CactiGuide.com

Sudhira wrote:Now I am worried as I just repotted many various plants I have, with a commercial cactus mix made by Uni-gro Cactus Mix...Should I repot everything again???

I thought I would add my two cents since I have used this mix and have some of my plants growing in it.
I get it from Buck and as far as I know he puts almost everything in the nursery in it as is.
I always cut it 50/50 with either pumice or Napa #8822 and it works for me.

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail ... 0006414227

Looking through the past pages of this topic, wasn't Peter B meant to be writing up a recipe for a mineral soil mix. I'd love to see what goes into it. My idea of a mineral mix is something along the lines of just basically fish tank gravel.

Something like that anyway, maybe with some larger chunks mixed in. Would this work or am I mistaken?

mine looks a bit like that, yes, however it's only one third gravel.

How appropriate this thread has been restarted. I was asking about mineral soil last spring before repotting my collection. I'm still not entirely satisfied with some of the results I got. So I remembered that several members suggested using aquarium gravel from pet stores. I recently found something called "Flora Max" and it seems, from the info on the bag, to be ideal for cacti. It is sharp cocoa-brown gravel(as opposed to rounded/washed) and boasts "Minerologically superior to ordinary substrates: contains iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and dozens of other elements necessary for optimum plant nutrition and luxuriant growth." It also claims its porosity helps deliver oxygen to roots. It may be good for small batches, as it is fairly expensive (about $12 for 15 lbs.), but if it's as good as it seems to be, it may be worth it. Does this sound perfect as part of a mineral substrate?

CactusFanDan wrote:Looking through the past pages of this topic, wasn't Peter B meant to be writing up a recipe for a mineral soil mix. I'd love to see what goes into it. My idea of a mineral mix is something along the lines of just basically fish tank gravel.

Something like that anyway, maybe with some larger chunks mixed in. Would this work or am I mistaken?

I'll fill in for PeterB until he sees this

Washed coarse sand
Pumice/perilite
Napa (ie Diatomaceus Earth)
Grit/gravel (like you might use as a top dressing)
DG (Decomposed Granite)

Use them all together, or just 1-2 parts in any amount you see fit. Doesn't make much of a difference. I like to use different sizes of each to help fill in the gaps (ie 1/4" chunks of pumice with #5 grit/gravel or DG [3-5mm] and 2-3mm Napa and hold it all together with the sand)

fanaticactus wrote:How appropriate this thread has been restarted. I was asking about mineral soil last spring before repotting my collection. I'm still not entirely satisfied with some of the results I got. So I remembered that several members suggested using aquarium gravel from pet stores. I recently found something called "Flora Max" and it seems, from the info on the bag, to be ideal for cacti. It is sharp cocoa-brown gravel(as opposed to rounded/washed) and boasts "Minerologically superior to ordinary substrates: contains iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and dozens of other elements necessary for optimum plant nutrition and luxuriant growth." It also claims its porosity helps deliver oxygen to roots. It may be good for small batches, as it is fairly expensive (about $12 for 15 lbs.), but if it's as good as it seems to be, it may be worth it. Does this sound perfect as part of a mineral substrate?

In my opinion, no. Sand, pumice etc. is MUCH cheaper and in conjunction with a good fertilizer/food regime will suit the plants just fine. Save your money for more plants

CoronaCactus wrote: Washed coarse sand
Pumice/perilite
Napa (ie Diatomaceus Earth)
Grit/gravel (like you might use as a top dressing)
DG (Decomposed Granite)

Use them all together, or just 1-2 parts in any amount you see fit. Doesn't make much of a difference. I like to use different sizes of each to help fill in the gaps (ie 1/4" chunks of pumice with #5 grit/gravel or DG [3-5mm] and 2-3mm Napa and hold it all together with the sand)

I am confused once again... In your mix there is no "soil". Is that enough or there is another part that is not listed? In other words, can I mix sand, pumice, coconut coir, some stones (granite?) Diatomaceus Earth and nothing else?

I was thinking that if I can't get pumice in my area then I could try gravel that's used for aquarium fish. I would consider that a convenient substitute and I have of pet shops in my area that has compressed coir.

I recently made a mix using the formula suggested by the link in first page. Now I've been told by a friend that I should wash it because it contains sodium potassium and iodine. I've used the richgro compressed product, is this washed already or not? I can't seem to find anything about it.

ocelot wrote:I recently made a mix using the formula suggested by the link in first page. Now I've been told by a friend that I should wash it because it contains sodium potassium and iodine. I've used the richgro compressed product, is this washed already or not? I can't seem to find anything about it.

Taste it. Salty = not good

iann wrote:

ocelot wrote:I recently made a mix using the formula suggested by the link in first page. Now I've been told by a friend that I should wash it because it contains sodium potassium and iodine. I've used the richgro compressed product, is this washed already or not? I can't seem to find anything about it.

Taste it. Salty = not good

With what I now know about coir, I'll be using it on my tomatoes. May be too moisture retaining for adult cacti and succulents. I'll be washing it before hand.

Hey Daiv,

I like your soil mix recipe. Makes a lot of sense. I have a question, though.

In my area (Central Texas) every potting soil I have tried has quite a bit of bark in it. I have tried screening out the bark, but it is present in sizes from an inch or more long to perhaps 1/16", so no amount of screening will get it all out without removing many of the other ingredients with it.

Should I not worry about the bark or should I try to construct my own "potting mix", leaving bark out altogether?

I should add that I tend to follow PeterB's recommendation for a mineral mix for Southwestern US cacti, but for the others I have been using a more organic mix, i.e., with potting soil.

nice subject on soil mix. i can't find coir here around huntington wv so what is a good substitute? thanks

its easy to find online

An year or so ago I downloaded from cactiguide.com and saved on my computer an article (The Soil Hexalogue) by Dag Panco de Grid.
Dag Panco has devoted part of his life to study cacti soil mixes and shared his experience. The article contains 38 pages, with useful information on many aspects of the issue, and ends up with examples of various soil mixes. Sincerely, a soil mix of ~ 15 components is too much even for a perfectionist like me. In addition, some commonly used ingredients like lava, pumice Seramis are not readily available in Bulgaria or are supplied in big quantities. So, I do not closely follow Dag Panco's mixes, but I "borrow".

Daiv, I tried to find the article today on the site, but it seems not to be available anymore, or I just couldn't localize it? It was not possible to upload it here, as pdf extension is not allowed.