Cactus And Succulent Potting Mix: A Soil Recipe Guide

Are you a fellow succulent and cactus enthusiast? Have you ever considered crafting your own potting mix? As someone who is constantly working on potting projects, I always keep a variety of ingredients ready. Here, I’d like to share my go-to recipe for a cactus and succulent potting mix so you can create your own at home with ease.

I get asked one of these questions every month or two and wanted to answer them here: “What kind of soil should I use for my cactus and succulents?” “What soil is best for my succulents in a pot?” “Can I plant my succulents growing indoors in potting soil?” This tells what you want in a cactus and succulent mix so your plants will be healthy and look their best.

Note: This post was published on 4/17/2019. It was updated on 7/25/2024.

Cactus and Succulent Potting Mix DIY

The following points apply whether you’re growing them indoors or outdoors. 1) The mix needs to have excellent drainage.  2) It’s important for the mix to be well aerated. 3) It needs to be soil-less. Regular garden soil is way too heavy.  4) Which leads us to: it needs to be light and chunky. This will prevent soil compaction.

The roots, stems, and leaves of cacti and succulent plants store water and can easily succumb to root rot.  The roots need oxygen, and a mix that is light, well aerated, drains well, and is soilless helps to prevent it from staying too wet. 

You can make your own succulent and cactus mix or buy it online or at your local garden center. When I lived in Santa Barbara, I would usually buy my mix from the California Cactus Center, as they formulated their own. Here in Tucson, I used to buy Tank’s, which is a local mix.

I was visiting my friends at Eco Gro (a place for plant aficionados) and needed a succulent and cactus mix. They were out of Tank’s and sold me a bag of their own mix. The mix is formulated on sight, but the original recipe comes from Mark A. Dimmitt, who is local and well-known in plant circles far and wide.

The Succulent and Cactus Potting Mix Recipe

This mix is suitable whether you’re growing succulents and cacti indoors in pots or outdoors in pots. I bought all my ingredients at Eco Gro and will list the same or similar products but different brands below, which you can find online.

6 scoops of coco chips n fiber. Similar.

1 scoop of coco peat. Similar.

4 scoops of pumice. Similar.

1/2 scoop vermiculite. Similar.  

1/2 cup each agricultural lime and elemite.  Elemite is hard to find online. I buy it in store at Eco Gro. Azomite is similar in that it’s also a mineral rock dust and makes for a good alternative. 

What you use for a scoop is your choice. At Eco Gro, they use a good-sized soil scoop, which is approximately equal to a large yogurt container, which is what I use.

Peat moss is often used in soil mixes, but I prefer coco coir, aka coco peat. It’s a much more environmentally friendly alternative, and if you’re interested, can read more about that here. Orchid bark works as a substitute for the coco chips. 

The coco bricks (whether chips or peat) need to be hydrated prior to use. You can see that in the video. They expand after hydrating and you can use either of them damp or dry. There’s no need to hydrate them again when using in this or other mixes.

I bought all the ingredients locally. The cost may vary for you depending on where you purchase everything and in what amount.

Approximate cost to make 1 batch (the amount seen in the metal bin): $9.00

Do you grow from seeds? You’ll want to check out this DIY seed starting mix.

Cactus and Succulent Potting Mix Recipe Video Guide

Uses For This Mix

* Indoor succulents, which include cacti too. All cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti. We generally think of “succulents” as fleshy succulents like Burro’s Tail, String Of Pearls, Aloe Vera, and the like. Now that I live in Arizona, cacti are a big part of my horticultural life!

* Outdoor container plant succulents, including cacti. 

* Propagating succulents and other plants, too. Who doesn’t want new plants?! I have some Baby Rubber Plant stem cuttings rooting right now in water and I’ll plant them in this mix in a 4″ pot while they’re establishing. I could have also planted them directly in this mix. This works when propagating hoyas and snake plants too.

*Mixing in with potting soil for hoyas, snake plants, bromeliads, peperomias, philodendrons, monsteras, and any other plants that appreciate extra drainage and aeration.

Note:  All succulents require excellent soil drainage. It’s best if the pot you’re planting them into has at least one drainage hole so the excess water can flow out, preventing root rot. 

For more helpful information, check out these guides to repotting succulents and repotting cactus.

How I Plant Succulents and Cacti

I’ll water the plant a few days before and then plant it into this mix. 

I leave the rootball up about 1/2″ because it’ll eventually sink down into this light mix. 

I sprinkle in a little compost and earthworm castings for added nourishment. 

I keep the soil dry for 3-10 days while it’s settling in and then water thoroughly. 

You want your succulents to dry between waterings, especially cacti. 

Here’s a guide to indoor cactus care and problems you may have growing succulent houseplants.

This DIY cactus and succulent soil mix is a game-changer. It’s incredibly easy to make and budget-friendly. Unlike the heavy bags of store-bought potting soil, this mix is light and easy to store, even in small spaces. But the best part? Your succulents and cacti will absolutely love it! Try it out and see your plants thrive.

Happy gardening,

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Nell Foster

Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.

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