Succulent & Cactus Soil
Cacti, aloe, jade, snake plant, Christmas cactus
In stock · ships by Canada Post
About this mix
- Mixed for succulents & cacti, ready to use from the bag
- Made of: pumice, coco coir, perlite, horticultural charcoal
- One 3 L bag fills about 1–3 pots, no 50 L sacks to store
- No fertilizer, only the components listed
- Shipping $12–$20, free from $60 (details)
Product information
| Best for | Cacti, aloe, jade, snake plant, Christmas cactus |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 3 L (about 2 kg packed) |
| Ingredients | Pumice, Coco coir, Perlite, Horticultural charcoal |
| Fertilizer | None added |
| Price | $22.00 CAD before tax |
| Shipping | Canada Post, across Canada (Quebec coming soon) |
Succulents store water in their leaves and stems, so their roots want to dry out fast. Even the "cactus" soils sold in big bags are often mostly peat, and peat stays wet for a long time in a dim Canadian winter. This mix is mostly mineral grit, so it dries in days, not weeks.
Is it right for your plant?
Use it for
- Cacti of all kinds
- Aloe, jade, echeveria, haworthia, sedum
- Snake plant (sansevieria) and ZZ plant
- Christmas cactus, best with a third of Orchid Mix added
- String of pearls and other trailing succulents
Not for
- Monstera, pothos and other tropical foliage: it dries out too fast for them. Use Aroid Mix.
- African violets: they need soft, evenly moist soil. Use African Violet Mix.
- Starting seeds: the grit is too coarse for tiny seeds. Use Seed Starting Mix.
What's inside
| 40% | Pumice: light volcanic stone: drainage and air that never breaks down |
| 30% | Coco coir: holds just enough water and is easy to re-wet |
| 20% | Perlite: extra air pockets and a lighter pot |
| 10% | Horticultural charcoal: keeps structure and helps the mix stay fresh |
Water runs through freely. In a sunny window the top of the pot dries in 2–4 days and the whole pot in about a week. In winter, water much less often.
How much do I need?
Enter your pot size. We assume a typical nursery pot filled to the top.
When you repot, the root ball takes up part of the pot, so you usually need a bit less. Leftover mix keeps for months in the closed bag.
How to repot
- Repot in spring or early summer when the plant is growing. Wear gloves for cacti, or wrap the plant in folded newspaper.
- Let the old soil dry for a few days so it falls off the roots easily.
- Take the plant out and shake off as much old soil as you can. Trim any black or soft roots.
- Choose a pot with a drainage hole, only 2–3 cm wider than the root ball. Terracotta is ideal.
- Put a layer of mix in the bottom, set the plant at the same depth as before, and fill around it.
- Do not water for 5–7 days, so any broken roots can heal.
- Then water thoroughly and let the pot dry out completely before the next watering.
More detail in our guide: The Best Soil for Snake Plant
Succulent & Cactus Mix: questions
Is this soil good for a snake plant?
Yes. Snake plants rot easily in wet soil, and this gritty mix drains fast. It is one of the best uses for it.
What soil does a Christmas cactus need?
Christmas cactus grows on trees in the wild, so it likes a chunkier mix. Use about 2 parts Succulent & Cactus Mix to 1 part Orchid Mix.
Can I add regular potting soil to it?
You can, but it will hold more water. If your home is very dry and sunny, mixing in up to a quarter of potting soil is fine.
Do I need gravel at the bottom of the pot?
No. A drainage hole and a gritty mix are enough. A gravel layer actually keeps the soil above it wetter.
Does the mix contain fertilizer?
No. Use a cactus or general fertilizer at half strength a few times in spring and summer.
Compare the mixes
| Orchid | Succulent & Cactus | Aroid | African Violet | Seed Starting | Bonsai | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For | Orchids | Succulents & cacti | Monstera & aroids | African violets | Seeds | Bonsai |
| Main ingredient | Medium fir bark | Pumice | Fir bark | Sphagnum peat moss | Fine coco coir | Pumice |
| Bag | 3 L | 3 L | 3 L | 3 L | 3 L | 3 L |
| Price | $22.00 | $22.00 | $22.00 | $22.00 | $22.00 | $22.00 |
