Most lovers of indoor plants love cacti primarily for their unpretentiousness and so-called patience, they can safely survive a period of long absence, do not require frequent and generally quite phlegmatic plants. However, like all living things, they require not burdensome, but correct, in order to feel good, grow and, moreover, bloom. In this article, we will determine what kind of soil is needed for a cactus and what requirements exist for it.
First of all, we will describe in general terms what kind of soil cacti like and here three main criteria can be distinguished: light, porous and with good drainage. The universal saturated dense soil in which the vast majority of plants are planted in this case is completely inappropriate, it is categorically not suitable for succulents.
What soil is better to transplant a cactus
Plants in specialized stores are sold in the so-called technical soil, which is completely unsuitable for long-term plants in it, therefore, after purchase, it is advisable to transplant it, allowing it to get used to the new conditions within a few days.
When buying a cactus, you can immediately purchase a ready-made special substrate, which is called "For succulents and cacti". If you can see that it is not porous enough, you can mix it with sand, small pebbles or brick chips. This will help to bring the growing conditions as close as possible to natural ones, cacti can often be seen (if, of course, there is an opportunity to see them in their native environment) on stones and rocks. The drainage should be such as to protect the plant from even the slightest stagnation of water, the earth should quickly seep with water and dry out just as quickly.
When choosing a ready-made soil, you should not rely only on the seller's recommendations and carefully check the composition of the soil, different manufacturers may offer different soils. The main component of the substrate for cacti is peat, to which limestone or dolomite flour is mixed to reduce its naturally high acidity. Peat can also be different, so you should not stop choosing high-moor peat, it is devoid of nutrients and retains moisture for a long time, which is not needed by cacti. Low-lying peat is heavier and quickly cakes, therefore it is mixed with expanded clay and sand, and this is the best choice for cacti. A mixture of these two types of peat has also proven itself quite well.
Mostly prepared soils are sold already with the addition of fertilizers, information about this is also noted on the packaging. If the soil is not fertilized, it is highly recommended to purchase additional fertilizer.
For those who do not consider themselves a supporter of ready-made substrates, and prefer to independently prepare soil mixtures for their plants, we will describe the basic recommendations. Nothing complicated and surprising is needed, you just need to mix in equal amounts deciduous soil, turf and sand. This is a universal "succulent" mixture, and the impurities are selected based on the characteristics of the plant itself. For example, if the plant has small thin surface roots, then the soil should be loosened with pebbles or crushed brick in a quantitative ratio to the main components of 1: 1: 1: 1/2.
If the root system of the plant is stronger, the roots are thick, then the composition of the soil should be slightly changed by increasing the amount of turf so that its ratio with deciduous soil and sand looks like 1.5: 1: 1.
It is recommended to add crushed charcoal in an amount of at least 1/10 of the total soil volume, and crushed stone to plants that grow on stones under natural conditions.
How to prepare potting mix for cacti and succulents video
And finally, a useful video clip and preparation of soil for cacti.
Indoor cactus can be found on the windowsills of offices and apartments. This house plant is appreciated for its unpretentiousness and pretty appearance. However, if you want to plant such a succulent baby, you need to know how to choose the right soil for cacti.
.In fact, there are many recipes for the composition of the earth for cacti, and you can choose the one that is right for you. However, regardless of what kind of soil you choose for cacti, it must meet the following requirements:
- The first condition is that the earth must be loose and pass water and air well.
- The second prerequisite for the substrate is low acidity. The optimum value is pH 4.5–6.
Looseness is given by leafy earth. In addition, you can use brick chips or river sand for this, adding them to the soil. The use of peat is allowed (if it is necessary to increase the acidity), and if it is necessary to reduce it, then lime is perfect.
It's time to find out what kind of land is needed for old and young cacti.
Young plants need a looser substrate, so leafy soil should form the basis. But older plants feel great in denser soil. Consider these points when compiling the substrate.
Video "Soil for cacti"
In this video, an expert will share tips for choosing a soil for cacti.
Required components
So, the soil for cacti consists of the following basic elements:
- Leafy land. Used as a main item, very loose and great for these babies.
- Clay-soddy soil. Used to retain water. In addition, nutrients are washed out of it much more slowly.
- Old greenhouse soil. This is a fallback if the previous two are not available to you for some reason.
- Humus. Use it very carefully, in scanty amounts. It is allowed to be added only to very nutrient-poor soil.
- River sand. It is used for loosening, and is included in all basic soil mixtures for these plants.
- Fired clay. Also used for loosening.
- Charcoal. It is added to the substrate in small pieces. Interferes with putrefactive processes.
- Brick chips. Can be used to increase the level of looseness of the substrate.
- Peat. Used to increase acidity levels if needed.
- Lime. Only used if it is necessary to lower the acidity level.
Features of self-cooking
Do-it-yourself soil is quite simple to make, you just need to know what the main elements are in the mixture for these plants. The only difficulty may be finding all the ingredients, since not every grower is ready to go to specialty stores for them. However, there is nothing difficult here either, because as follows from our previous paragraph, some components can be an excellent alternative if you could not find the required ingredients.
It is also worth paying attention to one nuance: the constituent parts of the substrate will change slightly if you plant different varieties of plants. So, here are the basic recipes for potting soil.
For desert cacti
For these plants, it is necessary to compose a substrate, taking the following components in equal proportions:
- turf and leafy land;
- peat;
- coarse sand.
For plain cacti
When formulating a potting mix for lowland varieties, it is important to consider that they need looser soil than their predecessors. This is the reason for the changes in the composition of the soil mixture:
- turf and leafy land;
- peat;
- humus;
- coarse river sand.
Sod land will need a little more than the rest of the components - two parts. All other ingredients are needed one part at a time.
Families Cereus
These plants are distinguished by fast growth rates and rather large sizes. Because of this, the soil in which they are planted should be more fertile. So, the following elements are included in the substrate for plants of the Cereus family:
- turf and leafy land;
- peat;
- humus.
All ingredients, except for humus, are taken in equal proportions. Humus makes up 1/4 of it, since even such a small amount is more than enough to ensure the required level of fertility.
Soil for unpretentious cacti
These species have the simplest soil composition. It should be noted that humus is not added there at all, since they are not particularly selective in choosing a substrate.
So, to prepare potting mix for unpretentious varieties, you will need the following components:
- ready-made soil;
- coarse sand;
- gravel.
It is necessary to observe the proportions of 2: 2: 1, and then the substrate will turn out to be good and nutritious.
Cacti are evergreens that can often be found on the windowsills of many flower growers. at home it is quite simple, they are not whimsical to the conditions of detention. But one feature still exists - cacti are very demanding on the composition of the soil. For good growth, it is necessary to choose the right soil for cacti.
Soil composition
How to choose the necessary soil composition for cacti? Plants prefer the soil to be rich in nutrients. Each type of cactus has its own requirements for the soil. Therefore, the land for such plants must be selected as close as possible to natural. But most flower growers for growing such plants purchase soil in specialized stores, into which they then add the missing components or prepare it at home with their own hands.
For desert cacti, clay soil is best, but forest species need loose soil. But all the same, the soil should pass air and water through itself well, and also contain a low level of acidity (no more than 6.5). Also, various fertilizers should not be present in the soil, because the fertilizing contains nitrogen, which stimulates rapid growth, and this is not needed for cacti.
Such varieties of cacti as strombocactus, ariocarpus, blossfeldia have a predisposition to decay, they are grown in moist soil, where a large number of stones are laid.
The thorny species require more calcium than the other species. In this case, crushed eggshells are added to the soil.
To retain moisture well, you need to use sod soil, black soil is not very suitable for this. Leafy soil contains a significant amount of nutrients, charcoal is an excellent antiseptic, thanks to which rotting can be prevented.
The acidity level of the soil is reduced with wood ash or dolomite flour.
Lime should be added to the soil only if necessary, for example, for astrophytums and other varieties with long thorns.
In order to make the soil looser and more breathable, it is necessary to add coarse sand, fine expanded clay, small pebbles, vermiculite or pebbles to the soil. All of the above ingredients, except for sand, are required to be applied depending on the age and size of the plant. For example, small fraction is well suited for young cacti, large fraction for adults. Before preparing the required composition of the soil, it is recommended to disinfect all the ingredients.
Soil preparation
What kind of land is needed for cacti? For desert varieties, a soil composition should be applied consisting of such components as:
- Leafy and soddy soil;
- Peat;
- Coarse sand.
All ingredients must be taken in equal proportions and mixed well.
Plain cacti are optimally suited for soil made of the following elements:
- Sod land - 2;
- Leafy soil - 1;
- Peat - 1;
- Coarse sand and humus - 1.
A soil mixture for cacti of the Cereus family, you need a fertile one:
- Leafy and soddy soil - 1;
- Humus - 1/4;
- Peat - 1.
The following soil is perfect for undemanding plants:
- It is necessary to take the finished land - 2;
- Coarse sand - 1;
- Gravel - 1.
Before planting, you need to take care of the drainage layer. Crushed stone or expanded clay can be taken as drainage. After laying the drainage layer, it is required to pour soil, and then lay another layer of expanded clay or small pebbles on top, thanks to such actions, rotting of the root collar can be prevented. However, the top drainage layer is not always used because it makes it difficult to control soil moisture levels.
Finished land
Choosing a universal ready-made soil for cacti, it is recommended to study in detail the composition, which should include leafy soil, sod soil, high moor peat, sand, as well as other components - charcoal, dolomite flour. The composition may also contain vermicompost, but such a soil mixture must be added in small quantities.
There is a huge number of ready-made soils, the most popular is the soil for cacti from the manufacturer "Vermion", which includes biohomus, as well as a mixture of "Flower Happiness". Another good choice is such a soil as "Tropic for Cacti".
Professionals advise adding certain necessary components to the purchased mixture, depending on the type of plant. It should be remembered that the soil for cacti needs to be chosen loose and breathable, so your plant will develop well.
Care
Cacti are very fond of bright sunlight. It is best to place the plant pot on the south window. With insufficient light, the cactus does not develop well. Slower growth usually occurs in winter when daylight hours are too short. Some species require additional light. In warm weather, the plants are taken out into the fresh air (balcony or street).
Water the cacti regularly. Abundant watering is necessary for those individuals who grow in a dry room where the temperature is high. In summer it is necessary to water the plants every day, preferably in the morning. Water for irrigation must be used boiled. In the fall, the frequency of watering is reduced. In winter, plants are moistened in small doses so that the soil does not dry out completely.
Tableware
Most of all, I now regret that in my early cactus-growing youth, no one told me what the best dishes for cacti were. I've tried everything: plastic, ceramic, metal dishes.
Of course, I prefer plastic pots, and here's why. The surface of metal dishes gets very hot during the day, from this the delicate sucking roots of cacti dry out and die (they literally "fry" like in a frying pan). Ceramic dishes absorb water, which then quickly evaporates through the walls - and the roots of cacti, reaching out to the ceramics for water, painfully die off.
The situation is aggravated by the situation when cacti are provided with little room for growth: the pots are tiny, the bowls are small - the roots cannot develop in such conditions.
In the literature on cacti, some authors write that a cactus pot should be selected according to the size of its roots, while others believe that cacti should grow in small, cramped pots. Where should the roots grow? Indeed, even if the plant itself is compact, its roots usually exceed the size of the aboveground part many times.
It is wrong to think that if we do not see the roots, then we can ignore them (as if the cactus grows by itself, and its roots live their own lives). But it is the thin roots of the cactus that collect moisture and nutrition, allow it to grow.
How often you can see unkempt cacti on the windows, huddling for years in small cramped pots, not watered in time and dusty - and yet they do not give up, persistent like tin soldiers ... live cacti!
I got an "inspiration" when I came to Israel and saw gorgeous huge cacti growing near houses with virtually no maintenance. That's when I realized what a normal healthy cactus should look like!
For cacti, I choose dishes that are 2-3-4 times larger than the size of the plant along with the roots - so that there is a place for full-fledged roots to grow, and not "mouse tails" in tiny pots. From 30 years of growing cacti, a quarter of a century passed before I realized this. For 25 years I have tried in vain to grow large beautiful cacti in small pots, and no one prompted me about this important point.
Now I always plant several plants at once in deep and spacious plastic dishes. In this "hostel", the roots of one cactus develop violently, the other - weaker; so it is convenient for them to be side by side, and they are less overcooled.
The soil
"Terra incognita" is an uncharted land ... Among cactusists there is a belief that there is either some kind of "magic cactus" soil mixture, or "amazing cactus" soil, or "extraordinarily miraculous cactus" substrate. And whatever people are inventing, and wherever they are looking for this "cactus" soil! There are as many cactusists in the world as there are land recipes for cacti (even more :)).
I myself, by a sinful deed, spent a lot of my life looking for such land (I was looking for it both in the forest and in the field), but now I know which land is completely unsuitable for cacti.
Do not listen if you are encouraged to plant cacti in sand, gravel, gypsum, loose-looking clay soil and, especially, in clay (this is death for cacti). Their tender roots do not breathe in such a land. Clay holds moisture for a long time, so the roots rot and cacti die; and when the clay earth dries up, it cracks and tears the roots. The seemingly dry clay soil may be crumbly, but when wet, it sticks together like cement. The same applies to fine river sand, which quickly sticks together, compacted and becomes like a crust of concrete. If the plants live in such, if I may say so, "land", then they are probably well fed with all kinds of fertilizers.
Although there are both helmoculture and hydroponics, this is not for beginners.
What kind of soil is needed for cacti?
Remember the three main land rules for cacti:
1) The earth should be as loose as possible, but at the same time should not be as loose as sand.
2) Black nutrient soil is desirable (this is my opinion based on the experience of growing cacti in the south), but without strong organic fertilizers.
3) There must be a lot of land so that the roots can grow at least 2.3 times.
So what kind of soil is needed for cacti?
This soil should not be very sandy or clayey, but should always be loose and fertile: deciduous soil, black fertile soil and peat are taken in equal shares for looseness (also used as an acidifier).
Deciduous soil for cacti cannot be taken from under the oak; soil from under coniferous and resinous trees is not suitable either. Look for black fertile soil in the field, good land from molehills. No need to add sand and gravel to the soil.
After 30 years of caring for cacti, I found a great substrate in the store - this is the usual Dutch soil for flowers; now I use just this, the easiest and most practical way of acquiring soil for cacti.
Transfer
So, the land is prepared: a mixture of deciduous, field black soil and peat - all equally. You can add a little coarse sand and charcoal to it; we also add pieces of foam rubber. A drainage from several pebbles is laid at the bottom of the pot.
Young cacti need to be replanted in spring every year, adults can be transplanted with a clod of earth in two to three years. Having deep and spacious pots for all cacti, you can less often transplant. Old plants are very sensitive to transplanting, so if they grow in a large container, then they can not be transplanted for five or more years.
I cross the cactus along with a clod of earth, and even if it blooms at this time, it will continue to bloom. Although there is such an opinion that "it is necessary to shake off the soil from the roots", or "to wash and cut off the roots", or to do other manipulations - I never do this and will not do it! Why injure a plant once again if it is juicy, healthy and growing?
After transplanting a cactus, do not water it, wait 3-4 days (and in temperate climates even 5-10 days). If possible, choose the east or southeast side for the transplanted plant as a location, place it on a windowsill, in a greenhouse outside the window or on a balcony and shade it well. After watering, when the plant starts growing, gradually reduce the shading.
Watering
Water is a symbol of life, no living creature can do without it. Cacti are also very fond of water, just in the process of evolution they were able to adapt to hardships: to unbearable heat and hot stones, to the huge blazing sun (to conditions where many plants cannot live).
Yes, adult cacti can go without water for a long time. That is why many people believe that cacti need to be watered very rarely, or they may not be watered at all. This is fundamentally wrong: in nature, droughts are replaced by torrential rains, when the soil reaches the maximum degree of moisture - then the plants begin to grow and bloom.
About 30 years ago, when buying the first cacti, I heard that "it is better to underfill than to pour." Therefore, in my cactus-growing youth, I was afraid to overflow water when watering cacti - "I dripped like from a pipette", watered my cacti less and less often than I should have watered them in the warm south of Ukraine. And what is surprising: at the same time, my cacti somehow lived, grew slowly and even sometimes bloomed (especially the Chileans astrophytums).
And only in Israel, I began to water the cacti abundantly (as soon as the soil dried up on top), water, water! I made the soil for the cacti more fertile, did not "dilute" it with sand, clay and other additives, put the cacti in a greenhouse outside the window, increased watering ... and the results exceeded all my expectations.
... And then I created the earth, and gave moisture and warmth to it,
so that she grows cacti and other succulents :-)
My cacti began to grow 2-3 times faster; bloomed those that had not bloomed before. The Gymnocalycium, Notocactus and Lobivia were especially happy about the good soil and moisture. The Astrophytums Ferocactus, Oreocereus, Espostoa and Cleistocactus grew vigorously. And in general, all the plants liked it: my cacti began to grow rapidly and bloom violently all summer, and some even winter.
I believe that the question of the necessary watering of cacti should be determined by each cactusist for his area. The main thing is that the clod of earth in cacti should not dry out, and the dilapidated layer of the substrate should dry out between waterings. Therefore, I do not cover the root collars of my cacti with gravel or coarse sand.
In Israel, it is so hot in summer that one cannot go outside without a bottle (I mean a bottle of water). I also water my cacti in winter, they do not stop growing. But in a temperate humid cold climate in winter, watering cacti should not be allowed!
Especially in hot weather, cacti, like all living things, are thirsty; it is necessary to spray them (in the form of a "fog") with boiled water. It is undesirable to spray on cacti with a stream of water in the form of thin long "hairs". When spraying cacti, the sun should not fall on their stems - a burn may appear.
Often the cause of the death of cacti is the attack of insect pests: microscopic wounds appear in places where the skin of the cactus is most tender (on the roots, root collar or at the point of growth). Through these "gates" rot penetrates into the tissue of the cactus, practically instantly killing the plant. Many dangerous pests of cacti, such as mealybugs and mites (red spider), are terribly afraid of water. Since I live in a hot country, I do not winterize my cacti and continue to water them, then they will not start pests.
Moreover, I water my cacti directly on the stem (except for oreocereus espostoa and cephalocereus, in which the hairs turn yellow and stick together from water), but in cold climates it is not safe!
I lived and live in areas where there is a lot of calcium in the water, so I periodically boil the water for watering cacti, stand it for a day and acidify it. For the next watering, I no longer boil or acidify the water, but take only settled water for better absorption of microelements by the roots (since in boiled water, almost all substances precipitate).
IN COLD WEATHER, DO NOT WATER CACTUSES.
When preparing cacti for wintering, you need to reduce watering, commensurate with your climate (weather and temperature). At the end of October-November, if there are no sunny days, watering of cacti should be stopped altogether. Start gradually watering cacti from March (if it's warm), awakening the plants with a mist-forming warm spraying - then in spring there will be fewer unpleasant surprises with cacti.
Always look closely and try to predict what your cactus wants and loves: it will be pleasant and useful for you!
There are flower growers who believe that cactus soil is a detail that you don't even need to worry about. Say, these plants live in places where there is only dust and stones, so it makes no sense for them to buy some kind of special land.
Many will be surprised to learn that the substrate should not be any, but special, enriched with trace elements, nutrients.
Important! For each group of cactus, the soil should be selected individually.
The reason is that the plants are forest and desert. Of course, they grow in different conditions, so what suits one person will become death for another.
Experts knowingly work on creating a soil mixture so that it is as similar as possible to the one in the natural environment.
Therefore, this issue must be approached with all responsibility so that cacti grow and develop.
Cactus soil - what it is
Cacti growing in the desert, as well as those with turnip roots, grow in clay-lumpy soil. As for forest species with fibrous roots, loose earth would be an ideal option for them. Generally speaking, both some and other species need a moisture- and air-permeable substrate, with a Ph level that does not exceed 6.5.
It is very important to ensure that fertilizers are not included in the soil, since this plant does not need various fertilizers intended for rapid growth or build-up of green mass. They also do not need minerals and nitrogen-containing fertilizers.
Each flower needs its own soil
She is chosen according to the following principle:
- Those species that are prone to decay (blossfeldia, ariocarpus, strombocactus, and the like) are grown exclusively in waterproof soil, where stones are present in large quantities.
- Specimens with thorns are demanding on some components, they especially lack calcium. Therefore, this element must be present in the soil. To do this, it is enough to take the eggshell, grind it to the very minimum and add it in small quantities to the soil mixture.
- Some types of cacti, one of these is astrophytum, as well as similar specimens with long thorns, need lime, which must be added to the soil from time to time.
Important! If lime or calcium is added to the substrate of those types of cacti that do not need these elements, then the plant may begin to die.
As for the substrate, some gardeners do not know how to achieve additional looseness and breathability. And for these purposes it is necessary to use coarse sand. Suitable for both construction and river. In addition, you can use vermiculite, expanded clay, crushed stone, small pebbles and brick chips (pre-well sifted and washed).
All these components, except for sand, must be selected based on the size of the cactus, as well as its age. If the mixture is made for a young cactus, then it is best to pay attention to the small fraction, if for an adult, then to the large one.
Important! In the case when the land for cacti is compiled with his own hand, all components must be sterilized.
Cactus substrate: how to make it
It is impossible to say what kind of soil a cactus loves, because, as mentioned above, each species needs its own substrate. Which one will be described below.
A soil mix for desert species consists of the following components, collected in equal parts:
- peat;
- leafy land;
- sod land;
- coarse sand.
A completely different soil should be used for cacti that live in nature on the plains. These include a large genus of echinopsy. As for the substrate, its features are nutritional value and porosity.
Special requirements are imposed on the soil for the Cereus family, because they grow rapidly and reach impressive sizes. Such flowers will feel good only in a fertile substrate.
Therefore, composing it yourself, you should add:
- one piece of leafy land;
- a quarter of humus;
- one piece of turf land;
- one part of peat.
For unpretentious cacti, it is possible to partially make up a soil mixture using 2 parts of the purchased land, as well as:
- one piece of gravel;
- two pieces of coarse sand.
When planting a cactus, it is imperative to lay out drainage on the bottom of the flowerpot. It can be crushed stone or expanded clay. After that, you will need to pour earth, and add a little pebbles or expanded clay on top. It is necessary and necessary to do this in order to prevent decay of the root neck. At the same time, much attention is paid to soil moisture.
How to choose the right land for a cactus
Today, in stores, cactus soil is presented in a wide range. However, this does not mean at all that you can take the first one that comes along. You need to carefully study what is included in its composition. So, the mandatory elements should be: leaf and sod land, top layer or humus layer, as well as coarse sand. The content of vermicompost is permissible, however, given that it is a nutrient, it is added to the composition of the substrate in small quantities. Other components include wood ash, charcoal and dolomite flour. All these components are not superfluous.
Today the most demanded soil mixtures are goods from the Vermion company, the bulk of them are enriched with vermicompost; soil "Flower Happiness", which includes dolomite flour; "Tropic for cacti" from the "Fasco" company.
It should be remembered that when purchasing a substrate, at home you will still need to add some additional components, depending on the type of cactus.