15 Best Potting Soil for Succulents
Choosing the best potting soil for succulents is the first step in growing healthy plants. If you are new to succulent and want to make sure these beloved creatures stay strong through time, you might need to invest more time and energy in taking care of them, especially young ones.
The secret of thriving plants, as I said above, is soil. By choosing the right blend, you can create desert-like conditions that succulents crave most.
I have prepared a list of the best products below so that you can take time to study carefully about each of them before deciding the most suitable soil mixture which your succulents need.
Succulent Soil Ingredients And Their Benefits
Let’s go over some popular ingredients which are included in the succulent soil mixture.
- Hard Japanese Akadama (red ball earth) is a semi-hard matter often added to bonsai soil. When watering, it becomes soft, and after drying, it’s hard. It absorbs water and also retains nutrients so that the plant can take in quickly.
- Haydite and shale rocks absorb water and wait for the root to absorb back.
- Pumice makes sure the plant keeps the right amount of water and nutrients.
- Pine bark also helps to retain the right amount of water and nutrients that promote growth.
- Perlite is added to enhance drainage and airflow.
- Limestone adjusts the pH to the ideal level for succulents.
Which Are The Best Potting Soil For Succulents?
The best potting soil for succulents is Bonsai Jack, Hoffman, and Espoma for their nutrition, uniqueness, and efficiency, while Bliss Gardens and Fat Plants are organic and budget-friendly.
Below is the list of the best potting soil for succulents in the market. Let’s scan through their best traits.
- Best Overall – Bonsai Jack Jacks Gritty Mix #111 Potting Soil For Succulents
“Helps plants grow healthily and firmly, great for many types of succulent, features 1/4-inch particle of unique ingredients.” - Best Budget – Bliss Gardens Soil-1 Organic Potting Soil For Succulents
“Quick to drain, easy to take nutrition from the soil, available in a huge bag of 1 gallon, budget-friendly.” - Best for Indoor – Superfly Bonsai Fast Draining Blend Potting Soil For Succulents
“Formulated for succulents and cacti with ability to optimize the draining process, great for indoor plants.” - Best for Outdoor – Hoffman 10404 Brown/A Potting Soil For Succulents
“A premium organic soil mixture for outdoor succulents, blend of peat moss, perlite, limestone, reed sedge peat, and sand.” - Best Organic – Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Mix Potting Soil For Succulents
“4-quart blend with unique Myco-tone, 100% organic and all-natural, provides an extra boost of nutrition.” - Best All-purpose – Kenzoplants Pre-Mixed Blend Professional Potting Soil For Succulents
“High-quality red oak and walnut, 8-inch square Sandwich maker, food-grade surface, suitable for gluten-free grains.”
Comparison Chart of Best Potting Soil For Succulents in 2023
It’s time to focus on the 15 best potting soil for succulents, including dimensions, weight, and organic properties. I’ve put the essential elements next to each other, so you can easily tell the difference between these products.
Best Potting Soil For Succulents Reviews In 2023
Let’s discover the pros and cons of the 15 best potting soil for succulents below and find your most fitting choice.
1. Bonsai Jack Jacks Gritty Mix #111 Potting Soil For Succulents
(Best Overall)
Featuring a unique mixture of calcined clay, pine fines, and Monto clay, Bonsai Jack Jacks Gritty Mix #111 provides an ideal environment for succulents’ root. Therefore, it not only helps plants grow healthily but also increases stability.
It’s fluffy and quick to drain with a pH level of 5.5. This product works miracles with many types of succulents such as jade, echeveria, haworthia, lithops, crassula, aloe, and more.
It has a gritty texture and full of small particles. This 2-quart of mixed soil can be used for a small number of plants.
Key features
- 2-quart mixed soil
- Made in the USA
- The pH level of 5.5
- The gritty, airy texture
- Features ¼-inch particles
Pros
- Lab-tested combination without pathogen
- Unique mixture for succulents
- Fast-draining
- Prevents the root from getting rot
Cons
- It might be a bit pricey
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 4 x 5 x 9 inches |
| Weight | 2.5 pounds |
| Capacity Variations | 2 dry quarts, 4 dry quarts, 8 dry quarts, 14 dry quarts, 28 dry quarts, 56 dry quarts, 112 dry quarts |
| Brand | Bonsai Jack |
| Ingredients | pine coir, calcined clay, and monto clay |
If you like this product, let’s watch bonsai jack succulent soil review here.
2. Bliss Gardens Soil-1 Organic Potting Soil For Succulents
(Best Budget)
Bliss Gardens Soil-1 is an organic and handmade soil for succulents and cacti. The best thing about it, it comes at an affordable price.
For those who wonder, this soil consists of various ingredients that appear essential to these desert plants. They seem to take nutrition from this soil easily and thrive fast, so you don’t have to take care of them very often.
It’s made to promote the draining speed of water: the quicker, the better. This product is stored in a 1-gallon bag, equivalent to a 4-quart dry capacity.
Key features
- Packed in a huge bag
- Made in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Organic soil combination
- Measured by volume
Pros
- Easy to drain
- Simpleto take nutrition
- Affordable price
- Porous and breathable
Cons
- It might contain few lumps of clay or shale rocks
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 10.5 x 9 x 2 inches |
| Weight | 2.4 pounds |
| Capacity4 quarts dry (1 gallon)Brand | Bliss Gardens |
| Ingredients | Mycorrhizae root inoculate, Coconut coir, horticultural charcoal, peat moss, , worm castings, expanded clay/shale rocks, , perlite |
3. Superfly Bonsai Fast Draining Blend Potting Soil For Succulents
(Best for Indoor)
The most important thing, when it comes to succulents, is their roots. Taking good care of the root, and the plant will take care of itself.
If you water Superfly Bonsai’s soil, it will get wet then become dry in an ideal time for your plants. Superfly Bonsai’s soil’s texture increases airflow and prevents any rotting problems that might occur if you keep them inside your house for a long time.
This product is made from pumice, pine bark, hard Japanese akadama, and haydite. Apparently, it’s composed of non-organic elements with high nutrition.
Key features
- Packed in a resealable bag
- Non-organic mixture
- No dirt
- Formulated for succulents and cacti
Pros
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Simple to store
- Pre-mixed soil for flourishment
- Optimizes draining process
Cons
- It might be pretty pricey
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 11 inches |
| Weight | 1.35 pounds |
| Capacity Variations | 1.25 dry quarts, 2.5 dry quarts, 6 dry quarts, 12 dry quarts |
| Brand | Superfly Bonsai |
| Ingredients | New Zealand pine bark, hard Japanese akadama, pumice, and haydite |
4. Hoffman 10404 Brown/A Potting Soil For Succulents
(Best for Outdoor)
If you are in the market for a premium organic soil mixture for outdoor succulents, you should consider purchasing Hoffman 10404. It’s a professional blend of Canadian sphagnum peat moss, perlite, limestone, reed sedge peat, and sand.
This product is specifically designed for a wide range of succulents and cacti, especially for outdoor plants. As you might not know, it can be used for even jungle and desert cacti.
This pre-mixed combination has a perfect pH level for growing these types of plants so that you can expect positive changes soon.
You should follow the manufacturer’s instruction carefully for optimal results, which is always printed on the package.
Key features
- Brown color
- Organic soil combination
- Packed in a resealable bag
Pros
- Well-draining soil
- Used for jungle and desert cacti
- Ideal pH level
- High-quality mixture
Cons
- I might need to add a bit more perlite or pumice to create more gritty texture
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 4 x 10 x 15 inches |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Capacity 4 dry quartsBrand | Hoffman |
| Ingredients | Canadian sphagnum peat moss, perlite, limestone, reed sedge peat, and sand |
Click here to find out more about Hoffman Organic Cactus & Succulent Soil Mix.
5. Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Mix Potting Soil For Succulents
(Best Organic)
The amazing 4-quart Espoma CA4 helps your succulents and cacti thrive surprisingly. Moreover, it’s 100% organic, so it’s perfect for long-term organic buyer.
Usually, organic matters retain more water than non-organic ingredients; however, the Espoma blend contains less water, so it’s suitable for desert plants.
It also maintains a specific pH level, which is excellent for the growth of succulent and cacti.
Featuring a unique Myco-tone ingredient, it provides an extra boost of nutrition, so even an amateur can use it for their plants without any worry.
Key features
- Lightweight mixture
- All-natural, organic
- Suitable for succulent, cactus, palm, and citrus
- Contains unique Myco-tone
Pros
- Provides an extra boost of nutrition
- Suitable pH level for succulents
- Promotes root growth
- Lightweight
Cons
- Soil caking might happen sometimes
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 8 x 5 x 5 inches |
| Weight | 2.5 pounds |
| Capacity4 dry quartsBrand | Espoma |
| Ingredients | limestone, aged forest products, yucca extract, sphagnum peat moss, , humus, composted rice hulls and perlite. |
Watch some interesting information about succulents with Espoma, especially for beginners.
6. Kenzoplants Pre-Mixed Blend Professional Potting Soil For Succulents
(Best All-purpose)
Kenzoplants Pre-Mixed Blend is your go-to product when it comes to versatility. This soil can accommodate a variety of ornament trees, including succulents, both indoor and outdoor.
It’s suitable for vegetables, ZZ plants, aloes, snake plants, flowers, spider plants, and herbs.
It’s user-friendly and suitable for growers, from amateurs to professionals. It’s a ready-to-use mixture that is made in a specific ratio to maximize the nourishment of plants. It helps your houseplants develop healthy roots, grow new leaves, and bloom.
This product comes with 2-quart, 4-quart and 8-quart bags; therefore, you can consider your desired volume.
Key features
- Contains a small amount of organic fertilizer
- Professionally mixed soil
- For indoor and outdoor use
- Ready-to-use product
Pros
- Versatile
- User-friendly
- Develops roots strongly
- High-quality ingredients
Cons
- It might be a bit smelly
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 12.91 x 8.98 x 3.23 inches |
| Weight | 10.3 ounces |
| Capacity Variations | 2 dry quarts, 4 dry quarts, 8 dry quarts |
| Brand | Kenzoplants |
| Ingredients | 75% sphagnum peat moss, 25% perlite, low fertilizer |
7. Miracle-Gro 72078507 Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Soil For Succulents
Miracle-Gro 72078507 comes with a fast-draining formula and appears useful for succulents.
This soil offers a generous amount of valuable substances that your houseplants can take in easily, such as sphagnum peat moss, sand, and perlite. As such, it also helps prevent caked soil and waterlogging.
In terms of benefits, it enhances root growth; therefore, it also increases the overall development.
You are using it so that you can provide a simple yet healthy environment for your beloved succulent, cactus, palm, and citrus.
Key features
- 8-quart bag
- Fast-draining blend
- No caked soil and waterlogging
- Feeds up to 6 months
Pros
- Full of nutrition
- Creates a healthy environment for plants
- It helps roots grow faster
- Boosts flower production
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor plants
Cons
- It might attract some types of bugs
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 4 x 13 x 17 inches |
| Weight | 7.7 pounds |
| Capacity8 dry quartsBrand | Miracle-Gro |
| Ingredients | Contains forest products, sphagnum peat moss sand, fertilizer, a wetting agent and perlite |
Check out this video about Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus potting mix review.
8. Perfect Plants All Natural Potting Soil For Succulents
Perfect Plants All Natural is stored in 4-quart and 8-quart resealable bags. It’s up to you to purchase the size which meets your needs.
This product creates an ideal condition for succulents. That means it’s a nutritious and airy mixture which your plants can benefit from.
With this soil, you can easily manage the water and avoid overwatering because it’s a well-drained blend. To be more specific, it includes perlite, sand, garden coir, and composted pine bark.
This soil does wonders when it comes to recovering and repotting plants.
Key features
- Available in 4-quart and 8-quart capacities
- Stored in a durable sealable bag
- Professionally-mixed soil
- A nutritious and airy blend
Pros
- Well-made product
- Ready to use
- Proper drainage
- Great for all types of succulent
- Packed in a resealable and heavy-duty bag for better storage
Cons
- It might have an unpleasant smell
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 9 x 2 x 10 inches |
| Weight | 3.9 pounds |
| Capacity Variations | 4 dry quarts, 8 dry quarts |
| Brand | Perfect Plants |
| Ingredients | perlite, sand, garden coir, and composted pine bark |
9. Fat Plants San Diego Potting Soil For Succulents
Fat Plants features the fertilizer analysis of 18-6-12, representing the amount of three primary macronutrients (N, P, K) in this soil mixture. That means this product contains essential nutrients for plants to thrive: Nitrogen (N) for growth, P (Phosphorus) for root development, and K (Potassium) for overall health.
The best part? It also features slow-release nutrition without fertilizer. Your plants can be fed up to 8 months. As such, you can save more bucks while enhancing growth.
It’s 100% organic with an ideal pH level for all succulents and cacti.
Key features
- N-P-K ratio of 18-6-12
- Slow-release nutrition
- Fed up to 8 months
- Packed in San Diego
- Organic soil mixture
Pros
- Economical
- Nutritious
- Ready to use
- Ideal pH level
- Prevents root rot
Cons
- It might be a bit pricey
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 8 x 6 x 6 inches |
| Weight | 1.5 pounds |
| Capacity1 gallonBrand | Fat Plants San Diego |
| Ingredients | PH balanced Coco fiber, perlite, worm castings |
10. The Next Gardener Organic Pre-Mixed Potting Soil For Succulents
With high-quality imported material from Denmark, this soil mixture can bring the best out of your succulents.
It’s made from 100% organic and all-natural. Moreover, it features 100% biodegradable, recyclable packaging material. Therefore, The Next Gardener is considered sustainable and environmentally-friendly.
With a pH level of 5.5, it creates an ideal desert-like condition for acid-loving plants such as succulents, bonsai, and cacti.
Moreover, it appears lightweight and well-draining blend, which might be a necessary factor for these mentioned plants.
Key features
- Consists of imported ingredients from Denmark
- The pH level of 5.5
- 100% organic
- Can be used for succulents, bonsai, and cacti
Pros
- All-natural
- Lightweight and well-draining
- Environmental-friendly
- Great for acid-loving plants
Cons
- Smells a bit off
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 11 inches |
| Weight | 1.35 pounds |
| Capacity Variations | 2 quarts, 4 quarts, 8 quarts |
| Brand | The Next Gardener |
| Ingredients | organic sphagnum peat moss, perlite and low fertilizer |
11. Daniel’s Plants Aeration & Balanced Nutrition Potting Soil For Succulents
Daniel’s Plants consists of kelp, coco coir, mycorrhizae for lightweight texture and healthy nutrients, and pumice and perlite for nutrition holding capacity.
To my surprise, this soil can maintain aeration and essential plant foods for your garden in a significant way.
It’s a good option if you want to nurture repotting or transplanting houseplants. This product also comes with a transplanting scoop.
This pre-mixed soil features a 4-quart bag and appears very easy to use. Its quality is backed by a hassle-free money-back guarantee of complete satisfaction.
Key features
- 4-quart capacity
- Maintain aeration and provide nutrition
- Suitable for repotting and transplanting houseplants
- Includes transplanting scoop
- Money-back guarantee
Pros
- Easy to use
- Made of premium quality
- Nice texture
- Save water
Cons
- It might be only available in a small size bag
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 11 inches |
| Weight | 1.35 pounds |
| Capacity4 quartsBrand | Daniel’s Plants |
| Ingredients | Kelp, coco coir, mycorrhizae, pumice, and perlite |
12. Sun Gro Horticulture 1410602.Q08P Black Gold Potting Soil For Succulents
This mixture is designed to make sure your houseplants, especially succulents and cacti, flourish and thrive.
As you might not know, it contains volcanic pumice, cinder or perlite, compost, and composted worm castings, sand, processed softwood bark, and forest humus. You can rest assured that there are no additives and chemical substances involved.
It provides the right amount of nutrition so that your succulents can grow healthily and happily.
Moreover, it features high drainage ability, low water retention, as well as coarse texture, which are perfect for desert plants.
Key features
- Made in the USA
- Consists of premium ingredients
- No additives
- 8-quart of capacity
- Coarse texture
Pros
- Well-known brand
- Provides the right amount of nutrition
- High drainage ability
- Low water retention
Cons
- It’s stored in non-resealable plastic bags, so you might need to close tightly after use to prevent moisture
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 11 inches |
| Weight | 1.35 pounds |
| Capacity8 quartsBrand | SunGro Horticulture |
| Ingredients | volcanic pumice, cinder or perlite, compost, and composted worm castings, sand, processed softwood bark, and forest humus |
Try Black Gold® Cactus Mix and watch more information here.
13. Espoma AV4 Organic African Violet Potting Soil For Succulents
Espoma AV4 is suitable for African Violet and other plants, including all types of succulents, for some following reasons.
First, it’s good at aerating. That means it creates enough space for the root to breathe and grow healthily. The stronger the root is, the better the plant is. This way, it’s less likely that the root will get rot.
Second, it’s all-natural and has no artificial ingredients. Therefore, it’s safe for your plants and soil in the long term.
Lastly, this potting mix also helps retain moisture so that the plant can take in nutrients easily and bloom as soon as you expected.
Key features
- 4-quart capacity
- Organic, all-natural
- Good at aerating
- Retains moisture
- Suitable for African violet and other plants
Pros
- Features a well-designed package
- Safe for plants and soil
- Prevent rotting roots
Cons
- It sometimes appears moldy after watering
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 11 inches |
| Weight | 1.35 pounds |
| Capacity4 quartsBrand | Espoma |
| Ingredients | limestone to adjust pH, 35-45% sphagnum peat moss, yucca extract, aged forest products, humus and/or composted rice hulls, and perlite |
14. Miracle-Gro 75678307 Potting Soil For Succulents
Miracle-Gro 75678307 offers various bulk sizes of 8 quarts and 16 quarts so that you can grow a lot of container plants at a time. Usually, it can feed up to 6 months.
If you are on the fence about how effective it is, this potting soil can double the growth compared to other plants.
With fertilizer analysis of 0.21 – 0.11 – 0.16, it contains a specific amount of macronutrients N, P, K, which play an essential role in developing all types of indoor and outdoor plants.
All you need to do is fill up 1/3 a pot, place your succulent inside it, water, and wait for the best result.
Key features
- Fertilizer analysis of 0.21 – 0.11 – 0.16
- Double growth of container plants
- Comes in bulk sizes
- Feed up to 6 months
- 6-month money-back guarantee
Pros
- Quick to grow
- Contains macronutrients
- Encourages blooming
- For both indoor and outdoor plants
Cons
- There might be some bugs that appear
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 11 inches |
| Weight | 1.35 pounds |
| Capacity Variations | 8 quarts, 16 quarts |
| Brand | Miracle-Gro |
| Ingredients | sphagnum peat moss, perlite, fertilizer, a wetting agent, peat |
15. Black Gold 1310102 Potting Soil For Succulents
If you want an extra big bag of potting soil for your garden, Black Gold 1310102 is on the top of your choice. It’s also versatile and will work well with all types of houseplants you will bring home, particularly concerning succulents.
This mixture is made in the USA with premium quality ingredients so you can hand over your plants to it.
Notably, there is a small amount of fertilizer in this soil, which provides slow-release nutrition for better growing.
Key features
- 16-quart of capacity
- Made in the USA
- Fertilizer analysis of 0.13-0.05-0.10
- For patio containers, house plants, and hanging baskets
Pros
- Full of nutrients
- Versatile
- Premium quality ingredients
- Slow-release nutrition
Cons
- It might have fungus gnats problems
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 11 inches |
| Weight | 1.35 pounds |
| Capacity16 quartsBrand | Black Gold |
| Ingredients | Canadian sphagnum peat moss with worm castings, forest humus, and pumice |
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Potting Soil for Succulents
Choosing the best potting soil for succulents is quite hard for newbies. This section will provide you some features that you should hunt for when purchasing these products. Don’t waste time anymore; start reading right now.
Well-drained soil mixture
Overwatering the succulents, which usually causes waterlogging and root rotting, is one of the main problems that lead to dying plants. Obviously, you can’t use regular soil to grow succulents and expect them to develop healthily because these desert plants need a desert-like environment to thrive.
To prevent this, especially if you’re newbies, you might need to choose a well-drained soil blend. As such, you should go for a soil mixture with gritty and coarse texture. They might include perlite and pumice in their ingredients.
PH Balanced Soil
Regular soil might not have a pH level that is friendly to succulents. These acid-loving plants need a pH level of 5.5 or 6 to grow and flourish. Make sure you pay attention to this aspect of your chosen product.
Aeration
The roots of the succulent need to be well-ventilated so that they can thrive day by day. The soil mix which does not prevent soil compaction effectively can make the roots waterlogged and leads to plant death. So, you should prioritize the type of soil that is loose and drained quickly.
Nutrient Variety
The soil mix creates a suitable environment for succulent to grow. Moreover, some products come with additional nutrients to support the plant during its development. You can keep this in mind when choosing the right product for your need.
Organic Vs. Inorganic Matter
Peat moss, processed softwood bark, coconut coir are some organic ingredients you often find in your succulent soil mixture. They help the water come into the soil as fast as possible and also retain moisture. In some cases, organic matters keep excess water and don’t let them drain away for a long time. That’s why you might need to add more perlite into them to enhance drainage.
With inorganic matter, you don’t have to worry much about aeration and drainage ability.
Indoor Vs. Outdoor
Soil mixture used for outdoor plants is often exposed to the sun, making it easier to drain and easier to aerate. Therefore, you can go a bit easier when purchasing soil for outdoor succulents than indoor ones.
How To Care For Succulents
Succulents are easy to take care of, so you don’t have to spend much time and energy growing them. However, there are some rules of thumb you should keep in mind, as I mention below.
Watering
Provide a moderate amount of water for succulents. They are desert-like plants, so their ability to withstand drought is relatively good. Remember to water less in winter.
Sunbathing
Sunlight is the most vital part when growing succulents. Therefore, you should leave them in a place with a lot of sunlight, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.
Mold Protection
When the humidity is high, they tend to be attacked by mold. First, you need to remove damaged leaves and then repot the plant. You can use fluorescent light to keep the plant from getting wet.
FAQs
There are several questions about the best potting soil for succulents. Let’s explore all the answers.
My Top Pick
Reading my above article, you will get more valuable information about the 15 best potting soil for succulents products in the market.
I hope you find it helpful and will soon buy the best stuff to start growing your own home garden.
And the winning product for me is Bonsai Jack Jacks Gritty Mix #111 Potting Soil For Succulents for its effectiveness and nutrition.
Share with me your feedback about the best potting soil for succulents so we will have a chance to discuss more.
