Hello!

I am a novice "gardener" and a succulent enthusiast. I made a succulent garden on my balcony 1 week ago, and its looking great. The problem is, I'm still learning a lot about how to take care of them. I need advice about soil and drainage - I fear I may not have set myself up for success!

About my planters and soil:

- I made DIY planter boxes using IKEA Moppe boxes. I stained them with a Thompson's waterproofing stain and lined them with plastic garbage bags to prevent the wood from rotting. I also poked a bunch of small drainage holes in each (just a few millimeters per hole, at least 5 holes in the smallest boxes and about 20 holes in the largest box). I figured this was fine for drainage.

- I used Miracle-Gro Cactus Palm and Citrus potting mix for soil.

- I did NOT mix the soil with perlite. I waited about a week to water the succulents, and for the most part they seem to be doing well, except my burrito sedum, which has a bunch of shriveled + fallen off leaves. I have read that they are very fragile, though.

I live in the Bay Area of California, south of SF (Zone 9b). The plants are on a balcony facing southwest and they get a lot of sun throughout the day.

I bought a Moisture Meter Sensor and 2 days after watering, the soil still reads as "wet".

Questions:

1. How quickly should I expect the soil dry? If it stays wet too long consistently after watering I will consider mixing perlite in the soil to promote drainage.

2. Aside from mixing in perlite/ other products into the cactus soil mix and using a Moisture Meter Sensor, is there anything I can do to prevent over-watering/root rot? Any tips/tricks out there?

Thanks in advance!

[Photo of my succulent garden below! PS the grass is not real - its astroturf on my balcony]