Also, ensure your succulent soil drains freely to avoid waterlogging. When you are waiting for your cuttings to become roots, it is best to keep them out of direct light. To speed up the rooting process, you can apply some rootinghormone to the cut. After that, place the cutting in a medium which is suitable for its growth. The pH of the soil is not important. The plant can grow in both basic and acidic soils. Cacti are able to spread their roots out in the soil so that when rain falls, they can gather water from large areas and absorb as much of it as they can.