Is Succulent and Cactus Soil Good for Snake Plants?
Growing your plants in soil that has the right composition plays a major role in determining its growth…
…and overall development. Succulents are more specific on this matter, which means as long…
….as you choose a suitable potting mix, you will not have to deal with numerous problems in the future.
Does succulent soil work for snake plants? Snake plants need drainage friendly soil to thrive.
In fact, they hate growing in damp soil conditions. It is best to protect your Snake plants in succulent…
…or cactus soil mix since they retain no water for long and they are outstandingly drainage friendly.
Let’s examine this topic in more detail. Before that let’s we take a look from Jackie…
…about his experience using cactus soil for his snake plant
Let us hear Jackie’s story
I was browsing at my local garden store when I stumbled upon a cactus soil mix that is perfect for snake plants.
I had been looking around for a while and couldn’t find anything, so I thought this might be the answer to all of my woes.
The only problem? It’s really expensive! But its okay, as long my snake plant growing big and healthy.
After 2 months of using, now I see the growing of my beautiful snake plant..
….growing up from little pups to big healthy plant.
Snake Plants prefer to be kept on the dry side so the mix they’re planted in must drain freely. You don’t want it to hold too much moisture because this will lead to root rot.”
Nell, author from joyusgarden.com
What Is The Best Soil For A Snake Plant?
When planted in soil that resembles its natural habitat, any plant will likely thrive better.
Like all succulent plants, snake plants prefer soil rich in inorganic components like sand, crushed stones, gravels, etc.
That is why they grow under extreme drought-prone conditions.
Since their natural habitats are extremely aerative, the soil of their natural habitats is extremely drainage-friendly…
…which further aids the roots of succulents in breathing and deepening their roots into the soil.
These conditions have driven succulents to evolve exclusively over time.
Thus, if you try growing this plant in a mix that does not drain well and is filled with organic matter like compost…
…pine bark, etc, its chances of growing are not very good. It is therefore essential that snake plant soil…
…has excellent drainage, allows for aeration, and contains lower levels of natural organic matter….
…because some fundamental organic matter is needed to keep the soil texture and nutrition intact.
Ideal Snake Plant Soil Mixture?
Snake plants thrive best in soil mixes that have the following properties:
- Very Low water retention
- Lightning Fast Drainage
- Supports Aeration
- Has a slightly acidic pH
Snake plants grow well under extreme conditions and can survive neglect too.
Snake plants are generally highly adaptable plants that survive under extreme conditions.
Their roots, however, are sensitive to damp soil conditions.
If they sit in moist soil for a long time, they are likely to suffer root rot.
Hence, even though it can survive in gritty, moderately fertilized soils, it cannot survive in soil mixes…
…which retain moisture. Soil mixes that drain quickly are essential, hence they cannot be avoided.
An adequate amount of air will not only promote roots to grow, but also diminish the chances of fungi…
…growing in the soil or pest manifestations. Thus, the right soil mix for growing snake plants should have:
Components that contain more inorganic material, such as gravel, pebbles, crushed granite, volcanic lava rock…
…coarse sand, pumice, and perlite. When wet, these components will continue to dry out….
…giving the roots of the snake plant enough time to absorb water.
Compost, tree barks, peat moss or other organic materials of less than 25% are acceptable.
A pH range of 6 to 6.5 is optimal.
Can You Use Succulent Soil For A Snake plant?
A succulent soil mix is the ideal soil mix for raising snake plants because it’s specially formulated to fit their needs…
…and will thrive under this type of soil. Almost all indoor plants need drainage-friendly conditions…
…in order to thrive indoors, even in environments with limited resources.
This makes succulent soil an ideal growing medium for virtually all indoor plants.
However, in such a case, you will need to also mix other soil ingredients with the succulent or cactus mixture…
…to match their exact needs. Here are some reasons to grow snake plants in succulent and cactus soil mix:
Fast Drainage Facility
Inorganic soils have a low water retention because they contain a large amount of inorganic components.
It is crucial to use a succulent soil mix to grow succulents as the snake plant will have access…
…to the basic soil needs under these conditions.
Support Better Root Development
Root development can be improved if the soil contains a greater percentage of inorganic components.
The water will also easily reach the pot’s bottom, which will promote the roots of the succulents to grow deeper.
Snake plants have an upper part that reflects the health of their roots.
A plant with a stronger root system is healthier, prettier, and stronger.
Diminish The Chances of Pest Infestations
Symptoms of pests and fungi appear in soil that has been damp for a long time or whose texture is dense and heavy.
The soil in this case is naturally drainage friendly, which makes it perfect for growing plants indoors.
In addition to supporting suitable drainage, it also promotes better aeration…
…which is not conducive to microbe growth in the soil.
However, for your watering practices to be successful, you must be very cautious as overwatering…
….can lead to root rot and eventually kill the plant.
Great Aeration
By incorporating crushed rocks along with pebbles, gravels, and sand, you ensure that the soil…
….gets a sufficient dose of oxygen, which means the root ball is also adequately oxygenated.
In well-aerated soil, roots will breathe easier and develop more significantly without any burden.
Also, fungus or microbial growth will be less likely in well-aerated soil.
Terracotta pots help to support airflow and allow water to absorb into the soil for better drainage…
…so consider growing snake plants in them if you are able.
Optimized Soil pH
The pH meter measures soil acidity and alkalinity on a scale of 1 to 14, with 1 representing the highest acidity value…
…and 14 representing the highest alkaline value. Succulents prefer slightly acidic soils.
The reason they love rainwater is that rainwater is slightly acidic by nature.
In case you buy a cactus soil mix from a store, the pH will be between 6 and 6.5…
….so the soil will likely maintain a balanced pH.
How Much Soil Does a Snake Plant Need?
The roots of the snake plant should be planted in pots that are 2 inches deeper than their pots.
However, pots that are 5 inches deep can also be grown successfully. This will allow the roots to grow freely.
You should use enough soil to fill up the plant pots of these sizes.
Normally, you should fill 80% of the pot with soil mix, then gently set the succulent into it…
…then cover it with the remaining soil mix after the roots are established.
The larger the container, the more soil will be needed to fill it, resulting in it staying moist for a longer period of time.
For plants that require soil moisture, this can be beneficial when growing outdoors…
…but not for indoor plants, particularly succulents.
Root rot is a common problem for succulents as long as the soil holds water…
…so the longer the soil stays wet the more chance the plants will fall victim to root rot.
It is important to use a pot and soil quantity that match the amount of roots needed for succulents to thrive.
Sum Up
See having Snake plant is good choice for you to have! It’s cool, its famous, it’s easy to have and care!
What else do you need? In this pandemic time like this, is a good choice for you….
…to have an new activity and having snake plant is a good choice for you to have!
Conclusion
Snake plants are low maintenance plants that are extremely adaptable, surviving well in high light and low light.
They are one of the best plants to grow in a small space. Additionally, they are also known for flourishing…
….when neglected which is why they are commonly found in offices and workplaces.
By providing them with a solid foundation of potting mix and once in a while giving them water…
…you will be able to grow a well-developed snake plant. To grow succulents and cacti, you need to use a soil mix…
…that is gritty and drainable, and that is just what succulent and cactus soil mixes have to offer.
Last thing for sure. This plant need to be care carefully, remember plant need the “love” too.
Alright that’s all for today! Do you have any questions about all of this?
Or do you want to add some method for choosing good soil and mix for snake plant?
Let me know your recommendation from the comment below.
I hope you can now take care your snake carefully and grow it big!
Thanks for reading this article! Bye!