What type of soil is best for living stone flowers
The editor introduces topics related to the succulent plant known as living stone flowers, such as the best soil for them. Let's take a look together!
Many新手 and semi-beginner plant enthusiasts are asking what type of soil is best for living stone flowers. Here, the editor recommends reading a plant enthusiast's experience, "My Experience with Living Stone Flowers (Part II) - Soil Preparation," which has been abridged. Often, I see plant enthusiasts posting questions in the following format: "Master, in the free shipping area, please recommend soil!" Because individual environments differ, the resulting soil mix will also differ. Copying others' mix can easily lead to a complete failure! Moreover, soil preparation is like a chef cooking; asking a chef to specify how much salt or chili to add is unlikely to result in a standardized approach.
I believe that many experienced gardeners basically mix soil "at will." The "at will" here is not entirely arbitrary but is based on rich cultivation experience. Their soil mix often includes phrases like "basic, almost," rather than being precise to the gram, so those seeking advice often do not receive responses from them.
When preparing soil at home, I usually use granular soil with a particle size of 1-3mm, which includes volcanic rock. The volcanic rock has pores, allowing for drainage and increasing breathability (very important). It also contains deer fertilizer, which gradually turns powdery and can replace peat moss. For nutrition, I usually add a small amount of rice husk charcoal (do not add too much, as it can burn the seedlings, and living stone flowers do not like too much fertilizer), along with some other granules of the same size.
At the bottom of the flowerpot, I place about 1 centimeter of ceramic stones, which can both drain water and allow for breathability, as well as prevent pests.
In greenhouses, I usually mix half peat moss with half granular soil, as this retains moisture better and reduces the frequency of watering. However, it is necessary to repot every year because it is prone to root mealybugs. Of course, using all granular soil also causes this, but with more peat moss, the likelihood increases. Although this approach saves time on watering, the annual repotting is a big task, with its pros and cons! (Note: repotting mature plants still requires caution, as large mature plants have less vitality and are prone to death after repotting)
Certainly, some friends might say that many greenhouses use a lot of peat moss, and you are lying. I want to say that, first, you do not see the annual sowing and death rates in greenhouses. We hobbyists buy seeds one by one and sow them one by one, unlike greenhouses that sprinkle handfuls. Of course, we feel heartbroken when a few pots die, while greenhouses may become numb to losing several baskets! Second, greenhouses are for profit; using all granular soil or half granular soil is more expensive, and changing the soil once or several times a year, how can greenhouse owners survive? Third, there is an issue of tolerance and adaptability for plants. If they adapt well to a certain growing environment from the beginning, using all peat moss is fine.
Key point: Soil preparation must consider breathability, which is beneficial for root growth. If the roots grow well, the plant will be healthy and less likely to die. If the plant often fails to root, excluding weather and seasonal factors and the plant's own vitality, consider whether the soil is not breathable enough.
The above experience and knowledge about the best soil for living stone flowers (the importance of soil breathability) are hoping to provide you with some help after reading this article!