6 Reasons why you should start Planting Succulents in Rocks

Succulents are beautiful plants that have a vast array of fantastic colours, textures and sizes. We often see many wonderful pictures captured of succulents on social media and the reason for this is simple. Those succulents all use rocks as a top dressing. The ‘trick’ here is that planting succulents in rocks can help to add a professional touch to your succulents and this, in turn, will take their beauty and detail up a whole notch.

However, the process of ‘top dressing’ is often overlooked by many plant growers. And this baffles me. 

It baffles me because planting succulents in rocks has many benefits that are overlooked.

And for those of you that are curious, lets dive in and discuss why you should introduce rocks to your succulents.

6 reasons to start planting succulents in rocks

#1 Help with drainage

Succulents grow better in soil that dries quickly. Succulents do not like excess water as this can lead to damage to the plant. 

Adding a bunch of rocks can be a perfect solution to prevent potting soil from becoming too wet or soggy. 

However, not all rocks are the same. There are rocks that have better drainage properties than others. 

Below are examples of the best natural rocks for your succulents:

#2 Improve soil and plant stability 

Potting small rocks with succulent soil can help anchor the roots. As a result, the succulent roots will be more stable which is beneficial for those who want to plant larger succulents. 

Hence if you are worried the roots will not survive, then adding a couple rocks may help to help strengthen their stability. This in turn, will give a more resilient plant.

#3 Improve home décor

Succulents are beautiful and adding a top dressing can emphasise your succulents which in turn, will help to compliment your living room (or wherever you choose to grow your succulents)

Rocks come in different shapes, colours and textures. Therefore, you will have many options to choose from to match your home theme or style. 

#4 Keep soil clear 

Adding a layer of rocks at the top can prevent insects or pests from entering the soil. 

A barrier is created with very little getting in or out of the soil.  

It may be a good idea to have small gaps in between your porous rocks for watering. This will allow water to reach your soil when it becomes dry. 

Another good reason to have gaps is to allow the soil to aerate. 

A balance between watering and soil aeration is critical to managing succulents. 

#5 Add a professional touch 

You may have a wonderfully decorated house but that plant you want in your living room just doesn’t look right.

Or, you decide to grow an indoor succulent garden but it fails to aesthetically please you.

Or, you try capturing those awesome pictures on your Instagram but they look a bit off.

The solution to all the problems above can be resolved by planting succulents in rocks.

It is that simple.

And the best thing about this is- the array of rocks you can choose from will give you many different ways to touch up the professionalism of your succulents.

This will be a fantastic way to improve the landscape of your Indoor Succulent Garden.

#6 Simple

After your potting soil is arranged, just add a bunch of rocks on top. Choose your rocks accordingly based on the theme you want to follow.

Don’t let the simplicity of this process deceive you.

Honestly, this will make a massive improvement to your succulents.

And for those of you who are new to planting or growing succulents, check out the 10 Easy Succulents to Grow Indoors for Beginners.

Top dressing rocks for succulents

Try using rocks that help with drainage. For example, use top dressings that double as drainage material. My favourites are pumice, shale, and turface. 

Also, use porous rocks as they are softer and act as a ‘sponge’ allowing quick absorption of fluids. 

Moreover, they allow air and water to pass through, which is necessary to allow your succulents to be watered and aerated.

Decorative rocks for succulents

One of the main reason to add rocks are to increase the decorative part of your succulent. White small pebbles or aqua top pebbles are examples of bright colours that add contrast and boldness to your plant.

Also, it is possible to buy basing bags that have a mix of different type of rocks for your succulents.

With all the varieties available, it is now really easy to decorate your plant how you want. The image below shows different pots grown with different type, size and colour of rocks used.

What to avoid

Non-porous rocks 

They have interlocking grains that prevent air or water to get through. This can become a problem when your soil becomes dry as water won’t be able to pass through non-porous rocks. Your succulent will be starved of water and nutrient it requires and eventually, will lead to plant death.

Hence, it is best to avoid non-porous rocks such as pea gravel, river rocks, fish rocks, sand or glass marbles.

Adding excess rocks 

Too many rocks can ‘suffocate’ the soil. As a result, the plant will have poor aeration and this prevents microorganisms from releasing nutrients that succulents require for growth. 

Also, it can decrease the chance of water reaching the soil. This may damage the plant especially if the soil is very dry.

If you are using large rocks, break them down. This will also help water and air to get through.

Using a glued top dressing

This is commonly seen in succulent gardens to give landscapes more beauty.

It is a no-effort method that will keep your soil in place whilst also adding a decorative element to your succulents. 

However, long term it may affect the plant.

The reasons for this include: 

Based on the reasons above, I would avoid using glued top dressing long term. If you are using short term, then it should be okay.

How to add rocks as a top dressing? 

The top dressing is an add on. Therefore, it is best to pot your succulent and then leave enough space in your container to add top dressing at the end.

Be careful not to add too many rocks at the top as this will prevent water and air to be transferred between the outside and inside of the pot.

Also to note, when planting succulents in rocks, make sure you use rocks that are porous and compliment your succulent or room to add a aesthetic touch.

What else is required for growth?

Soil

Choosing soil with good drainage is crucial. This is because succulent roots will rot if the soil is too moist. The consequence of this is severe and can cause your plant to die.

Check your soil to see how well it drains or it may be a better option to buy potting soil that has good drainage.

Cacti and Succulent Potting Mix is a good choice.

Fertiliser

This can be added if you think that your succulent is not growing. Fertilisers help to add extra nutrients and minerals to the soil to aid plant growth.

Pot with drainage holes 

The image above shows a pot that has drainage holes and a cover underneath to collect the excess water from the soil. Succulents do not like excess moisture and this is a simple rule all succulent beginners should know.

Avoid terrariums, jars, bowls, mugs. They do not have drainage holes and consequently will keep the soil moist upon watering. This will allow bacteria to thrive and can result in root rot. 

Water  

It is important not to water often as the soil becomes soggy and this will damage the plant. 

Use the dry and soak method to water the plant only when needed. 

Alternatively, misting is preferred if you decide to use very little soil. Spray onto the soil, leaves and stem. 

Can succulents grow in sand?

The simple answer is no.

Sand does not contain the nutrients and minerals needed to manage succulents. 

Soil is preferred as it allows aeration, water absorption and natural production of nutrients through microorganisms. 

Planting succulents in rocks 

There are different methods and interests when planting succulents in rocks. 

Can you plant succulents in rocks?

If you want a short term look (wedding bouquet for example) and are growing your succulents in a jar or pot with rocks only, your succulent may survive a couple of weeks.

For this purpose, it is better to grow your succulent in a growing medium. Drainage is not required and your succulent should be able to survive without water.

Also, succulents such as Korean Succulents have roots that are are fragile. Therefore, if you are taking the succulent out of their pots, be careful not to damage the roots.

Glass jar with rocks 

There are ways to grow your succulents and hide the potting mixture so the plant visibly looks as though it is grown in rocks only. 

Below are the steps to create this:

1. Place larger rocks around the outside of the glass (terrarium, jar etc)
2. Add smaller pebbles behind them. This will prevent the soil from falling through
3. Add the potting mixture 
4. Start low and build your way around the glass. Add your pebbles in layers to allow good control and prevent soil from falling through. 
5. Keep building until a desirable height is achieved
6. In the middle, you should have potting soil. Make a hole in the potting mixture big enough for the succulent roots
7. Add the succulent carefully and cover with more potting mixture

Also to note, if you use very little soil, repotting your succulents may need to be done often.

Care tips for your succulents

Misting 

If you decide to grow your succulent in small amounts of soil, misting your succulent is preferred. Spray onto the leaves and soil at an arms length.

Pesticides 

Spray pesticides to prevent damage to the plant. 

If you notice any damage to the leaves, cut them off.

Dry and soak method 

Dip the index finger into the soil to check if the soil is dry. If it is dry, then add water. The advantage of using porous rocks is that you will not have to remove the top dressing of rocks. You just water the plant on the top soil and the water will pass through the rocks to reach the soil.

Check leaves 

The leaves can tell you if the plant is watered too much or too less.

For example, saggy leaves tend to suggest over watering whereas, wrinkled leaves occur when the plant is starved off water.

Light 

Make sure your succulent gets around 4-6 hours of light per day. Most succulents prefer bright but indirect sunlight. Therefore, grow your succulents close to a good source of light. For example, placing your plant close to a window will allow a good amount of light to reach the succulents.

Moreover, be observant of brown leaves as this can suggest your plant has been burnt by sunlight. Trim off the burnt part and place your plant in shade to prevent further damage.

Final words

Planting succulents in rocks is a very simple, easy and efficient way to bring a professional finesse to your already beautiful succulents. 

Bear in mind. rocks come in all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes. This gives you more reason to be creative in your work, and to find what suits your succulents.

However, just make sure you add the right type of rock and the right amount. Both are critical to one- adding a professional touch and secondly- allowing the succulent plants to grow.

With that in check, you are all set to start growing your beautiful succulents with a polished and professional look.