SKU: 34672041114
diy fertilizer for succulents

diy fertilizer for succulents Molly's Gritty Mix for Cactus & Bonsai

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Description

diy fertilizer for succulents 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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Kathleen Kowalski
Boise, US
★★★★★ 4
Not like the pictures but well worth the money
Size: Queen, Style: 1 Green
4 stars because it is not nearly as padded as the descriptions and images make it seem. The filling flattens easily and doesn’t provide any support. That being said it does make my bed more comfortable and soft and has improved my sleep quality. I have a 12 in soft/medium firm memory foam mattress that was wonderful for the last +2 years till my back surgery ~6 months ago. Since then my joints ached when trying to sleep and when waking, my back would be all out of place and achey, and I was untested. Since buying this topper these issues have improved by 80% or more. It is a great addition to my bed and I don’t regret buying it.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2026
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Aurihazuma
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
OMGAAAAAWD!!! HEAVEN!
Size: Full, Style: 1 Green, Size: Full, Style: 1 Green
All I can say is OMGAWD!!! Thank You~!~!! We got a new mattress after the previous "The Cloud" Serta pillow top (I'll never have another one) lasted for less than 8 years and I totally despised not being able to flip it models failed.. The new model is also a hybrid mattress, but is flippable and was just a bit too firm. I was feeling progressively more and more uncomfortable as the nights wore on, and with my serious back problems.. this just wouldn't do.. So I began searching "Our Beloved Amazon - heh" for an alternative, and after quite some time and research finally landed on this wonderful topper. It's like sleeping on top of well stuffed Ida Down on top of piles of silk. So very comfortable and my back pain is virtually completely gone now -such a relief! Be sure you follow the instructions on care and initial setup. You Do have to let it fluff out because of the vacuum packing (it wasn't really heavy btw). Mine decompacted fine, but I still want to run it through the dryer when we next venture to the laundromat. Shake it a little here and there when you take it out and at least let it sit for a few hours. It was just as easy to put on the bed as a regular mattress protector, and I also put my regular protector on top of it for added security and waterproofing. The materials feel like they are of good quality.. Viscose is also called Rayon and can be made from a number of different materials, so take good care of it and follow the washing instructions carefully. Delicate only, and cool only, and use only a horizontal washer that does not have a central agitator or you will tear it up. Only dry on low temperatures (preferably in a very larger laundromat dryer so it has plenty of room to loosely toss about. Drying it in the sun is alright as well, but it won't fluff like you want it to. I recommend using a waterproof and bug proof protector on top of this just to be sure you take care of it properly. Now I want to buy one for both my Mother and my Aunt HAHAHHA! TG it is in my price range.. barely. (Addendum: I have run it through the big dryer at the laundromat.. The dryer was cold so I gave it a quick warm on medium for anout 2 minutes and then tumbled on low for quite some time. The topper was fully ready in about 25 minutes, but I decided to elt it go on low while I did the rest of my laundry. It did perfectly and is just like the manufacturer photos.. I was so tired when I arrived home that I just flaked out on top of everything.. It was so comfortable that I was out liek a light in very short order and slept beautifully. I can attest that if you use this below your sheets instead of covering it with an additional mattress protector, that it does have better cooling effect. I will of course keep my waterproof/bugproof protector on top just for safety. The cat is nutz about the new topper as well.) Namaste.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2025
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Chelsey Yarno
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Pleasantly surprised!
Size: Queen, Style: 2 Dark Gray
I had been searching for a quality mattress topper in hopes of extending the life of our mattress. I compared a few options and kept coming back to this one. I have to admit I was skeptical because the price point was lower than many options. This topper is SO comfortable and soft! I left it laying out for a couple hours and then followed the instructions to put it in the dryer. Worked like a charm. I’ve been going through issues with hip pain and this has made a difference in my sleep and I’m waking up in less pain. So happy I tried this out. The padding is so comfortable and fit on the mattress using the same sheet we had.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026
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KeepsGettingBetter
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
So perfectly soft
Size: King, Style: 2 Dark Gray
My husband was complaining about the mattress, and wants to spend a lot of money on a new one like the ones at the Waldorf. I asked him to give me a chance to try to fix it first. Watched youtube videos about hotel style beds, and landed on the need for a mattress topper. This one is so... very... comfortable. I thought the grid pattern would bother me, but nope. You don't realize how much heat you soak up from your mattress until you get a nice airy layer in between. I almost completely stopped sweating at night, and he's stopped complaining about hurting as much. This is another of those items that I'm scared of washing too much, but it's held up with care and caution. If it starts to get a bit too squished, I just fluff it in the dryer and the padding poofs right back up. The sides are deep and my mattress sinks right into the pocket with no pulling. I have bad back pain and I am certain this has been helping support my back a bit better, so I wake up more refreshed. I'm sorta popping out of bed like I used to years ago. He still plans on a new mattress, but this has saved us money, for now, and when we get the new one, this will layer on top like a dream. I'm glad I took the chance on this, it has really improved our rest, and that's so important.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2026
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Cherokee
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 4
Soft and pretty
Size: Full, Style: 1 Green
Not as thick as I thought it would be. That doesn't matter, though. Being thinner made it easier to handle and I like that. Actually, over all this is a good product. Placing it in the outdoors to sun out a bit took the odor away quickly. I think my company will be impressed with the comfort.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026

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