Talking about Cactus Soil and Proportions for Planting
A small plant knowledge, introducing the topic of cacti, discussing the soil and proportions for planting cacti. Let's take a look together.
In the past, cactus enthusiasts were limited by their place of residence, and the variety of cacti they could grow was very limited. With the expansion and extension of the internet, enthusiasts are now presented with a colorful world of cacti, as if they are in a fairyland. Through the internet, those varieties that were previously out of reach can now be easily obtained (provided there is enough financial resources to purchase them).
When we get good cacti and rare seeds, the key is how to plant them well. Let's start with the soil for planting. To grow cacti well, it is necessary to imitate the original ecological soil structure as much as possible. Most cacti grow in tropical desert areas, where the soil is poor, mostly gravel and coarse sand, with only a small amount of soil and organic matter, making the soil highly breathable. However, the problem is that it is difficult for us to get the soil from the original habitat, so the challenge for many enthusiasts is how to configure soil similar to the original habitat soil structure for planting. I now present to you my personal soil and proportions for planting cacti over the years, which can help beginners get started early and also hope to get more communication and guidance from experienced gardeners.
1. Coarse sand: There are many types of sand, such as weathered sand from mountains and large-particle gravel sand, which have good breathability and contain trace elements such as quartz, iron, and magnesium, which are beneficial for plant absorption. I choose river sand, sieving to take sand particles with a diameter of more than 2mm, advantages: the sand particles are without angles, clean, and have good breathability. Do not use sea sand.
2. Red jade soil: Universal soil, suitable for planting cacti and succulents and for sowing, an indispensable component. Red jade soil is formed by the accumulation of volcanic ash and has a porous structure with excellent breathability and contains some phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
3. A mixture of plant ash and carbon shell: The former is the carbon ash from unburned plants rapidly cooled, and the latter is the carbonization of the outer shell of rice grains at high temperatures. They contain some phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, have good breathability, and have a strong effect on inhibiting bacteria and absorbing harmful substances.
4. Coal slag: Also known as honeycomb coal, it is the product of the combustion of coal, a necessary fuel for cooking and heating in daily life in the past. Many small restaurants still use it. It has a porous structure, some water storage, excellent breathability, contains potassium fertilizer and trace elements, and is alkaline. For planting succulents, it needs to be sieved, take particles, and soaked and rinsed for a day to remove alkali, while for planting and sowing cacti, it does not need to be sieved or soaked and rinsed. It can replace "limestone, pumice, planting stone, floating stone, ceramsite" and other granular soils, cost-effective, easy to obtain, and worth promoting.
5. Volcanic rock: It has a porous structure, some water storage, excellent breathability, contains some phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, has a hard texture, can be used repeatedly for a long time, and has a bactericidal effect. It can also be used as a covering on the surface of potting soil, making it very aesthetic.
6. Vermiculite: Made from mica processed at high temperatures, it has good breathability and is sterile; however, it easily pulverizes, and after pulverization, its breathability is very poor. It is recommended for sowing and cutting, but not for planting.
7. Coconut bran: Processed from the coconut husk, it has good breathability and is slightly acidic, which is beneficial for regions with alkaline water in the north. It is recommended for sowing, and the fine powder should be removed when planting succulents.
Planting soil mixture ratio:
Red jade soil 4 parts, coal ash 3 parts, coarse sand 1 part, volcanic rock 1 part, a mixture of plant ash and carbon shell 1 part. The size of the particles depends on the size of the individual cacti being planted.
Sowing soil mixture ratio:
Red jade soil 3 parts, coal ash 3 parts, coarse sand 1 part, vermiculite 1 part, coconut bran 1 part, a mixture of plant ash and carbon shell 1 part. Choose particles below 3mm, with large particles placed at the bottom of the pot.
That is all for the discussion on cactus soil and proportions for planting. Have the plant lovers understood?