Jade plant soil?

2 years ago

Hello - I wanted to run this by you all. I keep seeing video about succulents and Jade plants being potted using something that doesn’t look even close to the mix of regular succulent soil and permite… what I see more and more is something closer to fine gravel than to actually soil. Any ideas of what is best? Stick to the usual perlite + succulent soil or should use something different?

Featured Answer

gardenfanatic2003

2 years ago

Peat-based soil mixes pose problems for succulents. Succulents need a short period of dryness before being watered again. Unfortunately, when peat gets 100% dry it has a tendency to dry in a hard clump and become hydrophobic. So when you do water, it runs down the sides of the pots and doesn't get the rootball wet. Also, when you repot, it's extremely difficult to get the dried peat off the roots without tearing up the roots, especially when the plants are relatively small and have very fine roots. If I were you, I wouldn't buy a peat-based soil mix for succulents.

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Comments (11)

L Evve (Miami)
Original Author
2 years ago
Peat based like MracleGro?
What are the soils in those photos? What should I buy if not the succulent mix of Miravle Gro?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
historically .... no one like MG medias... you can do so much better... ken
L Evve (Miami)
Original Author
2 years ago
Got it… Like what would you recommend if not MG?
41 North (Zone 7a/b, NE, coastal)
2 years ago
MG soils are TERRIBLE, THE WORST. Even the dam! line marketed as for Cacti, is mostly PEAT MOSS. Especially, if plants are placed outside in the hot sun, the peat bakes like a brick and DOES NOT observe ANY WATER. I have given up on commercal mixes and just mix up my own.
L Evve (Miami)
Original Author
2 years ago
When you do your own, yours looks similar to the ones on the photos ? If so what do you think is the mix?
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
2 years ago
I grow all my woody plants and succulents in the gritty mix.

Turface, Gran-I-Grit, and fir bark:

with Turface, #2 cherrystone, and pine bark

Al
Elena Nuta
2 years ago
Al, the cherrystone looks a lot finer than the gran-i-grit, do you prefer one for certain plants and one for others?
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
2 years ago
They're both the same size, about 3/16". I prefer the #2 cherrystone. The two reasons don't have anything to do with their chemical properties or suitability for use in grow media. The cherrystone is mined in New Ulm, MN, so it costs less to ship to retail outlets near where I live, which lowers the price at the outlet. I just bought 18 bags (900 LBS) of cherrystone last week at $8/bag. The other/second reason is esthetics. When used for displaying bonsai, the white Gran-I-Grit (grower size) is jarring to the eye and takes away from the focal point, the tree. I can't say with any degree of certainty that they are chemically the same, though both are forms of granite, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think one is better for use in grow media than the other. Structurally, they do exactly the same job.

Al
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
as to your title .. spoil is mother earth.. and does not belong in pots...

media.. or medium .. is what goes in pots.. and when you understand that dichotomy ... then you will make large steps in your learning curve...ou add a

jade.. likes a sip pf water.. and then full drainage.. being nearly dry all the time.. ergo .... peat based media is not preferred.. unless you add a significant amount or perlite to increase drainage...

gritty mix would probably be perfect...

ken
bragu_DSM 5
2 years ago
no 2 cherry stone grit is on sale at bomgaars for 9.99 for 50 lbs

i add floor dry ... available at napa parts stores ... to mine