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potting soil vs succulent soil

potting soil vs succulent soil Molly's Gritty Mix for Cactus & Bonsai

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Description

potting soil vs succulent soil Molly's Gritty Mix for Cactus & BonsaiQuick answer: what is Molly's Succulent Mix? For: succulents, cacti, bonsai, Haworthia, Echeveria, Sedum, Jade, and any arid environment plant. What's in it: high mineral gritty blend of pumice, lava rock, and crushed bark. Low organic matter by design. Why it works: succulent roots are built to drink fast and dry out fast. The gritty structure drains in seconds and holds zero standing water, so roots don't rot. Pre rinsed and pH balanced straight

Quick answer: what is Molly's Succulent Mix?

  • For: succulents, cacti, bonsai, Haworthia, Echeveria, Sedum, Jade, and any arid-environment plant.
  • What's in it: high-mineral gritty blend of pumice, lava rock, and crushed bark. Low organic matter by design.
  • Why it works: succulent roots are built to drink fast and dry out fast. The gritty structure drains in seconds and holds zero standing water, so roots don't rot.
  • Pre-rinsed and pH-balanced straight from the bag. No salt flush required.
  • Bonsai-safe. The grit profile matches what serious bonsai growers blend by hand from akadama, pumice, and lava.

More plant-specific guidance: Ultimate guide to growing succulents indoors, Potting soil vs potting mix.

Succulents and cacti evolved in arid, mineral-rich environments where water moves through gritty substrate in seconds. Their roots are built to drink fast and dry out fast. Standard potting soil holds moisture for days, suffocates the roots, and rots them from the bottom up. The fix is a high-mineral, low-organic, gritty mix.

Molly's Succulent Mix is engineered to mimic native desert and rocky-slope substrates. A blend of pumice, lava rock, and a small amount of organic matter that drains in seconds and forces the soak-and-dry watering rhythm succulents need.

The gritty-mix philosophy

Most "succulent soil" sold at garden centres is regular potting soil with sand mixed in. That's not what these plants want. The right mix is roughly 70% mineral aggregate (pumice and lava rock) and 30% structural organic (coir, charcoal). Water hits the surface and runs through within seconds. Roots get a brief, intense drink, then dry conditions for the next 1 to 2 weeks. That's how succulents stay alive in pots.

What's in the bag

  • Pumice (volcanic, lightweight): the mineral backbone. Holds a tiny amount of water inside its porous structure, but lets the rest drain freely.
  • Lava rock (red lava): chunky drainage and heat retention. Roots love the warmth differential it creates.
  • Coir fiber (small percentage): just enough organic to retain a little humidity and prevent the mix from drying to a brick. Not enough to compromise drainage.
  • Horticultural charcoal: filters salts from tap water (succulents are surprisingly sensitive to mineral buildup).
  • Calcitic limestone (trace): buffers pH to the slightly alkaline range (6.5 to 7.5) most desert succulents prefer.

Low peat content, no worm castings (succulents don't want a nutrient flush), no commercial fertilizer. The whole mix is intentionally lean.

Plants this is for

Designed for succulents and cacti:

  • Echeveria, Sedum, Crassula (jade), Sempervivum: the classic rosette succulents.
  • Haworthia, Gasteria: they prefer slightly more shade but want the same gritty drainage.
  • Aloe (vera and others): medicinal succulents, this mix prevents the rot they're prone to in heavier soils.
  • Most cacti: Mammillaria, Echinopsis, Opuntia, San Pedro, golden barrel.
  • Lithops (living stones): require fast drainage to stay alive year-round; this mix is well-suited.
  • Bonsai with high drainage needs: juniper, pine, and certain deciduous bonsai work well.
  • Caudex plants: Adenium, Pachypodium, and other swollen-stem species that need fast drainage at the base.

Not for: tropical "succulent-looking" plants like Hoya, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), or Easter cactus, which actually prefer humidity-retaining mixes. For those, use Molly's Aroid Mix.

Watering with gritty mix

The right rhythm: soak and dry. Water deeply, then wait until the mix is bone-dry before watering again.

  1. Wait until the top 2 to 3 inches feel completely dry. For most succulents in standard 4 to 6 inch pots, that's every 10 to 21 days indoors.
  2. Water until liquid runs clearly out the drainage holes. Don't dribble. Soak.
  3. Discard any water in the saucer. Do not let the pot sit in standing water.
  4. Wait. The plant will let you know when it's thirsty (slight wrinkling of leaves, lighter pot weight).

In winter, water roughly half as often. Most succulents go dormant or semi-dormant.

FAQ

Why is this so heavy compared to other succulent soil?

Because it's mostly minerals, not peat or coco coir. The weight is what makes it work. Light bag means light drainage, which is the opposite of what succulents need.

Can I use this for bonsai?

For tropical bonsai, no, they want a moisture-retentive aroid-style mix. For drought-tolerant bonsai (juniper, pine, certain deciduous species), yes, this mix or a 50/50 blend with finer organics works well.

Will the mix break down or stay porous over time?

Stays porous. The mineral components (pumice, lava rock, charcoal) don't decompose. The small organic fraction breaks down slowly. Most succulents in this mix can go 2 to 3 years before repotting.

Should I add fertilizer?

Sparingly. Succulents are slow growers and don't need much. A diluted (~1/4 strength) cactus-specific fertilizer once during the growing season (spring) is plenty for most species.

Packaged in a heat-sealed resealable bag. New formula released April 2026, see the formula release announcement for details on what changed.

Related care guide

Watering, light, and repotting fundamentals for succulents and cacti.

→ Read the Succulent & Cactus Care guide

Have questions? Read the Molly's Succulent Mix FAQ for detailed information on watering, repotting, and which succulents this mix works best for.

New: the complete soil guide

Not sure if you need cactus soil or succulent soil? They are the same thing. Read: Best Soil for Succulents and Cactus →

Not sure which mix your plant needs?

Take our free 60-second Soil Finder quiz → Diagnose the problem and get the exact Molly's mix and amount for your plant, plus 10% off.

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Brooklyn Babe
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 1
Still looking for a better brand
Flavor Name: Original Beef
These are fine for what they are and are better than most brands. I loved their discontinued Cranberry Habanero beef sticks. Those worked great within my KETO lifestyle and were their best tasting offering. Then, these fools decided they wanted to basically cater to Carnivore or Carnivore-leaning lifestyles and did away with the best version of their meat sticks. They've never gotten the basic Habanero beef sticks to where I like the taste. This plain version will do as will the Salted Beef sticks until I find another brand that does a decent Cranberry Habanero or similar offering without the ick. However, the last box of Salted Beef sticks that I purchased directly from Chomps both tastes and feels underdone to me and I have to heat before eating them. I also ordered and tried their limited edition Smoky BBQ beef sticks. They were just meh. Had my brother try them and he also said they were meh. Decent brand but I am still looking for a brand to come into the arena and lay waste to all of the others. UPDATE: I purchased two boxes directly from Chomps. They are trash. Got sick after eating two. Some smell absolutely horrible upon opening and others in the boxes taste disgusting. The ones that haven't smelled or tasted bad at first bite, DONT TASTE DONE. That's it. I won't be purchasing from Chomps either through Amazon or directly. I no longer like or recommend this brand.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2024
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David B.
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Great tasting
Flavor Name: Wagyu Beef Steak, Size: 20 Count (Pack of 1)
I ordered both the wagyu beef and the venison . Just received them today. I’ve only tried the wagyu beef so far and I’m very impressed. It’s not overly salty and more like a dried hamburger beef. Not to dry to need a flosser like other Jerky’s. The venison is way to salty I definitely prefer the Wagyu
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Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2025
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Kindle Customer
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
The best meat sticks!
Flavor Name: Wagyu Beef Steak, Size: 20 Count (Pack of 1)
These are the best meat sticks I’ve found so far! They are very clean and go down well. Very tasty. If you need more protein on the go-these are a no-brainer. Slightly pricey, but worth it!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2026
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jalcruces
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 4
Not bad. Read the box.
Flavor Name: Wagyu Beef Steak, Size: 0.8 Ounce (Pack of 10)
First of all, this isn't really beef jerky and nowhere do they state that it is. Simply put, it is not your typical beef jerky. I don't know how these are processed because there are not nitrates, nitrites, or even celery powder - which are the ingredients used for curing meat. Yes, these are ground and formed meat strips, just as it says on the box and on each individual strip wrapper. These lack all the extra preservatives and additives that other strips and jerkys have. And although some of the other meats that they have are flavored with cranberry, apple, or bacon, these don't have much flavoring at all. Just added honey, which keeps it from being totally vile. When I first opened the package, the scent was that of old time (not ancient) jerky. The way jerky looked and tasted in the 70s. But the flavor is really meaty/bloody tasting, with little hint of honey that makes it palatable. I'm not hating on this, it's rather not really too bad... just gotta get used to that bloody raw meaty taste. I've had their beef/bacon/cranberry bars and those were not edible. They were totally disgusting. Maybe it's because these are thinner and more like jerky (you get less of a mouthful) that I find them easier to swallow. I'v had quite a bit of their "bacon" bars (note, they are bars, not strips), and really wish they'd make the bacon bars thin like these strips as well. Although I like the bacon best, sometimes it's just too much... it's like spam but not as tasty. The texture of these is much better. Bottom line, if you expect these to taste like O'berto stips, then don't get them. If you expect something that tastes like a caveman's dinner, then this is it.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
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Koko
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 3
Meh
Flavor Name: Wagyu Beef Steak, Size: 20 Count (Pack of 1)
This is not beef jerky but rather and "ground and formed" meat snack. Not particularly rich, not particularly flavorful, and thus not particularly Wagyu.
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