DIY SUCCULENT SOIL MIX & what to look for in pre-made mixes

[@censusgary]

Perlite comes with a lot of fine, abrasive dust that is easy to inhale, and can cause problems such as silicosis. Whenever you’re handling it, use a respirator, or at least a dust mask.

[@choux8372]

Thanks so much for the advice!! I'll be more careful when I handle it

[@sparkfishes]

Vermiculite is even worse for dust

[@ryansabstractart3518]

I hate perlite, I have to steer people away from it all the time when finding additives for their dracenaes. It's a good source of fluoride which can cause fluoride burn in fluoride sensitive plants.

[@bhumphries1360]

@@ryansabstractart3518 I didn't know that. Thank you!

[@justjessica85]

Thank you! I was having trouble breathing actually

[@markdcmountp]

I love how clear and thorough you are when teaching and explaining in your videos 👍🏼

[@abbasduman6963]

Note that the more grit you use for your plant, the more fertilizer you generally need for it.

[@phenixwars1]

This is THE BEST soil mix video I've seen. And I've watched tons. I've watched this video about 3 times already just to compare what you suggest to what others suggest, and you make it so simple and affordable too. Chicken grit is super affordable! And the ratio breakdown is so easy to understand. Also, side question: what is the name of the succulent behind you, on your right, the small one that stands up straight (small cream-colored pot, right hand side in front of the large pot)? I bought a similar one at the grocery store, but it didn't have a name and I wasn't sure if it was etiolated or if that's how it's supposed to look. Thanks!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Oh thank you so much for the kind words and we're so glad the video was useful! The stemmed succulent in the cream pot is Crassula Ivory Towers: mtncr.co/towers

[@phenixwars1]

@@Mountaincrestgardens Thank you!! 🤗

[@reeserogers3093]

Simple Recipe: • 1 part Potting Soil • 2 parts Perlite You can mix and match using the following… Organic matter: potting soil, forest products, compost, coir Non-organic matter: course sand (no beach sand, no salt), perlite, gravel (rinse off dust first), decomposed granite, chicken grit Thank you for sharing this recipe. I'm looking forward to using this =)

[@annieschreck7938]

Perfectly put! Wish you could summarize all our videos

[@peipeitan7557]

Watching this on 11/4 at 5:30 a.m. pacific time because I can't deal with reality. Thank you for taking my mind off of things for 15 minutes. And I second the comment "Bonsai Jack or go home."

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Happy to provide some distraction! And yay! Glad you're also a Bonsai Jack fan!

[@loriguercio4374]

And i'm watching this on 12/14/2024 at 11:40 pm Eastern Time because i'm a newbie when comes to succulents 😄 and a kill one to many, lol...Thank u for the great video!!

[@CarmencitaTiradoJayandme21]

I don’t even know who this lady is but because of her positive vibe and love for succulents my broke self went on their website and ordered Hardy succulents. I spent 50 bucks but this lady made me do it LOL. Keep up the great work lady. I’m watching ecstatically!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Yay! You're going to love hardy succulents! They're the resilient landscaping plant we all deserve. Enjoy! Annie

[@CarmencitaTiradoJayandme21]

@@Mountaincrestgardens thank you! I can’t wait to get it!!

[@Love_Dennie]

I really like her. She’s an amazing teacher. I had to subscribe. ❤

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Aw thank you!

[@rebeccaguyton8687]

I recently received my first order of succulents from Mountain Crest Gardens which led me to your video. Your energy is so positive and motivating. I have chickens and an abundance of chicken grit. I will amend my soil before repotting my new arrivals. Everything I ordered from Mountain Crest looks great with the exception of the String of turtles. The turtles look very pale. This morning I moved them closer to the window. This evening I plan to repot the turtles and string of pearls using amended soil. Thanks for sharing.

[@annieschreck7938]

Oh thank you so much! And you did the exact right thing for your Turtles. They can go pale in a dark box during shipping, but will color right back up as they re-acclimate to sun. Enjoy!

[@montseromero]

I can only find Chicken Grit with probiotics in it. Will that hurt my succulents?

[@AnthonyJRobotics]

Would bird grit do the same? I suppose they are similar if not the same?

[@NaumanHashmi-ht8rw]

Just started gardening and after lot of search about succulents care, found your vdo. So we'll explained: simple but comprehensive! Great job.

[@jamesadado9678]

Hi all. I have been a cannabis grower since my wife came down with MS. Started growing with Fox Farm Happy Frog (potting soil) mixed with perlite at about 75\25 mix. Moved to Coco Coir mixed 70\30 with perlite. When I discovered MCG and began buying their plants (and now own MANY) I changed my mix to 60\40 (still coco perlite mix). Now this information here says 2 parts perlite to 1 of coco (all I use for my indoor plants now). I will give that a try. Thank you!

[@tessamarie1495]

I’ve been searching for these answers about soil for so long. All the best info in just one video

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Hooray, glad it was useful!

[@JenPolishAholic]

I was watching this to mix my own soil only to get to the end where you say you love the mix I already bought specifically for my Lithops (and love!). Good to know I picked something good!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

You did! Bonsai Jack's is the best for cacti and mesembs like Lithops!

[@kimberlycornelius7911]

Thank you I live on beach and was I got this ! Went to landscaping to get right sand. And other ingredients

[@ally9432]

Thank you so much for this upload!! Exactly what I needed to know. You’re so knowledgeable, well spoken, and you break everything down so simply and quickly. So refreshing after filtering through all the novice “experts” out there. Thank you again for this channel. I’ll def be subscribing 🥰

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Oh thank you so much!

[@linngal5]

Very clear, concise and thorough. Very informative and pleasant voice.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thank you kindly!

[@TheBeanzo]

Thank you. Ive been trying to get clarity on this through many videos. This is by far the best video. So very well done !!!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thank you and so glad it was helpful!

[@deehermione943]

I never took care of a succulent before but I'm trying to save a dying succulent from the store. I have tons of coir from my indoor plants and my front yard is all rock and sand!( I live in the desert) I'm going to try sanitizing some of front yard and mix it with some coir and see what happens, before going store bought. 🤷🏾‍♀️ glad I saw this!

[@theemeraldcity94]

Thank you 😊 I really enjoyed this very informative tutorial. I believe you have given my succulents a fighting chance. Just would like to add that the way you delivered the information was very professional and concise.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thank you so much and we're so glad it was useful!

[@pamraley8311]

I've just got into succulents and have a few babies that came in 1/1/2 inch pots so I'm checking them everyday and love to see that they've grown in a few weeks. I loved your instructions about making the proper soil mixture: now I have to check the bag of pre-made cactus soil I got at a our good local nursery and hope it measures up. I'm in NH so we'll have plenty of sun for the next 5 months, then we get to a northern NE winter; evening at 3 pm. Crossing that bridge later. Thanks also to Abbas who notes the more grit, the more fertilizer.

[@aidaandrade7857]

I have a question. I have a pup hiworthia zebra succulent, I’m new at this, and she has no roots and I have the bonsai Jack mix, is this okay to use or should I mix it with potting soil? She is not growing and her leaves are soft and at the base a little wrinkly like and soft. What should I do?

[@shaniar9073]

Break off a leaf to propagate😊 if the whole thing is bad. More succulents will grow if you place them on soil and mist about weekly. If the leaves are squishy or look like about the burst it’s over watered. Usually the bottom of succulent leaves will brown , shrivel and fall off when they grow up. Otherwise bonsai mix works well as succulent/ cacti mix. Good luck 🤞

[@jelly56973]

Thanks so much for this video. I have been using orchid soil mix and adding perlite to it and adding granite as a top dressing. As they are in an east facing window they are doing pretty well with watering every 2 to 3 weeks. So far no problems but will be changing my soil for future plants.

[@idk.3158]

Also perlite is not needed, you can use pumice, i have to use a lot because i need well draining soil its rainy season and rained for several days in a row in both morning and afternoon- night.

[@silentstarz16]

Thank you so much for going over the part about which ingredients in ready made succulent potting mix to avoid and how to test the mix to see how long it takes to dry out. I had no idea the one I currently use is making some of my succulent propagations too wet, which is why some of them are rotting...

[@annieschreck7938]

So glad it was helpful!

[@mabuhayPinay]

Thank you, I took lots of notes. No need to watch another video on this topic.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Ah that's so nice of you to say. Glad it was helpful!

[@msavina9129]

Darn, i wish I saw this video yesterday. My garden shop didnt have coarse sand so I ended up buying a bag of perlite for $8! I wish i knew to head to the hardware store instead. Womp womp. Well at least i know now and won’t have to cover my succs or bring indoors when it rains.

[@ryansabstractart3518]

I'd go for a pumice over a coarse sand any day. But either or will work, so if you done gine the coarse sand, go for the pumice!

[@lmariebowen9749]

I absolutely love your well organized presentation and your knowledge of the various products is really impressive. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

You are so welcome and glad it was helpful!

[@kaume584]

"mock planting" such a good idea. I watched several youtube about repotting cactus, but I wish I watched this before repotting my cactus, it is getting yellowish even though I was not overwatering. I used the commercial cactus soil I got in a garden centre, but I should have mixed much more grits, not just dressing on surface. Everything explained so clearly.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thank you and glad it was helpful!

[@joachimsingh2929]

I started using coco coir as I was curious as to if it actually made any noticeable effe ct. So I order a compacted brick and I underestimated the insane volume change! A lot of aeration, stays as an open structure when moist(not drenched), some shrinkage as all organics do but to a much lesser extent, it also made my substrate dry out more evenly. One thing i REALLY love about it is that it distributes the water evenly without me having to individually make sure all the 2 months old seedlings gets water. Now the absolutely best thing about it is how fast they germinate, it dramatically increased my

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

That's wonderful! And way to use scientific observation and really pay attention to your soil's characteristics! Happy growing!

[@youandi3665]

Now i easily Understand what was more important to create my soilmix what succulent need

[@mollypitcher9380]

EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL VIDEO!!!!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thank you so much!

[@abbasduman6963]

I mix compost from our garden wirh sand and fine gravel from the river and this works great for my succulents. Compost has many nutrients and microorganisms in it, so it is very good to use in your soil mix. If you do compost your kitchen scraps and have access to sand and fine gravel from a river you can get a good soil mix for free.

[@annieschreck7938]

Sounds like a gorgeous, effective succulent mix!

[@thereselena]

This was so much fun to watch, thank you!! I live in Minnesota and have recently fallen in love with succulents. I learned a lot watching this video (dang, I have made some mistakes with my soil but intend to fix that.) and look forward to more. Thank you, Annie!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Oh thank you, Therese! Growing succulents in Minnesota is no small feat!

[@negin6507]

So glad I found this video. I've killed a few succulents in the past and that made me stay away from them. Now I know it's because of too much organic matter. I'll give it another shot!

[@annieschreck7938]

Oh I'm so glad it was useful! Rooting for you on the next ones!

[@patente_pinoys]

Hello Mountain Crest Gardening, I have recently grown interests into succulents. And watching your videos definitely gave me some ideas and I enjoy watching your contents. Greetings from Italy.

[@annieschreck7938]

Grazie!

[@patente_pinoys]

Prego! 😍😁

[@Jurisrachel]

This was super informative, thank you. Last year I separated out some thriving succulents, repotted them into lovely container arrangements ... and killed nearly all of them. I'd gifted my mom a lovely arrangement, in an antique glass bowl. She'd guiltily put off telling me it was near-death, thinking it was her fault. 🥺 Little did she know, I'm the botanical angel of death! I just figured I could figure it out without researching it, first. 🙄 I don't know what I was thinking. So now I know, insufficient drainage/wrong soil. Now I can hopefully save those that've hung onto dear life!

[@annieschreck7938]

Oh I'm glad it was helpful! I probably learn the most from the plants that I've killed. It makes better plant parents for the next one!

[@eileenwhite5792]

Thank you! Your video has helped me to better appreciate how to water and that it's okay for the water to quickly drain. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping to educate me!!. I can't wait to buy Bonsai Jack!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

So glad it was helpful! And enjoy that Bonsai Jack--it is SUPER well-draining :)

[@renaefoltz5063]

What an informative video!! I learned so much. For gravel, can you use pea pebbles or does that retain to much moisture?

[@Dunbarton]

I live in Riverside CA -- 60 miles east of Los Angeles -- and the summer temp exceed 100 degrees F and the winter temps may drop to 20 degrees F. About 8 years ago, I drastically pruned all of the various potted plants on my patio, washed off all of the soil from their roots, pruned the roots and re-potted the shrubs in a modified "Al's Gritty Mix" [equal portions of 1/8"-1/4" redwood bark, Turface MVP and grit (#5)]. Except for applying all-purpose granular fertilizer several years ago, I have done nothing to the gritty mix. Now, the shrubs look like they need some plant nutrients. What do you recommend?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Nice! You might try a diluted azalea fertilizer. Like azaleas, succulents like a little bit of acidity. Look for one with a balanced NPK ratio. Other gardeners have also had luck with Miracle Gro Quick Start, diluted to half strength.

[@JannatJannat56]

Thank u for such a complete video .I wantef to grow succulent from a long time as mu farmers market sells very nice seedlings which I really wanted to buy .

[@SlavicGuitar]

Excellent video. Thank you so much for making it!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Glad you liked it!

[@margerysienes2126]

New subscriber. I started loving succulents and beginning to be my hobby.Just planted my Ist succulents yesterday. Lots of mistakes made, starting with the soil I used ( cactus mix with no perlite) .Hoping they will survive. If not , I'll start all over again , using your mixture. Trial and error. I live in South Texas ,very hot summer and very humid. I bought my succulents at Lowe's. I will definitely order succulents from Mountain Crest, really good informations. Thank you.

[@annieschreck7938]

Welcome to the world of succulents! And I love your attitude!

[@grahamwhitman5515]

Thank you for the valuable information. I have been through lots of videos regarding succulent soil mixes and found yours's the best. With what I had learnt from you, I subscribed so as not to miss out on any new information 😄

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

So nice of you and glad it was helpful! Annie

[@DayLovesPTV]

What do you suggest for string of pearls? More grit or more organic matter?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

A little bit more organic matter. In most conditions, people find that their String of Pearls needs a bit more regular water than other succulents because they have such slender stems. More organic matter will help keep them quenched. Good question!

[@beckythebealge]

Can pumice and/or lava rick also be used as mineral grit?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Absolutely! Wish I'd mentioned it here. Annie

[@markmattingly2929]

I love your videos they're crazy informative and they're crazy simple I'm getting ready to go out and buy a bunch of things for early spring to help my succulents take off I just began about 2 years ago loving these little green creatures and I have went forward ever since I'm very very amused at the different soils and the different ways that KZbinrs do it but you seem to be very knowledgeable thank you for sharing this with us this means a lot to me I'm going out and I'm going to listen to what you said about the soil and I will check back with you in about 90 days

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thank you so much and glad the videos are useful! Happy growing this spring!

[@markmattingly2929]

I am an artist here in Louisville Kentucky and I primarily do driftwood art I also am a woodcraftsman that has been reclaiming old dilapidated barns for over 40 years and making art out of them I incorporate succulents and air plants in with about 50% of my driftwood art I would love to send you some photos if you could privately give me an email address of your company I would like some input as far as properly maintaining these live art pieces if possible I am very sure that you are a extremely busy person and that's a good thing. Hope to connect soon and share thank you have a great day.

[@lisabarnes5340]

THE best video on succulent soil, and I'veseen alot! So well organized and explained. So many others assume you know what all these terms mean. I am fairly new to gardening and also new to succulents. I had so many "ah ha" moments watching this. Although I've had success, I haven't had any luck with a Tiger Jaw inside on my only windowsill (north). I think maybe I was overwatering, as they rot from the base. Might try again using my Jacks Gritty mix (I did that right.😉). Thank you so much for your educational videos. Love them and have subscribed. Now, I'm going to watch this video again.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Ah thank you so much for your kind words, Lisa! And we're so glad the video was helpful. All the best to you and your Tiger Jaws!

[@pepperspot805]

Very helpful. I'm in zone 5 WY and only plant outside in the WY dirt, and only buy cold hardy succulents that will survive. Most of my plants have come from Mountain Crest and they love it here.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Love it! When you find what works, stick with it!

[@slem8431]

I am SO glad I found your video!! The Uni Gro Cactus Mix is the exact one I bought and I noticed it was SO soggy even though I ammended it with perlite!! Thank you for all your tips!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

So glad we could help! It is so frustrating to us too that these rich, moisture-holding soil are being marketed as succulent and cactus mixes.

[@mariajenny]

Loved this video. I’ve been making my own and your tips will help me make some slight changes to my recipe. All my succulents are outdoors until winter. Then they come into the garage. I have pots and an in ground garden. It’s been a rough summer for my in ground succulents due to the Texas heat and drought.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

So glad it was helpful and all the best to you and your plants in the hot, dry summer!

[@jamesmacmillan4014]

That was really educational. Thank you so much

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Timetraveler1111MN]

4:50 rinse the gravel -many good tips 🌎 lover ❤

[@kyletourville7147]

What do jade plants need? Can I just use bonsai jacks gritty mix alone or would you mix in organic matter?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

You can! Jade plants are very flexible and resilient, so you'll find people growing them indoors with everything ranging from Bonsai Jack Gritty mix to standard potting soil. Just be sure to adjust your watering frequency and only water after the soil is completely dry. With Bonsai Jack that will be more often, while a less gritty mix will need less frequent water.

[@kyletourville7147]

@@Mountaincrestgardens ok! I mixed in bonsai jacks gritty mix with cactus/desert soil. And I’ve heard that you should only water when the leaves are flexible like a taco.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

@@kyletourville7147 precisely!

[@qveenissac]

The most helpful and comprehensive vid on succulent soil I've seen. Love that you have a super simple specific (low budget) mix idea but advised on innumerable SPECIFIC substitutions and alternatives depending on climate, budget & involvement AND what they do/don't do. A+!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Oh thank you so much! And so glad it was helpful!

[@MsWinterlife]

Thanks for the information. We received some baby succulents as presents and all we had on hand was potting mix for raising seeds and cuttings, guess that is not ideal soil on this occasion…

[@annieschreck7938]

Works in a pinch, but yes, ultimately you'll want something with more mineral grit to prevent rot.

[@mreverybody1150]

If you don't mind the expense, 'Grow Buddha Cactus and Succulent soil.' is one of the best. I then use a top dressing of Horticultural Lava Rock Pebbles.

[@whothehellismalachi6270]

Could I use sand from a nearby river and gravel from my driveway thats been crushed? And is there something I could use instead of perlite?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

You could, just make sure the gravel is about 1/8" to 1/4" in diameter. And pumice is a great alternative to perlite!

[@whothehellismalachi6270]

@@Mountaincrestgardens ok thank you so much!

[@barbmolseed3557]

Well done! I'm on my way, just purchased 20 little succulents

[@jesseauspitz]

Can used coffee grounds be used for the organic matter?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Not as-is. Large volumes of coffee grounds in the soil will compact and become hydrophobic (water-repelling). But you could put your grounds in a compost pile to develop a loam with good texture and a good balance of nutrients.

[@NaumanHashmi-ht8rw]

Just wanted to ask a question. Where I live, perlite is not easily available. Can we use rice hulls in place of perlite or coconut coir???

[@Mbxoom]

Comprehensive educational review. 👌

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thanks so much!

[@cindymeredith6211]

Very helpful information. Thank You.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheresaCroft]

You are rocking it Anne! Great voice!!! This is your aunt! Theresa Croft

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Aww thanks, Theresa!

[@moonedward63]

That was a great educational video. Very logical presentation. Thanks.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

You are so welcome!

[@nhu-ytran9730]

How do you protect your succulents from mealybugs? Would you suggest potassium permanganate? Thank you!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Spray your plant thoroughly with 30-70% isopropyl alcohol solution everyday until the mealybugs are gone.

[@southtexasSunandsea]

1:2 potting soil : grit can this be used for string of pearls

[@CaracalKeithrafferty]

Tha k yoh Mojntain Crast Gardens for this fine explanatip

[@aprilbatley9265]

Ty so much for this video, i finally took the plunge and got a mexican hens and chicks variety echeveria demenmsis i spelled that wrong. My question is with have miracle grow cactus citrus mix and half perlite. If it takes more than two days to dry out then do i need to add more perlite?????

[@annieschreck7938]

Congratulations April! Half and half is usually plenty, so it's likely not drying out as fast just because it's winter. Provided the pot has a drainage hole (it has a drainage hole, right?!). My first steps would be to try to get more light and airflow to the plant. If it's still not drying out, then add more mineral grit. Regardless, Echeveria generally don't need frequent watering in winter, so you can go a while without watering until the soil is completely dry and the upper leaves just start to feel flexible. Good luck!

[@aprilbatley9265]

@@annieschreck7938 yes it has drajnage holes, ty . Im just trying be wise and get a jump of knowledge so i sont have as much trial and error . Lol thank u for ur time and may God bless u

[@Christophercashwell]

Annie I live on the ga fla Alabama line , I've tried to find chicken grit at all the ace hardware stores and the farm store , it's crazy they have everything around here' like oyster shell , but no course sand , I've turned to Amazon , to get bonsai jack, and had perlite and loggees fortified light potting mix , do I will use little of that as my addition to bonsai jack and perlite , and order from mountain crest before I go to Lowes are home Depot 60 Miles drive, it's just so refocus the all the ace hardware stores didn't have even corse sand around my area, thank you for the information you gave me , GOD bless you and your staff

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Oh my goodness, you really went to the effort! Well done finding Bonsai Jack, perlite, and potting mix--those can all work perfectly for succulents. Happy growing!

[@justjessica85]

Would you avoid potting soil that contained peat moss? So many succulent ones come with this (which is bad) but I wonder if I should avoid it entirely if I'm mixing using your recipe?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Correct. Ideally, do not use a potting soil that includes peat. Unfortunately, it has gotten very difficult to find peat-free soil mixes, so a lot of people are just having to make it work, in the shrewd words of Tim Gunn. Annie

[@tinabuck5260]

Hei. I have seen your video and I love it. Thank you very much for this video, you have really taught me a lot. I live in Europe in Denmark so I am very interestet ind the recipe for ekstra gritty soil, because it rains a lot. How can I cet it?

[@Tazylou]

With the bonsai mix, how often should you water ? And do you recommend with Jade ?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Great question! Because watering frequency varies with your growing conditions, size of pot, type of succulent, time of year, etc., instead of one specific frequency, we recommend deeply drenching the soil only when it's completely dry and your plant's leaves start to feel flexible. Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix can be a great option for indoor jade plants, especially if you've struggled with rot and pests in the past. Just be sure to thoroughly soak the whole soil surface or bottom water in a larger container to make sure the soil mix is fully drenched. If you still find it too rapidly draining, a 50/50 mix with a regular succulent soil from a garden center will also do the trick.

[@RAM-Shu]

Great video. Very informative! What about charcoal, though?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thanks! We've never planted with charcoal, but some succulent growers do use it in place of perlite.

[@BooglePoots]

I managed to find a gritty mix that's almost identical to Bonsai Jack but for a much better price, but the pieces of inorganic material are much smaller in the one I bought. Will that still work just as well as with the bigger pieces? I'm going to mix it with the soil that my plants from Mountain Crest came from to stretch it a bit more, but I'll also be adding it to a regular succulent soil too (Dr. Earth Succulent soil, which seems to have a nice organic base mix.) I'm in Pennsylvania, but they'll be indoors and it's around 60-70% humidity in the room they'll be in. I recently got an absolutely _gorgeous_ order from Mountain Crest that I want to do right by! I lost over a dozen succulents to root rot from a perlite mistake and I really don't want to lose these ones too. I got a few large mystery gasteria and haworthia that are just perfect and deserve the perfect soil to thrive in!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Yay, so glad you love your new plants and want to treat them right! I'm not familiar with that soil, but now I really want to check it out. From the sound of it, it should be great for indoor succulents. The other thing you could do to combat humidity is to plant in unglazed terracotta pots (with drainage holes of course). Now I'm off to look for some of this soil... Annie

[@BooglePoots]

@@Mountaincrestgardens Thanks so much for the response! The mix really does look great, but like I said the pieces are smaller - it's not really _that_ much smaller, but I wasn't sure how much particle size mattered (tiny pieces/dust pieces of perlite is what sneakily murdered half my succulents by making the dirt secretly moldy so I'm super paranoid about it). It has a mix of pine bark fines, calcine clay and coarse river sand (so the same as Bonsai Jack except with river sand instead of the montmorillonite), and you get a bit more in the bag for a similar price - I got it on Amazon and it's called TinyRoots succulent soil! I'm mixing it with that Dr. Earth succulent soil, and I ended up getting some lava rocks just because I needed something to kinda bulk everything up so I'm not using a pound of soil mix for each plant. I did stock up on naked terracotta pots with a hole in the bottoms, and some good lights for the fussy ones, so I'll be starting in on the _very_ tedious task of repotting dozens of plants that I literally just potted a month or 2 ago. Like I said though, the stuff I got from you guys is all ridiculously gorgeous and literally every single gasteria and haworthia I got has _multiple_ pups growing off of them soon just want to make sure I'm not killing entire families of beautiful plants! (One of the mystery gasterias I got had fallen out of it's pot during shipping, and when I went to put it back in I found an entire second grown-up offshoot that had apparently been growing on the _bottom_ of the pot, squished between the dirt and the plastic but somehow thriving! Such a cool surprise!)

[@antonioleeiii2570]

I only have fine sand, top soil garden soil and organic matter. What mixture ratio do i need for growing Dragon fruit?

[@peterdugan1971]

Thank you ! Excellent presentation Now I know why my agave is struuglong

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

You're so welcome and glad it was useful!

[@Rei_Channel24]

is peat moss different from coconut peat?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Very! Peat moss is harvested Sphagnum moss from peat bogs (an important carbon sink that's been overharvested), and it becomes hydrophobic when dry, so it is not ideal for succulents. Coco peat/coir is reclaimed coconut husks from the waste stream. It does not become hydrophobic when dry, so it can work as an organic component for succulent soil.

[@taiyihanle]

sand, gravel, granite are all readily available, but so heavy. pumice sounded like such a good option, airflow, lightweight, nice for the roots. but. ya know. horticultural pumice is US stuff. like mountain crest gardens itself. bonsai jack too ($200 shipping LOL)

[@annieschreck7938]

Is perlite more accessible? It's also lightweight

[@jeannehowell3733]

Fantastic video

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thanks! 😃

[@ccc919]

Can you do a video on pest control. I am having such a problem. I have tried alchohol, soap water, neem oil. And the spider mites and what I am guessing is fungus gnat larvae, and who knows what else, keep destroying my plants.

[@annieschreck7938]

Oh no! Are you spraying them daily and getting into the crevices? While we don't have a pest video, you can find lots of info on them in our FAQs here: mountaincrestgardens.com/faqs-help/#reamaze#0#/kb/pests-and-diseases

[@ccc919]

Annie Schreck Thank you Annie. I will definitely check out the FAQ. I have sprayed with alcohol and followed up with Neem scary every 5 days under leaves and all over even the soil. Just when I think it's working, another litter critter or another web shows up. And I start the alcohol cycle again. I haven't tried spraying every day. I will start today. For how long? I don't want to kill my plants with spray.

[@anonoona]

I'm using soil made of coir and perlite 😃

[@creativityunknown5241]

I keep my haworthia out side . Soil mix is lots of compost , construction sand,perlite,charcol is that good

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

All great ingredients! As long as the ratios of your mixture allow the saturated soil to dry out in your conditions in about 2-4 days, you're good. If you feel like your plants are getting over-watered, mix in more sand and perlite. Getting dry and crispy? Add more compost. Annie

[@creativityunknown5241]

Wow good to see such a good reply thanks 😊

[@JessicaBundy93]

Do you think you'll be doing a video on how to properly re-pot a succulent?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Maybe, but in the meantime I wrote up this quickie guide. Do you have a specific question? mountaincrestgardens.com/faqs-help/#reamaze#0#/kb/planting-and-transplanting/planting-succulents-step-by-step-guide Annie

[@Simple_and_natural]

Thank you very useful information. What about the holes on the bottom of a base Many bases don’t have the hole, Are this ok to grow a succulent? What changes do we have to make? Thank you

[@annieschreck7938]

Great question! Growing succulents in a pot without a drainage hole is more challenging, so I do not recommend it for beginners. It is possible, you just have to be more careful, observant waterer. Only water when the soil is completely dry and the leaves just start to show signs of thirst like limpness or wrinkles. When you water, give it about 1/3 the volume of the pot then leave it to dry out.

[@msdanielleleegreaves]

Hello, Thanks for this helpful video. Do I have to sterilize Bonsai Jack for pests before use?

[@annieschreck7938]

Nope! It's already been sterilized with a Bifenthrin drench and 200F steam

[@RON8O]

Love these videos Annie, keep it up! I’m looking to make a mix when we landscape our front yard. Is a succulent mix for outdoors the same as for indoor?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thank you! And fortunately outdoor succulent soil needs are a lot more flexible, since sun, airflow, and soil depth all help it dry out. A sandy loam is ideal, but in most climates people get away with other soil types by mounding it up in berms or raised beds to improve drainage. If your soil takes more than several days to dry, you can amend with lots of grit (coarse sand or pumice) or plant in gritty soil in containers, which can also be pulled under a roof in rainy seasons.

[@josephinehenry8327]

Do you ever use cococoir in your Soil?

[@annieschreck7938]

Yes! That's what we use here in the nursery. It works fantastically for growing young succulents in a big greenhouse, but it's not the best draining medium for mature plants and most indoor growing environments.

[@janlandrum2481]

I live in Texas. Would this homemade mix work in our hot and humid climate better than the cactus and succulent soil?

[@lynnern57]

What a great video! Thanks!

[@soniagonzales9144]

Loved the video🤗 do you have a video on soil for desert roses?

[@annieschreck7938]

We don't have a video, but I've had a lot of luck growing Desert Rose and other caudiciforms in 100% Bonsai Jack Gritty Mix, found here: mountaincrestgardens.com/soil-for-succulents/

[@soniagonzales9144]

@@annieschreck7938 thank you so much for that 🤗

[@path6741]

I have always removed the soil from the plants I buy and replant in Bonsai Jack gritty mix because I have noticed the purchased planted plants sometimes come with fungal flies. The most recent plants I got from Mountain Crest where in the coir. I wondered if coir was likely to have a problem with fungal flies. I hated to throw the lovely little pile of coir away after loosening it from the plant roots. Is it safe for me to reuse the coir if I mix it with other succulent soils? I have noticed that the succulents with thin leaves tend to need watering more often than those with thick leaves that hold a lot of water. For example terantala (sp?) Kalenchoe; so I add a little more organic matter to the gritty mix for it. Is the coir ok to reuse?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Hi Pat! I also like to replant nursery plants if they're going to be indoor plants and I'm worried about pests. Alternatively, I'd quarantine the plant for about a week or spray the soil with isopropyl alcohol if I wanted to reuse the coir. The coir is definitely still good for growing plants, at the very least added to outdoor soil or thrown on the compost heap. And great observation! Yes, the thinner the leaf, the faster the succulent dries out.

[@nasrinnahar791]

Can I use crushed brick ?

[@tamilina0921]

I've been growing succulents indoors with success and would like to move to grow some outdoors as well. I'm in NorCal (north of Sacramento) and will doing a 2:1 grit to organic work with both the heat throughout the year and rain in the "winter"?

[@annieschreck7938]

That sounds perfect. We're not too far from you and use a similar ratio in our outdoor, raised succulent beds. It takes shade cloth and 1 hour of sprinklers per week to get them through the hot summer, but they handle winter wet with aplomb!

[@tamilina0921]

@@annieschreck7938 I'm planting on the east side of our home so they'll get the morning sun, but then the shade of the house before it gets really hot in the summers

[@annieschreck7938]

@@tamilina0921 Pro move!

[@DSmith-ix1xf]

Great video! I was told that a small amount of vermiculite in a succulent mix is antifungal?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Hmm I wonder if they meant perlite? Perlite aerates the soil (which makes it more antifungal) while vermiculite keeps soil moist for longer. So perlite is definitely the way to go for succulents.

[@bangmonsta]

how do you know when to water your gritty mix? It's quite heavy so you can't really "lift and see"

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Let your plant be your guide. Succulent leaves will become less turgid and more flexible when they're ready for water. Some will even wrinkle. Annie

[@lillybinky9144]

What can I buy to start succulent seeds

[@pamelathesouthernbelle1201]

What a wealth of knowledge!!! Thank you, thank you. I live in SE GA and sometimes it will rain for days and I stand at the window watching my little succulents struggle to live in the saturated soil. I am determined to try the chicken grit. I do hope it works.....

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thank you so much, Pamela! Chicken grit is my favorite of the lesser known grits :) I'd add that many of our succulent friends in rainy climates have found that raised beds and mounded berms kept their succulents from drowning. Best of luck to you and your succulents!

[@eveturner1260]

Awesome, thank you

[@amardeeptabla8739]

Great vedio

[@CalebRivera-xp6hg]

In California. Ive been looking for compost online, to mix into different soils. Anyone have some recommendations for me?