Agreed with nomen that you can make it work. Having very sunny growing conditions would make using sand much easier. Indoors could be a bit of a challenge if you don't have a very good window/light. Sand does hold a surprising amount of water.

My Crassula gollum was potted by the nursery in maybe 80% coarse sand, 5% perlite, and the rest who-knows-what. The roots looked to be in good condition (better than most) and the plant was healthy. Repotted and under my care though, it probably doubled in size over the summer. =)

With a sandy mix, you should plan to repot more frequently (possibly annually) to mitigate soil compaction and for inspecting root health.

Before I really got into soil mixes, I had tried 80% C&S and 20% coarse sand and that was a giant disaster. So if you plan to use it... it should be the majority of the mix or ammended by lots of other well-draining/chunky/aerating components.

Varying sizes of substrate together in one pot will allow for compaction. It is best that what you get has been sifted already(unless you sift it yourself) to one size, maybe a quarter-inch, thus allowing air pockets to be maintained.

ez

What is typically sold as play sand is extremely fine and not recommended for succulents.

Maybe you'll find coarse sand under that name, but I would not buy play sand. And having sandy soil outdoors, drainage is not as good as it should be. It compacts and water just slides over it. I would not recommend using sand, unless sifted thru kitchen sieve and using only what stays in the sieve - and only if I had to.

There are much better choices than sand.

Did breathenez change his name?

Agreed 100% with Rina.

At my local greenhouse, they sell two types of sand: horticultural and play.

To give an example of size, these succulent seedlings are the size of a metal pinhead (not the bigger type with plastic balls on the end). This is the horticultural sand. The white chunks are perlite.

The greenhouse said they also have play sand, but it is much finer. Given a choice, I wouldn't use either for succulents as I agree there are better options available.

Perhaps the sand at your garden center is better?

The concept of freely draining soil is kind of a misnomer. What's important is not how long it takes to drain, but rather the amount of water that remains after 10 minutes. Beyond this period, oxygen deprivation begins to impact root health.

Edit: wanted to add more photos of the different soils

Soil of this size is more suitable - these are tiny cuttings:

Silver sands is best of all. Its really just like desert sands- never packs down.

Ha, Lati, I made the mistake once of signing in with facebook, even though I had already signed up as 'breathnez' and now it WILL NOT sign out, it just clocks 30, 60 min, or however long. So whenever I use that computer I am stuck with the facebook signin. Sigh, sorry for any confusion...

ez

Dang, that sucks man. Have you contacted technical support? Whatabout trying to change the display name while signed in with facebook?

The trouble with recommending sand is the particles can be made of so many different things and sizes. The blow sand that makes sand dunes isn't good. You sink in it if you walk on it but if you put it in a pot it will settle and can become like sandstone. I've been using bags of road traction grit that people buy to put in their car trunk in case they become stuck. I wash out the finer grains with a hose. Beach sand might look good but not all plants are OK with bits of calcium carbonate in the soil. I've been looking for a source of granitic sand to try something but I've had no luck.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-50-lb-All-Purpose-Sand-115251/100318450

An easy to find item that could use sifting for size in part of a C&S mix

Good suggestion lati.

ez

Horticultural sand by e.b. stone is what i use. it's larger grain than regular sand.

Did it work, ez?