What is the best soil to use for my new plant?
4ft to light, direct
5” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 month ago
3
Hi Alainna! Welcome to Greg! That's a gorgeous echeveria 😍 Like most succulents, you want to use a gritty, well-draining soil, since these guys are desert plants and do not like sitting in wet soil. Any pre-mixed soil specifically made for succulents/cacti is a great start. I also like to add extra perlite to my succulent soil (perlite are the little balls that look like styrofoam, but it's actually made from expanded volcanic glass). Pumice rock is also great, although perlite is usually easier to find, you can get a large bag for around $7 at any big box store. I do 3 parts soil, 1 part perlite or pumice. Some folks also like to add coarse sand to their mixes, which is more like tiny pebbles than sand. Just make sure it's not fine sand (like beach sand), which can clump together and keep the soil too moist.
With succulents, the most common reason people have issues is due to overwatering. Other than the well draining soil, it's also best to use terracotta pots. They're porous and allow soil to dry out faster, unlike non-porous pots (plastic, glazed clay) that keep soil moist for longer. Only water your echeveria when the soil has completely dried out, and make sure it gets at least 3-6 hours of direct sun. Since it's winter, they'll need even less frequent watering (echeveria are summer growers and go dormant in winter).
With succulents, the most common reason people have issues is due to overwatering. Other than the well draining soil, it's also best to use terracotta pots. They're porous and allow soil to dry out faster, unlike non-porous pots (plastic, glazed clay) that keep soil moist for longer. Only water your echeveria when the soil has completely dried out, and make sure it gets at least 3-6 hours of direct sun. Since it's winter, they'll need even less frequent watering (echeveria are summer growers and go dormant in winter).
One more thing I wanted to mention about echeveria — they can be especially prone to leaf rot in certain conditions. They prefer warm and dry over cold and damp. Air flow is another important factor for avoiding leaf rot, along with major headaches like powdery mildew. Make sure it's in a location with adequate air flow/cross ventilation, and not right up against a glass window pane or crowded too closely with other plants. The lowest leaves are the ones most likely to rot since they sit on top of the soil, and the risk is greater when the soil is damp. That's why it's best to bottom water rather than top water. To do this, place it in a saucer slightly bigger than the pot, with sides that come up at least 3/4 in-1 in. Fill with the recommended amount of water, then dump out any remaining in the saucer after half an hour or so.
thank you so much this is all very helpful!