Jackie you're doing great!!! It is not unusual that people have to replant stuff either because it doesn't look right or things were planted together that shouldn't be, or they outgrow the pot! So it really is all part of this plant obsession thing! I spend lots on soil and rocks/sand/perlite and chicken grit!

gg5 said:Jackie you're doing great!!! It is not unusual that people have to replant stuff either because it doesn't look right or things were planted together that shouldn't be, or they outgrow the pot! So it really is all part of this plant obsession thing! I spend lots on soil and rocks/sand/perlite and chicken grit!

Thank you Greg....i am trying here. This weekend I am going to go and get some Miracle Grow potting mix, pumice, and chicken grit. I will go ahead and after Ive wrote out a list of all my plants will try and see which belongs with which. Maybe you guys can help me put that together

That's a good idea! Also, don't know what advice you were given but I'll just say what I do...I have several pots of succulents that don't have holes in the bottoms, I didn't use rocks in the bottom of the pots, because I did read that rocks can keep in too much moisture.
I did use vermiculite and soil at a 50/50 combination. Now I just am very careful that when I water they only get a very small sip! Seriously only afew tablespoons. The plants are looking just as well as my other plants

Oh No Maybe I'm putting to many stones in the bottoms of my window boxes? I'm wondering about Why people seem to use pumice alot mixed in with their potting mix soil and chicken grit. Maybe I'm doing a bad combo for my boxes with No holes. I have alot o do this weekend.first starting with the list of the ones that i have.

Jookie, don't despair. Succulents probably aren' good candidates for planters without holes but it has been done and worked for some because they have certain conditions and watering routines to accomodate that. Your window box is probably ok for now to hold everything until spring comes and you decide to regroup but you need like Greg said to be cautious with the watering because evaporation is probably not much and for an extended period of time there will be water buildup on the bottom. You probably feel you need to keep everything in one place till you figure out your take care of plants schedule given that some plants need different conditions. That's OK for now.

totally agree ;)

Okay, I expect that a lot of folks won't agree with this, *but* .....

Unfortunately, putting rocks in the bottom of your pots does not help drainage in the least. For those of you who understand capillary action, that is the reasoning behind that statement. For those who don't.... well, I'm afraid I don't think I could give a very coherent explanation, so I won't add to any confusion!

What will help is mixing the rocks (or perlite, or sand ....) throughout your mix.

Greg, I thought vermiculite increased water retention?

Sheryl, yes I sometimes still do a thin layer of pea gravel on the bottom of my pot (really its out of habit, no scientific reason!) My thinking is that when the roots get long enough to get down there, they'll have a bit of water to absorb
I don't know what is actually happening I just know that when I use perlite, the pot looks drier between watering and my plants seem to appreciate it too.
Just in the past month I've begun to use chicken grit (crushed granite) mixed in, regular potting soil, with perlite added - I don't really measure anything.
Totally notice a difference with the plants once this chicken grit has been used!! (I do mix it throughout the soil, on my indoor plants I haven't used it as a top dressing, only my sempervivums - which are outdoors)
Hope that clears up questions? More than anything, the huge shift happened when I stopped watering the indoor succulents! Even the little cuttings, I am very light on the water

Me too thanks to you all I just do a light misting once in awhile when I feel they are ready for some water I wasn't able to find any chicken grit on my HD or Lowes. Where do you purchase that at?

Jackie TSC probably has it or any feed store will

Ohhh yes I totally forgot about Tractor Supply. Thanks!

Wish I still had them - left 'em when I left Tennessee.

The mix we use when re-potting anything cacti at the botanical gardens is cactus soil with equal parts of perlite. Then the boss throws in a bag of gypsum. Everything is top-dressed with a layer of gravel, mostly to hold the new plant in place and to create a barrier to evaporation. Of course, we're in a *very* low humidity environment 70% of the time, so for the really dry stuff, it works. But something even leaner might work for those of you with humidity. Jookie, that doesn't mean you if you have them inside still - that is dry, dry, dry with the heater running, right?

Yeah my house isnt to to dry right now. I run the humidifier in the winter in our living room to keep some moisture in the air and for my allergies. I have perlite but havent heard of the gypsum before Sheryl.

Sheryl and all, chicken grit (just in case you don't know - I didn't know until holding the bag and reading the side only about a month ago) is crushed granite, so it not only helps with keeping the soil balanced, it has nutrients that most of the succulents love!!! I use the #1 very crushed particles, so when it mixes with the soil its really rich and nice!! Highly recommend it for any area that is wet!

Greg.... I will be making a trip over to the TSC this weekend to look for some myself!!! I was wondering what it was. I know that chickens have to eat stones with their food so it is digested correctly

Will this work for my succulent mix?

Jackie - yep this is perfect! (hopefully at the store you find some less expensive...that's about the cost that I'm paying here in the city (Seattle) so I'd expect it to be less expensive where you are!) It truly is amazing stuff!

Awesome!!!! And yes my hubby keeps telling me to make sure I let everyone supply know that he had mentioned tractor supply company last weekend lol..... i will go grab some this weekend then and hopefully it will be cheaper there as well.

Ha - pat on the back to your hubby!