typical perlite that you find in the garden center it is mostly powder and very small pieces of perlite. Not helpful at all for succulents. I have switched to using pumice instead.
I don’t use pots that do not have drainage. Why have to guess if your water is reaching the bottom? Bottom watering is certainly helpful with some types of containers. When the upper layers of the soil become damp you know that the soil has enough water.
I have some succulent arrangements that are in larger pots that I cannot bottom water. Having the right soil for the arrangement means I know just how much water the container needs. There are holes in the bottom of those pots and the pots are not very deep so watering them is fairly simple.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Thanks for the video. I mainly use the bonsai Jack gritty mix and mix a little coconut coir and cactus mix too. I have been watering from the faucet with a tiny stream, until it comes out the bottom and then set it in a tub of water for a few minutes. I never thought about transferring diseases from the water. So I guess maybe use smaller tubs to set a single plant?
If it's been working for you, I wouldn't stress too much. Just keep an eye out for problems when you're watering and don't overlap if any plants look like they might have an infestation or infection.
Is nutrient content a concern when choosing soil or is watering the only factor?
Mostly watering. Succulents don't need a lot of nutrients, but you can supplement with something like work castings, or add a bit of coconut coir or pine bark fines over time to replenish what's been used.
I use a mixture of Safe T Sorb and perlite. I sift the fines out of both. I find Bonsai Jack soil to be very expensive!
It's definitely not an inexpensive option. I'm totally up for people mixing their own too! I did that for several years.
Can small river rock be added to Succulent soil instead of grit?
It can be, though it may not be as effective. However, anything to improve the drainage is probably better than not amending a dense soil.
I was given a tiny peanut cactus section about 3/4 inch long. I researched it and found a suggestion to let it root in regular potting mix. It is now firmly rooted. Should I repot it into a different soil? Should I leave little potting soil sticking to the roots? Should I water it in? How many hours of plant lighting should it have?
I'd probably leave it there until it gets a little larger. Cactus are hard to tell when they need or don't need water, so I'd err on the side of watering less frequently.
If you have it inside, I'd place it near a window that gets bright light all day long.
@@Succulentsandsunshine I have it under a plant light .
Technical note: there’s a distracting warbling echo in the audio of this piece.
Thank you! I realized after recording that I had left a fan on near my table. I'll definitely make sure it's turned off next time.
I thinking you promote the soil the you gets pay ; because the prices are a little high
I do make a small commission if people purchase any of the soils mentioned through my links.
However, I used to make the gritty mix myself (for about 3 years) and found it was the best option for my succulents. I've been using Bonsai Jack's pre-mixed soil since then.
But, as I mentioned in the video, almost anything can work if you are "reading" your succulents before watering.
The pre-bagged mixes are mostly convenient rather than having to share a recipe or mix something yourself.