Hi Mike,mikethecactusguy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 1:32 pm Hi Steve
This topic has now proven itself correct. I have a tendency to use reclaimed terra pots that used to house store bought Orchids. Over the weekend I had noticed a plant leaning and decided to check it. When I unpotted it, the roots were stuck to the side of the pot and the soil was drying from the center out. This was one of these recycled cabo shaped orchid pots. I tested it and found it very porous. I'm guessing it was a cheap low fire pot.
This is the first time I have had this happen. I guess I need to check all the "cabo" pots to make sure I am not having the same issue.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us here -- it's a good opportunity to discuss how we go about selecting the right mix for growing our plants in nonporous pots. And the right mix is determined by one's local climate. First of all, we need only two basic ingredients, dirt and rocks:
- Dirt = soil, used for water retention in the mix. Pure sandy loam soils would be ideal, but pretty much impossible to find in reality. Commercial potting soils contain a certain amount of organic material, and if we see big chunks of tree bark, pick out as much of it as you can. What we want is mostly soil with a minimal amount of organic material. Try to aim for something like this:
- Rocks, used for drainage and proper aeration of the roots. Pumice is perfect because it also retains water. While I'm not a fan of Perlite, it retains water too, plus it's lighter than pumice. The downside with Perlite is that it's a big floaty pain in the you-know-what, but a good layer of gravel top dressing keeps it from floating away whenever you water. If pumice and Perlite aren't options, go with decomposed granite (DG) or crushed granite poultry grit. I grow the vast majority of my cacti in a pure soil-less mineral mix containing 60% pumice and 40% granite gravel, and here's what it looks like:
That's "dirty" mineral mix on the left, and clean mix on the right. Mineral dust can become a root-clogging mess over time (a particular problem with DG), so rinse your mineral gravels thoroughly before you put them into the mix.
Did that happen when you were still living in Benedict Canyon? If so, sealing the pots wasn't the problem -- your climate wasn't far off from mine, so you would've done well going with the same soil-less mix I've been using with great success over the last 9 years. Not so well for the hot, dry desert climate of Indio, and you'll need soil in your mix for better water retention.mikethecactusguy wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 10:35 pmI tried sealed pots with some of the plants. I was sad to find that those were the ones that developed root rot.
To all of our members living in a desert-type climate, I have a recommendation for you -- contact Miles Anderson of Miles' To Go and ask him about the specifics of the mix he uses. If you see photos of his spread in Cortaro AZ, you'll notice something quite significant -- not a porous clay pot to be found anywhere. As you investigate the mix you should use, be sure to include questions on how he approaches watering care -- you'll learn a lot from one of the best in the cactus and succulent business. (Besides that, Miles is a great guy and willing to share his expertise with you.)