I am putting together a mixed succulent bowl with bright light and a fast draining mix. Is a gritty blend enough on its own, or do you also adjust the bowl depth to help the center dry out?
I would leave a little more room than feels necessary at first. In a wide bowl, airflow matters as much as the soil mix, and a shallow gritty container usually gives you more control over how fast the center dries.
I usually lean toward spacing that looks slightly open before the plants settle in. Once the roots fill the bowl, the extra air around the mix helps prevent the middle from staying wet too long.
I would leave a little more room than feels necessary at first. In a wide bowl, airflow matters as much as the soil mix, and a shallow gritty container usually gives you more control over how fast the center dries.