Composting and Succulents: What You Should Know

Image by Annie Spratt from Pixabay

With environmentalism being the hot topic of today, succulents in Southwestern climates have become a fashionable way to cut back on the amount of water you use without sacrificing the aesthetics of your home. What's more, you're utilizing the natural environment rather than trying to impose foreign plants and shrubs. 

But just because the soil is suited for succulents doesn't mean that it can't be improved with the right compost. Why not take your green thumb just a step further by finding the right balance of nutrients for your succulents. 

Get Ready for Growth  

If you're just getting started with succulents, you might be surprised at just how fast they can grow — even without the extra help. But if you want to avoid the plants from drying out or beginning to turn yellow, you may want to use a special succulent mix to really give your garden some gas. 

Make Your Own 

You can certainly purchase compost that's specifically been made for succulents, but it's often easier to just make the compost yourself. When it comes to composting, the idea is to create a way to drain water away from the plants. These specimens already know how to hold moisture, but too much will inevitably drown them. 

That's why you're meant to use a compost with sand and/or grit. These particles are good at breaking up the density just enough to let the droplets seep further into the ground. Mixing equal parts compost, sand and grit can give you a nutrient-rich compost that is ready to protect your succulents.

If your gardening store doesn't have these ingredients, then your local hardware store probably has something that can be substituted. Sand and pumice grit should be relatively easy to come by, and it definitely won't tax your wallet. You'll probably need a good trowel to work through all the grit though, so just be prepared. 

The Power of Natural Fertilizer 

All fertilizers are designed to give your succulents more nutrients to help them really flourish. But inorganic ones are more like a sprint than a marathon, and usually only recommended if you're in dire need of perking up your succulents in a hurry.

Using organic fertilizer fosters a healthy environment, one which will improve over time and really give your succulents a welcoming place to live. And if some of your succulents are beginning to turn for any reason or you just want to replace for a new look, you can use them for compost too.

If you're hot composting, or attempting to reach optimal microbial levels through heat, then you should chop up your succulents before composting. You should also take care when working with cacti. Given enough time, all plants will break down, but they retain their bite longer than you might think. 

The right soil can really help your succulents come alive, which can really brighten up your home with the greenery and color that you've always wanted.