Succulents like aloe vera or snake plants purify the air and remove toxins. Indoor succulents produce oxygen to improve air quality and provide health benefits.
Succulents can improve the humidity of our home, and they also help to enhance our memory. Because these plants require little care and upkeep, they are very popular as indoor plants.
But, can succulents grow in sand?
Succulents can grow in the sand but, unfortunately, not for a long time because this is not the best medium for succulents to grow. However, they can survive and grow in sand for longer amount of time than other plants as they are known for thriving even under harsh conditions.
Succulents generally grow in dry and warm climates because they have an extraordinary capacity to retain water. Succulents need enough sunlight, proper water, and pot and soil mixture to grow correctly.
Can Succulents Grow in Sand?
Succulents typically grow in mountainous, desert, or semi-arid regions. Succulents are very strong and adjustable, so they can survive in environments where other plants can not survive. Even when the temperature rises or the humidity reduces, they can adapt to their environment.
Compared to other plants succulents can survive and even grow in sand for considerably longer amount of time, which can only do so for a short period of time due to the harsh natural environment and their flexible nature. Succulent also has the ability to store water in its roots, stems etc. So, they are more likely to survive in harsh conditions.
They don’t need a lot of organic materials or nutrients to thrive. Succulents can therefore grow in the sand, although it is not the best environment for them. Although the succulents that were planted in the sand may have looked beautiful, they did not survive for very long.
Do succulents need soil or sand?
Succulents can thrive in the sand, unlike other indoor plants, and because they don’t need a lot of organic matter to flourish, they don’t need nutrient-rich soil. Succulents nevertheless require a mix of organic and inorganic elements to flourish.
Because succulents are used to growing in a specific amount of soil combination, tropical cacti even need a specific amount of soil in their growing medium. As succulents develop in the soil, those growing in the sand will not receive adequate nutrients. We should choose cactus soil or mixed soil, which has sand, perlite, and pumice since succulents require soil that drains.
What succulents grow in sand?
Some succulents can grow better in the sand than others. Some of them are:
- Moss Rose: The botanical name of this succulent is Portulaca grandiflora. This succulent’s scientific name is Portulaca grandiflora. This plant, which also goes by sun plant, makes flowers resembling roses. This succulent can be grown in the sand in direct sunlight.
- Ice plants: The botanical name of this succulent is Delosperma cooperi. This drought-tolerant succulent produces green leaves and red and purple daisy-like flowers. This succulent can grow in dense sand under the full sun.
- Donkey Tail Spurge: The botanical name of this plant is Euphorbia myrsinites. This succulent is drought-tolerant, and it produces yellow flowers during spring. This type of succulent can grow well in sand.
- Sedum: The botanical name of this succulent is Sedum. This succulent is also known as a balloon plant. It is a drought-tolerant succulent and produces flowers in the summertime. This type of succulent can grow well in the sand under either full sun or partial shade.
- Crown of Thorns: The botanical name of this succulent is Euphorbia milii. This type of succulent is fleshy, thick and tear-shaped. They produce orange, pink, red and yellow flowers from spring to winter. It can grow in dense sand.
How To Grow Succulents in Sand?
The easiest way to use sand to grow succulents is to use sand in the soil mixture. To grow succulents in pure sand, we should keep a few things in mind before getting started. A few things are:
Temperature
The growth of the succulents is greatly influenced by their environment if they are planted outside. Succulents can withstand frost, endure the winter by going dormant, and if planted in pure sand, they will struggle more.
Drainage
Coarse sand has a beautiful drainage capacity, allowing water to spread and seep through. If we are using sand to grow our succulents, we should mix sand with potting soil to provide a certain amount of nutrients and good drainage via sand.
We should use glass, metal or other materials to plant with pure sand because sand can easily leak out of drainage holes in the pot. To ensure extra drainage, we should use a sizeable inorganic substance, such as gravel or rocks, at the bottom of the pots.
Nutrients
Soil contains organic materials such as compost and peat and inorganic materials such as perlite, rocks and sand. We must add nutrients often when using sand in the soil. The use of fertilizers or compost will help to grow well.
Soil Type
Some succulents prefer sandy soil, and some prefer other soil types. We must keep the succulent natural environment when planting to help them grow.
Where to buy coarse sand for succulents?
Coarse sand is best for succulents because it helps the succulent’s roots to breathe correctly. We can buy coarse sand for succulents from Amazon, Flipkart, many online garden stores like TrustBasket, the Affordable Organic Store and other online shopping sites and local nurseries.
Different kinds and different brands of coarse sands are available on these sites and in nurseries with proper prices and discount offers. So, we can buy coarse sand for succulents from online and offline shops.
How do you take care of succulents in the sand?
Succulents can grow and survive in sands due to their adaptable and drought-resistant nature. But succulents in the sand get fewer nutrients than the succulents in the soil. So, it is essential to combine diluted fertilizers with water and apply it in the medium of growth of the succulents.
This will ensure that the plants get some nutrients to grow properly. We should use a soil and sand mixture to help the succulents thrive correctly in the sand. If the succulents get proper potting soil and have adequate sunlight, we should water them every 3 to 4 days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I plant my cactus in the sand?
Cactus require potting soil, which provides good drainage to the succulents. So, we should avoid planting them in pure sand because they do not get enough nutrients in the sand to grow. We should mix coarse sand with nutrient-rich garden soil because this combination is perfect for growing succulents and cacti.
Can you grow succulents on beach sand?
We should mix sand with nutrient-rich garden soil, but we should not use pure beach sand. Beach sand contains high amounts of salt, and beach sand can not retain water and nutrients properly for the growth of succulents.
Conclusion
Succulents are a prevalent indoor plant because it is easy to take care of and a low maintenance plant. They are very hardy and adaptable plants, so they can grow and survive in the sand but not for a long time because it is not the best medium for succulents to grow. Succulents can store water in their stems.
Roots and leaves, and for this reason, they can survive in dry weather, and they do not need frequent watering. Succulents can survive in coarse sand but not fine sand because the drainage is not good in fine sand. If succulents get enough sunlight, water and other nutrients, they can survive in the sand.
We should combine diluted fertilizers and water in the sand because succulents in sand do not get enough nutrients like succulents in soil. We can get these kinds of succulents on several online sites and in local nurseries with reasonable prices and discount offers.
