The Best Potting Soil for Succulents to Thrive Your Plants

To ensure your succulent garden thrives, it’s essential to provide your plants with high-quality potting soil.

Moreover, these aren’t regular plants, and they don’t require the same things as some others in your garden.

One thing to consider when choosing a soil mix for succulents is its absorption properties.

As we know, succulents don’t require too much water, and that’s why the soil you use needs to be able to drain well.

There are numerous potting soils sold on Amazon that are specifically designed for succulent plants.

Nonetheless, you might get lost in all of the available choices thus, we’d recommend you go through our list and get a better understanding of what is the best potting soil for succulents.

Read on!

What is Soil Drainage?

You’ve probably noticed that we keep mentioning the importance of proper soil drainage when it comes to succulent plants.

Soil drainage refers to the process by which water drains out of the soil.

Once you water a plant, some of the water should come out of the bottom, but most has to be taken up by the plant or evaporate.

Succulent plants and cacti require different soil from other regular plants. As we mentioned earlier, they’re plants that originate from arid or desert areas, which receive little rainfall, and the soil quality is generally poor.

It goes without saying that recreating the natural environment is essential for plant growth, and the most important factor is the amount of water.

What’s the Best Soil for Succulents?

When it comes to succulent potting, it’s essential to consider where succulents naturally grow.

They’re used and have adapted to environments with limited rainfall, allowing them to survive with very little water.

Once you have these facts straightened out, you’ll understand that the key to good succulent soil is the amount of water it can hold.

It has to be just perfect, since too much or too little may damage your plants.

What Ingredients are Succulent Soil Made of?

Most soil mixes for succulents contain organic matter and peat moss as the primary ingredients.

However, because it dries out quickly and can’t absorb enough water, peat moss can’t be used on its own.

This is why a good mixture includes other ingredients, such as finely ground bark or fiber. That’ll help the water penetrate the roots faster.

The third important component of every good soil for succulents is an inorganic substance that allows water to soak into the soil more quickly and drain out efficiently.

These inorganic ingredients can be perlite, pumice, crushed granite, or clay.

How to Recognize if the Drainage Level is Good?

Now that we know drainage is essential, we need to determine if the soil we intend to purchase provides optimal water drainage.

It’s a gardener’s rule of thumb that the soil of your succulent has to be bone dry within 1 to 1.5 days after watering.

To test the dryness, you can stick your finger an inch into the soil. The soil has to feel dry and warm.

Why is Wet Soil Bad for Succulents?

We often say that wet soil is bad for succulents, but we haven’t explained why.

The answer’s quite simple: Wet soil can cause root rot. In general, this is a risk for all types of plants, but succulents can suffer the most.

Due to their natural environment, they’re not accustomed to being wet for an extended period.

Moreover, plants breathe through their roots, utilizing the carbon dioxide and oxygen present in the soil.

That’s why soil aeration and worms, which can break up the soil, are essential for healthy root growth.

Knowing this, you’ll understand that if the soil is wet, the air can’t flow freely, and the plant has to “hold its breath” until the soil is dry again so it can breathe.

However, if this takes too long, the root will drown and begin to rot.

When to Repot My Succulents?

If your succulents are currently thriving in their current soil, then we recommend not repotting them just yet.

To make it simple, if the soil works-don’t change it.

However, if you notice that your succulents are starting to die out but can’t figure out why, maybe consider the condition of the soil.

Even though changing your soil mix can’t solve all issues, it’s good to know that your plants will feel better in well-draining soil.

Why Should I Repot My Store-Bought Succulent?

Furthermore, as soon as you purchase a new succulent and want to add it to your lovely collection, ensure you repot it in fresh soil as soon as possible.

Try to remove all the soil from the store pot, as our experience has shown that most problems with succulents arise from not changing the original soil.

There are two primary issues associated with store-bought succulents.

Firstly, they can be root-bound, and their roots will fill out most of the pot; therefore, simply removing them to a bigger pot won’t solve the problem.

Secondly, most nurseries sell succulents in the soil, which is not ideal for long-term growth outside of a greenhouse.

This is because large growers typically use all-purpose soil for all their plants, as they require a mix that works well with a variety of plants.

Additionally, baby succulents require more water, and dense soil is ideal for them at this stage.

How to Know if a Succulent is Getting the Needed Care?

To understand whether your plant is getting proper care and if the soil you’re using is good, you might want to consider a few tell-tell signs:

• Mushy leaves can be a result of excessive watering. This either means you’re watering your plant too often or the soil mix you’re using doesn’t provide good drainage.

• Rotting roots are a result of excessive water and appear due to improper drainage.

• The change in leaf color usually indicates that the plant is not receiving enough light.

• Mold on the leaves can be caused by either excessive humidity or overwatering. That’s why you should avoid watering with a spray bottle, since it gets water on the leaves

• Thin leaves appear as a result of not enough sunlight, and the plant is stretching to get more.

Potting Soil for Succulents Review

1. Hoffman Organic Succulent Soil

Highlighted Features

• Organic mixture
• Good for jungle & desert cacti
• Good drainage properties
• Professional formula

The Hoffman Cactus & Succulent mix is a professional formula designed to meet the drainage needs of your cacti and succulents.

Moreover, the soil encourages maximum blossom and root development, and the pH balance is ideal for both desert and jungle cacti.

This product comes in a 4-quart size, and detailed instructions are provided on the packaging.

Hoffman’s soil mixture is an organic, high-quality product that’ll give the best results in no time.

You’ll be surprised at how fast your plants will start to flourish.

2. Natural Succulent Soil Mix by Perfect Plants

Highlighted Features

• Fresh & organic
• Professionally mixed
• Proper drainage
• Re-sealable bag

This amazing 4-quart succulent soil is an organic and fresh product specially formulated to provide the ideal balance of moisture and air to your plants.

It’s a professional formula that provides all the necessary nutrients and proper soil conditions for optimal plant growth.

Moreover, the soil can drain out the ideal amount of water for your delicate succulents.

As we mentioned earlier, succulents require special care, and maintaining a balanced watering system is crucial for their overall health.

The mixture includes garden coir, perlite, sand, and composted pine bark, and it works well with all types of succulent plants.

Once you’re done using it, you can easily store it away with the practical, re-sealable zip bag.

3. The Next Gardener Organic Succulent & Cactus Soil Mix

Highlighted Features

• Professional formula
• Organic mixture
• Lightweight
• pH balance 5.5

You can be certain this soil mix is of top quality because it’s imported from Denmark, which is known as the flower kingdom.

This 100% organic mixture provides your succulent plants with the ideal amount of water, allowing you to grow your favorite plants with minimal effort.

All succulent-quality soils offer great drainage properties to maintain optimal moisture levels, promote better air circulation for the plants, and result in healthy growth.

Moreover, this soil is vermin-free and will not cause additional threats and damage to your plants.

It works well with various types of plants, such as Crassula ovata, also known as donkey’s tail, and other bonsai species.

4. Miracle-Gro Cactus Palm Potting Mix

Highlighted Features

• Fast draining 
• 8-quart package
• Expert formula
• For plants in containers

When it comes to soil quality, we can confidently say that Miracle-Gro is one of the best-known brands on the market.

Their formula for cacti, palms, citrus, and other succulents is an excellent product enriched with plant food, which can feed your plants for up to 6 months.

One of the best things is the sand and perlite ingredients which make the soil less compact –and this helps with fast draining.

Fast draining is essential to avoid over-watering and plant damage.

The package you receive is an 8-quart one, so you’ll be getting high-quality products plus value for your money.

5. Fat Plants San Diego Premium Soil

Highlighted Features

• Rich in nutrients
• Premium quality
• pH balanced
• Optimal drainage

This potting soil by Fat Plants San Diego is specially formulated to enrich your plants, promote stronger root systems, and prevent them from rotting.

It was specifically designed to aid in the growth of cacti and succulent plants, both in indoor and outdoor conditions.

This handmade mix is sold in a reusable bag in 3 convenient sizes, and it’s perfect for seedlings, vegetables, bonsai, and other plants.

What’s more, it’s a slow-release formula which’ll feed your plants for the next 6 months, so you can be certain they’re getting all the nutrients they need.

6. Espoma Organic Cactus Mix

Highlighted Features

• All-natural mix
• Good for cacti & succulents
• Retains moisture
• Enhanced with Myco-tone water

This all-natural cacti mix by Espoma is good for cacti, citrus, and succulent plants.

Because it’s enhanced with a Myco-tone water formula, it can easily retain moisture and improve the airflow, which is essential for healthy root growth.

Additionally, this blend also contains peat humus, perlite, sand, and sphagnum peat moss. This nutrient-packed mixture does wonders for the texture of your succulents.

Plus, it can reduce drought stress if the weather conditions get too dry for the succulent’s taste.

You’ll be happy to hear that the mixture comes in 4-quart bags, and it’s also available for purchase in bulk.

The manufacturer sells the product in a resealable bag, allowing you to easily store it away when not in use.

7. Bliss Garden Organic Succulent & Cactus Soil

Highlighted Features

• Premium blend
• Handmade
• Great price
• Fast shipping

You’ll appreciate this soil mixture because it’ll instantly make your plants thrive.

It’s full of good biological ingredients that’ll give a strong kick to your desert plants. This is a premium, handmade blend that provides ideal drainage.

Some of its main ingredients are coconut coir, peat moss, perlite, worm castings, shale rock, mycorrhizae, and horticultural charcoal.

Furthermore, the 4-quart packaging is available at a great price, and the seller offers fast shipping options.

Experienced gardeners who are particular about the products they use for their plants confirm that this is one of the best products on Amazon, both in terms of value and quality.

8. Succulent & Cactus Soil Mix by Superfly Bonsai

Highlighted Features

• Pre-mixed & ready to use
• Promotes water retention
• Non-organic substrate
• Easy re-sealable bag

If you’re an amateur gardener and need a product with good quality that’s easy to use, then you’ve found the right purchase.

This Superfly Bonsai soil is a premixed and ready-to-use soil mix.

It’s been sifted before bagging, and it contains ¼ hard Japanese akadama, ¼ USA pumice, ¼ New Zealand pine bark, and ¼ haydite.

Due to its ingredients, it promotes excellent water retention and drainage, and it’s specifically prepared for succulents and cacti.

This isn’t an organic mix, but rather a substrate that, in its natural form, has been found to provide ideal drainage, water retention, nutrient uptake, and airflow.

Moreover, the practical zip bag enables you to use the product repeatedly and store it away during the off-season.

Lastly, if you’re not satisfied with the product, the manufacturer offers a 100% money-back guarantee.

9. TerraGreen Creations Succulent Planter Soil Kit

Highlighted Features

• Organic soil
• DIY Kit
• Great for gifts
• Made for succulents

One of the best features of this TerraGreen Creations product is the DIY all-inclusive kit, which has all you need to help you build a nice-looking terrarium.

It features easy-to-follow instructions, and all you need to do is add your succulent plant.

The kit includes washed pea gravel, organic soil, an activated charcoal bag, decorative exotic river rock, and decorative green sheet moss.

When purchasing this product, keep in mind that it’s an affordable option, as purchasing all the included items individually would result in a higher cost.

Additionally, it can be a great birthday gift for friends who love succulents or want to learn how to create a terrarium.

10. XGarden Cactus & Succulent Soil Mix

Highlighted Features

• All-natural
• Fit for all succulents
• Excellent drainage
• Controlled pH

When potting succulents and cacti, it’s essential to use a specific type of soil designed for these types of plants.

This formula is a great mix that’ll make your plants flourish.

It contains peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite, which have been blended especially for maximum drainage.

Furthermore, this combination promotes healthy root growth, and the balanced pH level only enhances its value.

XGarden is a trusted brand among experienced gardeners, so you can rest assured you’ll be getting a top-notch quality product.

Final Thoughts

By now, you must’ve realized that taking care of succulents is a delicate and thoughtful task.

You can’t expect that you’ll buy a pretty flower and it’ll grow on its own.

As we mentioned earlier, one of the essential needs of succulent plants is a proper drainage system that mimics their natural environment, thereby encouraging healthy growth.

This is where a good soil mix comes into place. Our article features the 10 best potting soils for succulents on Amazon.

Nevertheless, if you’re struggling with the choice, we’re here to help, and we’d recommend without a doubt the TerraGreen DIY all-inclusive kit as our top pick.

This product contains all the necessary ingredients to create your own terrarium, making it a great project for you and your kids to enjoy together or a perfect gift for your plant-loving friends.

You’ll get high-quality products at a great price.

Furthermore, if you’re looking for a more affordable option, we recommend the professional formula by Next Gardener.

It’s a product imported from Denmark that guarantees its quality.

Moreover, it’s lightweight and offers a good pH level, which is suitable for various types of succulents.

Happy Gardening!