Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Argyroderma delaetii (Argyroderma delaetii)
Also called silver skin plant, bum plant.
More about argyroderma delaetii
About Argyroderma delaetii
Argyroderma delaetii · also called silver skin plant, bum plant · houseplant
Argyroderma delaetii, nicknamed the bum plant for its smooth, paired silver-green leaves cleft down the middle, is a winter-growing mesemb from the Knersvlakte quartz fields of South Africa. It opens magenta, yellow or white daisy-like flowers from late autumn into winter. It needs very bright light, a pure mineral mix and water timed to its cool-season growth.
Preferred mix: Sandy, gritty mineral mix in a deep pot
Watch for — Mealybugs: Cottony pests lodge in the central cleft and around roots. Inspect at repotting, isolate new plants, and treat with isopropyl alcohol.
Why argyroderma delaetii needs this mix
Argyroderma delaetii is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Argyroderma delaetii is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons argyroderma delaetii struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates argyroderma delaetii's roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for argyroderma delaetii.
pH — does it matter for argyroderma delaetii?
Argyroderma delaetii is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for argyroderma delaetii as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all argyroderma delaetii needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh argyroderma delaetii's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for argyroderma delaetii covers the timing and technique step by step.
Argyroderma delaetii soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for argyroderma delaetii?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Argyroderma delaetii is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for argyroderma delaetii?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates argyroderma delaetii's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for argyroderma delaetii as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does argyroderma delaetii need a special pH?
Argyroderma delaetii is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for argyroderma delaetii?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for argyroderma delaetii as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for argyroderma delaetii?
Refresh argyroderma delaetii's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all argyroderma delaetii needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Argyroderma delaetii care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water argyroderma delaetii — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting argyroderma delaetii — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
- Best soil for snake plant
- Best soil for dracaena
- Best soil for peperomia
- All 5561 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library