Leaving the odd weed in a few pots helps to indicate the water content of a mix. Even after years of growing I find myself wondering if I should give water. This is particularly helpful at the end of the growing season when you are starting to harden plants off. (my growing season has ended) You may think they are dry but cacti are adapted to extract water from seemingly dry mixes. Here are a few pictures of weeds in pots in various stages drying out. If the weeds are green there is still water to be had!
#1 Plenty of moisture....
#2 You can see the grass in the middle of the pot starting to lose colour....
#3 Getting quite dry, weeds almost dead
#4 Dry pot!
Weeds can teach you!
- Wiandry Adi
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2023 3:32 am
- Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Re: Weeds can teach you!
Yes! A great way of indicating moisture I've learnt from various sources on the interwebs. I used to pluck most of weeds growing as I know they'll compete with my cacti and that could be detrimental for my cacti's growth, but as years go by, I became too lazy to weed my collections and realize letting those weeds grow bring more benefits, though I need to be more wary during rainy season when they grow like crazy.
I mean, knowing how durable cacti can be, I think cacti won't mind a bit of competition with alien weeds![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
I mean, knowing how durable cacti can be, I think cacti won't mind a bit of competition with alien weeds
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Tropical region, summer all year long
12 hours of sunlight (shaded by 1 p.m.)
Rains often from September to February
24°C at night, 32°-34°C at evening
Mix: scoria, pumice, zeolite, bamboo humus, and kanuma
Fertilizing may vary
12 hours of sunlight (shaded by 1 p.m.)
Rains often from September to February
24°C at night, 32°-34°C at evening
Mix: scoria, pumice, zeolite, bamboo humus, and kanuma
Fertilizing may vary
- mmcavall
- Posts: 1454
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2016 11:54 pm
- Location: São Carlos - SP, Southeast Brazil, Cerrado Region
Re: Weeds can teach you!
Agreed. I always leave some weeds in the pots just to monitor humidity.
Re: Weeds can teach you!
Interesting and good info. ![thumbleft :thumbleft:](./images/smilies/icon_thumright.gif)
![thumbleft :thumbleft:](./images/smilies/icon_thumright.gif)
Re: Weeds can teach you!
I agree that this is a good indicator but you have to be carful with this ![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
From my experience perennial grasses growing right next to the body of large spiny cacti (like Ferocactus) are the worst.
If you let them establish it is very hard to get rid of them without repotting the cactus.
Another place where it causes problems is next to very young cacti. If you pull the weeds out you can uproot the cacti.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
From my experience perennial grasses growing right next to the body of large spiny cacti (like Ferocactus) are the worst.
If you let them establish it is very hard to get rid of them without repotting the cactus.
Another place where it causes problems is next to very young cacti. If you pull the weeds out you can uproot the cacti.