Soil

Soil requirements for cacti and succulents are similar to most plants in that they desire a well draining good aerated soil. They are not particularly fussy and will grow in solid clay or pure sand but will be happier in a soil or potting compost that has been amended with some form of grit and organic material for good drainage and aeration.

What they don’t like is a soil that stays water logged for a prolonged period of time. A cactus or succulent with a proper soil mix will be healthier, more resistant to pest and disease, and be able to withstand wetter conditions outside.

There are many different ideas on what is the best growing medium for cacti and succulents as a quick search on the internet will show. Many recipes will be regional, or call for specific brand names of products that may not be available in you area. This is not a problem as there are many products available at your local garden center, hardware store, grocery store, and even you yard.

Making your own cactus and succulent mix is easy and takes hardly any time at all. My basic recipe is as follows; two parts potting soil/ one part grit/ one part Perlite/ 1/3 part fish compost. I find that this mix works great for both indoor plants which have a controlled watering schedule and plants that are outdoors in the weather. Some plants have specific soil requirements and may need an alkaline soil ( added lime), or a more acidic soil (added peat moss). You can adjust your mix accordantly.

A word about Peat. Peat moss is a main component of most store bought mixes. Some starter mixes are peat based, the largest component being peat moss. Plant from garden centers and wholesale sources will usually be planted in a peat heavy mix. This is done for several reasons. First it is a good medium for starting seedlings as it hold water well and allows for easy root development. Secondly when it dries it becomes very light for shipping. Store bought cactus mixes are usually very heavy on the peat.

The fist problem with peat is that when it dries out it becomes very hard to rewet. Some better brands of peat based mixes have wetting agents in them which help with this problem.

Secondly, as peat breaks down over a couple of years it changes the structure of the soil. This is not usually a problem for seedling as they are moved into larger pots fairly quickly, but for cacti, that may spend years in the same pot this can lead to failure to grow and susceptibility to pest and diseases.

One benefit from peat is that it makes the soil more acidic which most cacti and succulents like (ph5.5 – 6.5). This is OK since it is almost impossible to find a store bought mix that doesn’t have some peat in it.

Potting Soil

I choose a potting soil that has good drainage; one that has some sand in the mix. I also choose one that is light on the peat. Many mixes come with fertilizers mixed in. I stay away from these as the fertilizer levels are for more robust growing plants and may be too much for cacti or succulents. If using soil from the yard it is a good idea to sterilize it (heat in oven at 250.f for 2 hour is good).

Grit

The purpose of grit is to help water move through the soil. There are several choices of grit that you can use. I like crushed granite about 1 – 2 mm which is sold as grit for poultry.

Bedding sand is also a choice and is easy to find at most builder suppliers. Beach sand from lakes and oceans shouldn’t be used because of its high salt content and is so fine that it doesn’t let the roots breath.

Perlite

Perlite helps with soil aeration and water retention. It is inexpensive and available at every garden center.

Fish Compost

Fish compost has been used on gardens for some years now and many people swear by it. It is a mix of fish parts and bark mulch composted over a couple of years. Because of it high bark mulch content it will help with the aeration of your plant roots. It is also full of micronutrients that your plants will love. It can be found by the bag or bought by the yard from landscape suppliers.

Additional Soil Additives

Bark Mulch

Bark mulch comes in several different types and grades. For soil mixes fir or hemlock bark mulch is desired. Do not use cedar as cedar is poisonous and could kill your plants. A medium or fine grind is what you want. Bark mulch will have very little in nutrients but will help to lighten the mix and promote good aeration. Additional fertilizing may be needed when using a heavy bark mulch mix. As bark mulch decomposes it robs Nitrogen from the soil and can lead to nitrogen starvation. A plant that is suffering from this will be stunted and can start to turn yellow Bark mulch is available from most garden centers by the bag or can be bough by the yard from landscape suppliers.

Coco Husk.

Coco husk is a relatively new product on the market but has some very good benefits for soil mixes. It has good water retention abilities and helps with aeration of plant roots. Due to its fine grind it is use full for smaller plants since it will be easier for there roots to grow. Some caution should be used in purchasing coco husk in that a good brand name is bought. Cheaper type may not have been washed properly and have high levels of salt. .

Many different growers will have their own ideas of what works. Try out several different mixes and wait and see how your plants respond. Just remember almost all plants like well aerated roots and good drainage unless you’re growing Lily pads.

A full selection of soil amendments can be found in the store of this web site.

Happy mixing.


Growing Essentials

Light

Cactus and Succulents are sun loving plants. Their whole evolution has geared them to survive in habitat that other plants would find difficult. This is a place that is usually very hot and dry with intense light. Having said this Cacti and succulents are not just found in the deserts of the world, they have also colonized tropical rain forest, mountain tops and the Artic. This diversity of habitat has created many different lighting requirements.

Identifying your plants will be the first step in determining what light level they need. As a general rule most Cacti and Succulents require full sun outside or a bright south facing window. They will put up with considerable shade, but will either not grow or become elongated. Elongation is when a plant becomes stretched and is a sign that it is reaching for the light. This is very common in succulents and some cacti that are in a low light environment. Another sign of inadequate light is when a plant starts to reach for the light, bending toward a window or to the south if it is out side. This is more of a problem indoors in the winter when light levels are at their lowest. This isn’t a health problem and can easily be fixed by either moving the plants to brighter location or rotating the pots a quarter turn every few weeks.

Plants that require full sun should be planted in the garden in a sunny location, kept in pots on a southern deck or south facing window. Some shade in the late afternoon when the sun is at it hottest will be fine .

Plants that require part shade will prefer a location that gets broken light, under a tree or trellis, and only receive full sun in the early morning. This could be an east facing or west window. South facing windows that have blinds on them that are tuned and not raised during the day will cut down the light by 50%. Plants that want partial shade should be OK in this situation.

Some plants that are from the southern hemisphere are on a reverse growing schedule, meaning that they grow in our winter. These plants can be difficult to provide enough light for in the winter, particularly in areas that receive lots of rain and have cloudy skies for most of this season. A heated greenhouse or artificial light can be a good alternative for these plants.


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