Generally, you should not run into very many issues when it comes to succulent soil as long as it is formulated correctly. The following problems may be an indication that your succulent soil mix needs to be amended.
Soil Compaction
If you go to water your succulent and the water drains straight through the pot without the soil absorbing any of it, you may be dealing with compacted soil. Soil compaction is relatively rare in succulent soil if the mixture is made correctly, however, it can occur if the plant hasn’t been watered in a long time or if the amount of organic matter in the soil is too high.
In this case, it’s usually best to repot your succulent with new soil. Try adding additional perlite/pumice or sand to the mix to help prevent compaction in the future, and water your newly repotted plant right away.
Too High in Nutrients
If your succulent is displaying signs of leggy, unbalanced growth, this could be a sign that your soil is too nutrient-rich. This may sound like a strange problem to encounter, but succulents do not require a lot of nutrients in their soil (remember they don’t need very much organic matter). Excess nitrogen is the biggest culprit. If you encounter this problem, try amending the soil with additional sand and perlite to help reduce the percentage of organic matter in the mixture.
