Can I use chicken grit for succulents? I had this question stick with me for a long time. The answer is You can use chicken grit to grow the succulents.
Succulents are a different set of plants when compared to the regular plants. They belong to the cactus family, and it is critical that you provide them with excellent draining.
In this context, adding chicken grit in the succulent soil mix would be quite effective as then they will not hold onto excess moisture and will contribute to excellent drainage.
In this context, you can add chicken grit or something which is like chicken grit so that it will ensure that excess water is draining away, and it will not rot.
Chicken grit is something which is used quite often to make succulent soil mix. Here is a comprehensive guide on using the chicken grit for succulents.
What is chicken grit?
It is well grounded hard substances given to the chicken. The chicken girt normally comprise of oyster shells or eggshells or granite.
Why does chicken need grit?
Chicken do not have teeth. Therefore they can not crush food when they eat it (like us). So they have another mechanism for that.
After the chicken eats their food that food travels to their gizzard (digestive organ). In the gizzard the food is crushed well with the help of girt.
Then food can be digested and passed through. After a few days the girt also passed out from their body.
So chickens need a constant supply of food to digest their food. In open gound they consumen small pebbles along with their food and that act as girt. In the farms they were given artificially made girt to improve their digestion.
Is a gritty mix good for succulents?
There are certain factors such as water needs, watering habits, humidity , sunlight levels and the air circulation which influence in selecting the right soil mix for your succulents.
In that context there could be some succulents such as Kalanchoes where they do not want a gritty soil mix as they prefer to stay waterlogged for some time.
On the other hand, there are succulents such as Sansevieria and Crassula , lithops which do not prefer to stay in damp and soggy conditions and prefer a gritty soil mix.
When you grow them in a gritty soil mix , it will ensure that water is draining faster.
How do you add grit to potting soil?
You can add approximately one handful of grit of 40-50 g to each liter of compost and then blend well. Now you have girt mixed well drain soil for your succulent.
After preparing the soil mix you can fill the soil in to pots carefully and plant your succulent of choice.
Other soil types for succulents
Is perlite necessary for succulents?
It is important to have perlite in the soil mix as they retain very little moisture and avoid soil compaction.
Moreover, it enhances the draining in the potting medium too which is a critical factor to full fill when growing the succulents. This is something which is most used in the succulent soil mixes.
They are light in weight, and you could spot floating in the top when you water them. Perlite is a porous soil mix.
Besides creating an excellent draining in the soil mix, they help to have a good aeration in the potting medium. Hence perlite is one of the best elements you can have in your soil mix.
Succulents are hardy plants, and they have minor requirements to grow well. Having said that it is important they have a well-draining soil mix so that they can grow well and healthily.
This is one of the prime requirements that many of the succulents have.
Perlite is a natural mineral which occurs at volcanoes, and it is mainly used for gardening purposes from those days.
It has a high percentage in Magnesium oxide, Sodium oxide, Potassium oxide, Silicon oxide and so many other components.
In addition to aforesaid factors, perlite has a neutral pH. Hence it does not create any acidity or alkalinity in the soil mix.
Moreover, anybody can afford buying perlite.
They are light in weight and that feature will make their soil mix not heavy also. Moreover, they can resist decomposition also.
More importantly it helps to improve root development and the roots can form much deeper without any stress.
Is turface good for succulents?
Turface is also a good element to add in the succulent soil mix. Turface is actually a soil conditioner and a calcine clay product which is essential to enhance the aeration in the soil mix.
They do that by providing oxygen and monitoring the moisture in the potting medium. Turface is a pebble type substance, and it is not compact.
You may use turface as a succulent trop dressing too.
Is vermiculite good for succulents?
Vermiculture is good for the succulents. It will result in the robust growth in the succulents and in the cactus as well.
They are also crucial in improving the soil aeration. Moreover, it helps to absorb the nutrients in the soil.
Not only that but also it helps to soak the excess moisture from the roots and make them compact for a longer period. You may use vermiculture for the succulents which prefer to stay in damp soil.
However, when you use vermiculture ensure that you are using them in small quantities along with significant amounts of inorganic materials like coarse sands, pumice pebbles , gravel etc.
When using the soil mix for succulents and for cactus. The vermiculture is crucial to hold the right amount of water for the roots to absorb the water for the succulents.
Vermiculture has greater components of aluminum, magnesium , iron silicate etc. Vermiculture is nontoxic. Moreover, they resist the rots as well.
There are so many benefits of adding vermiculture in the succulent soil mix.
In case you have an extremely draining soil mix, you can consider adding vermiculture as they can hold the right amount of water in the pot.
Moreover, it can trap nutrients better and help the roots to form vigorously and firmly.
Succulents are quite sensitive for soil pH, and vermiculture is neutral in the pH. Hence it does not create any impact for the succulent soil mix pH.
Besides, it provides a suitable structure to the soil also. Since they better the air circulation in the soil mix, it will make the plants less probe for bacterial infections in the roots.
Are clay pebbles good for succulents?
Clay pebbles are also good for succulents.
They are lightweight. Clay pebbles are made from heating clay at higher temperatures such as 1200 degrees Celsius.
You can use clay pebbles as a soil improver or as a hydroponic growing medium. When you blend them with peat , loam , it will reward you with a highly oxygenated growing soil.
They are special since they can retain water and drain well too. Moreover, they will show better insulation against frost and extreme weather too. You can acquire them easily too.
What is pumice for succulents?
Pumice is vital to have when growing the succulents. Pumice is a volcanic material, and it holds moisture and nutrients also.
You may use pumice in large quantities. When you add pumice, you need to water them frequently. Pumice is enriched with macronutrients which are useful for healthy succulents.
Pumice is widely used for succulents. Pumice is useful to enhance the draining in the garden. It will further avoid the soil getting mucky and it will avoid the root rot in wet climate.
Pumice is also a natural unprocessed organic product which you can acquire from the mines. They may look bone dry but It can retain moisture for 48 hours in cold weather.
They release the moisture slowly but steadily. Pumice is also effective in improving aeration in the soil mix.
They could further enrich the soil with 70 beneficial trace minerals depending on the mine they come from. It further avoids any potential root rot which can take place in the pot.
Is Coco perlite good for succulents?
You can use coconut perlite specially on the young plants when they are in a nursery setting.
Do not apply it on all the succulents as they are light and store a lot of moisture. I recommend applying them on the plants which you grow outdoors during hot and dry weather.
Further you can add coarse sand or perlite when you amend the soil with coco perlite.
Furthermore, you may use coconut fiber or coco coir as they are natural products which consist of coconut husk fibers.
You can use them as an organic medium to amend the soil. The coarse husk fibers are special as they can absorb the right amount of water and drain the excess moisture.
Is lava rock bad for succulents?
You may use lava rocks for succulents since they consist of significant components of iron, magnesium, nitrogen, and some other minerals.
They are crucial for a healthy growth of the succulents. You may use lava rocks as soil additives also. Lava rocks are also lightweight, and you can easily spread them too.
They can surpass the weeds if you have grown the succulents in garden beds. Moreover, it can loosen the soil also. It can prevent any potential soil erosion too.
Is Akadama soil good for succulents?
Akadama soil is one of the best potting mixes you can use to grow the succulents. It also has a top-notch draining feature.
Akadama soil would further promote vigorous roots as well. Many people use Akadama soil for succulents as well as for bonsai plants.
They have high porosity and can wither faster. This is a trendy thing among the succulent enthusiasts in recent times.
Succulents prefer to grow in the same soil mix they get in their natural habitats and Akadama soil would be ideal for them in this context.
If you grow them in a soil mix which has a greater component of Akadama , you will see their soil is not sticking with the roots like you see when you add the other elements.
The reason for that is because Akadama soil is highly rich in porosity and since it does not hold onto any excess moisture which could stimulate the sticky trait.
You can simply get rid of the excess Akadama soil by plucking the plant out and shaking it.
Is peat gravel good for succulents?
I suggest you avoid using peat gravel as they are non-porous elements.
Despite the fact that how pretty they look they tend to retain moisture in the pot. Consequently, it will stimulate the bacterial infections and eventually cause root rot.
Conclusion
As you may realize , it is important to grow the succulents in mediums which retain good moisture and drain the excess moisture.
Trust you were able to enhance your knowledge on how to choose the right potting medium and the benefits they have on each potting medium. Happy gardening with the succulents !
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