Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Old Father Live Forever (Pelargonium cotyledonis)
Also called Old Father Live Forever, St Helena Geranium.
More about old father live forever
About Old Father Live Forever
Pelargonium cotyledonis · also called Old Father Live Forever, St Helena Geranium · flowering
Pelargonium cotyledonis is a remarkable succulent-stemmed species endemic to the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic, making it one of the few pelargoniums native outside continental Africa. It forms a thick, pale, water-storing stem topped with large, rounded, slightly hairy leaves and produces clusters of small white flowers. Its unique island origin means it tolerates slightly more moisture and cooler summers than Cape species, but still demands excellent drainage and a frost-free minimum. Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Preferred mix: Sharply draining, gritty, low-fertility mix
Watch for — Stem base rot: The thickened stem is highly susceptible to rot if the compost stays wet, particularly in cool winter conditions. Always water sparingly and ensure very free drainage.
Why old father live forever needs this mix
Old Father Live Forever flowers hardest in a rich but free-draining loam — fed enough to fuel the display, open enough that the roots never waterlog.
- Flowering is expensive for old father live forever: producing buds, blooms and seed draws heavily on nutrients and steady moisture, so the soil has to keep delivering all season.
- A loam-based mix holds nutrients and water far more evenly than a light peat mix, which means a longer, more reliable flowering period.
- It still needs sharp drainage — most flowering plants resent cold, wet feet far more than they resent being a little lean.
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 old father live forever struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- A thin, hungry or sandy mix gives old father live forever weak growth and few, short-lived flowers — it simply runs out of fuel.
- A heavy, badly drained soil rots the roots or crown, often over a wet winter, and you lose the plant before it ever flowers again.
- Over-rich, high-nitrogen mixes can push lush leaf at the expense of flowers — balance, not excess, is the aim.
Either starving old father live forever in a thin mix or drowning it in a heavy, badly drained one. It wants the rich-but-free-draining middle, plus a flowering (higher-potassium) feed in season.
pH — does it matter for old father live forever?
Most flowering plants, including old father live forever, do well around pH 6.0-7.0. A cheap soil test is worth it outdoors; one notable exception is any acid-lover (such as some hydrangeas), where pH directly changes flower colour.
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 quality bagged compost works for old father live forever in pots if you add grit and a flowering feed. In beds, improving the existing soil with compost and ensuring drainage beats any bag.
Drainage and the pot
Free drainage protects the roots and especially the crown over winter — raised beds, grit in the planting hole and never a waterlogged spot. Containers must have a clear drainage hole.
For perennials, refresh the top layer and feed each spring rather than disturbing the roots; for container displays, start with fresh rich mix each season. When the time comes, our repotting guide for old father live forever covers the timing and technique step by step.
Old Father Live Forever soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for old father live forever?
3 parts good loam or quality peat-free compost : 1 part well-rotted compost or leaf mould : 1 part grit or perlite. Flowering is expensive for old father live forever: producing buds, blooms and seed draws heavily on nutrients and steady moisture, so the soil has to keep delivering all season.
Can I use normal potting soil for old father live forever?
A thin, hungry or sandy mix gives old father live forever weak growth and few, short-lived flowers — it simply runs out of fuel. A quality bagged compost works for old father live forever in pots if you add grit and a flowering feed. In beds, improving the existing soil with compost and ensuring drainage beats any bag.
Does old father live forever need a special pH?
Most flowering plants, including old father live forever, do well around pH 6.0-7.0. A cheap soil test is worth it outdoors; one notable exception is any acid-lover (such as some hydrangeas), where pH directly changes flower colour.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for old father live forever?
A quality bagged compost works for old father live forever in pots if you add grit and a flowering feed. In beds, improving the existing soil with compost and ensuring drainage beats any bag.
How often should I refresh the soil for old father live forever?
For perennials, refresh the top layer and feed each spring rather than disturbing the roots; for container displays, start with fresh rich mix each season. Free drainage protects the roots and especially the crown over winter — raised beds, grit in the planting hole and never a waterlogged spot. Containers must have a clear drainage hole.
Keep reading
- Old Father Live Forever care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water old father live forever — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting old father live forever — 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
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry diagnosis
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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- All 10153 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library