"I have decent soil mixed, peat moss, perlite and sand in fairly equal parts."

Don't use peat moss for succulents. Don't use peat moss for anything, really.

More proper C&S potting media components could be stuff like perlite, pine bark fines, pumice, baked clay, *COARSE* sand (NOT fine), gravel, coir, and non-peat, non-topsoil forest compost if you need some kind of more organic component.

The goal should be something that drains freely, and dries down fairly quickly, but still holds enough moisture that the plants can actually use it, and also provides for a lot of air around the rootzone.

In terms of a pot, unglazed clay is best because it's somewhat porous and breathes--in other words, it can help your potting media dry out more evenly, and will also tend to leach out excess moisture and soil salts and generally just provides for a happier soil ecosystem.

Drainage is a must, as well.

The Faucaria (Tiger Jaws?) will probably want less moisture than the other things, as will the Ming Thing, which I am assuming is some sort of mutant Cereus peruvianus, based on a cursory google search.

I'm guessing the echeverias and pachyverias will be be fine together in a dish garden, although I don't really grow those. The few Echeverias I have seem to do okay with pretty frequent watering.

Going out on a limb I'm guessing you could put the Echeverias, Pachyverias, Aloes, and Haworthia together without issue. The Ming thing, Faucaria, and Crassula ovata would probably be best grown separately because of water needs for the first two, and in the case of the jade because jades get large.

Agree with amccour..I will even go one step further and say why do not grow them separately at first, learn to keep them alive and their different needs. You can also then learn to make copies by leaf cuttings and removing pups and then use those for dish gardens, this may prevent you having to start all over again if you make mistakes, which we all do. Just a thought.

Yes I like the individual idea in the smallest clay pots, not sure of the inches but say 2 1/2 to 3 inch round, a step larger than the tiny pots they are in. I think this is wise advise because some may have different root systmes that will require less or more watering.

Okay the soil I have, doesn't really have peat moss, it is miracle potting soil, is that better, I'm hoping. So it's farely equal parts play sand (oops), perlite and miracle grow potting soil.

Help me make the best of what I have:

More proper C&S potting media components could be stuff like perlite, pine bark fines, pumice, baked clay, *COARSE* sand (NOT fine), gravel, coir, and non-peat, non-topsoil forest compost if you need some kind of more organic component.

If I bought one or two of the suggestions on your list which would be easiest to get, least expenxive but really do the trick, I have the perlite, and sand (albeit not coarse).

Would course sand be the kind for making cement?

My Flap Jack (Kalancho luciae) is in a 3" plastic pot now but the leaves are over hanging the pot 2" on each side. Is it ready to be repotted into a slightly larger pot?

I will only use unglazed pots absolutely. The make them not with air holes on the sides now too for about 50 cent more, definately the way to go.

Like I said I'm new here and I find everyone here so knowledgable. Money is a little bit of an issue so I can't get everything on the list.

My ddaughter lives in the country where there would becomposted soil under trees, should I dig that up? What about bugs. Wouldn't the miracle grow give me the composting material I need in a sterile medium?

Is miracle grow potting soil out for succulents?
Maybe I need to start from scratch.
Thank You,
Micki

I did a search on succulent soil mix and copied and pasted this written by Al.
Wow, I'm so far off huh?

"I always have a mix of equal parts of Turface, crushed granite (grower/turkey grit), and fir bark on hand because it's my basic bonsai soil mix. I add some very coarse sand, and vermiculite, along with a little gypsum & dolomitic lime to it to round things out. Here's the formula:
3 parts Turface
3 parts crushed granite (farm feed store)
3 parts pine or fir bark (see photo for size)
1 part coarse silica sand (masonry supply company)
1 part vermiculite
CRF (18-4-9 is what I use, but anything with a high first # or close to a 3-1-2 ratio works well)
Dolomitic lime & gypsum
Micronutrient granules

Where do I get these supplies? Agway should have the crushed granite.

As for the pine bark I don't know if mulch is still being sold.

If there were one or two ingredients that would get me started what would be the most important, to add to my mix already? I will work up to the real deal as I can.

Micki,

There's a national Turface dealer locator - heck, you'll likely be able to get some today - check the link (which covers La Belle Canada and well as The Original Home). Mix a rough 75% Turface to 25% top soil (or even commercial C&S mix) and this will be a mix that will get you through for a while. Alternately, you can do the same with 75% perlite and top soil / C&S mix. It isn't a perfect mix, but it will do until you find a mix which works for you and is available w/o too much effort (although the more focused of us have been known to great lengths, even lying stretched out onto the edge of a canyon to get some gravel for his mix).

All of those ingredients may make a perfect mix, but until you get there (if you want to), two ingredients are all you need. It's proportions that count, IMO. You could do shredded rubber huaraches as a medium and most of the plants would be fine.

Get the MVP - the other muck you don't want unless you're needing to dry up a pitcher's mound.

Here is a link that might be useful: Turface, I was sifting thee only yesterday evening

Thanks Cactus for responding to my post. I looked up the link, but there are no stores around that sells it without further investigation, nor do I drive.
So I was able to get a few items to add to my mix:

First let me tell you what I have before I went shopping today (after learning more on the forum) In a large tot I mixed up 16 quarts of miracle grow potting soil, 8 quarts of perlite and 1 bag of fine sand (oops)

I'm going to add to the mix because I can't waist all that soil.

Today I bought 2 cubic ft of pine bark mulch (looks nice and fine)
Pea Pebbles 3 square feet
COURSE sand 2 and 1/2 gallons
another 8 qt bag of perlite
and aqurium gravel.

Am I getting closer?
Considering I already have a large tot full of soil what should I mix in?
I though everything except half the bag of mulch.
The aqurium gravel I could decorate the tops of the pots.
Can I use this mix on my Hoya too?

Do a search on this Board for for soil. There are tons of info for newbies like us!

Penny