The natural habitat of succulents, which are cacti, is not very favorable. However, this does not mean that when breeding these plants, it is not necessary to pay attention to the choice of soil. It is important to choose the right composition of the soil, as well as to give it an optimal structure for the development of the root system. Succulents are very demanding on these parameters.
The ground for cacti should be loose and rough. River sand, gravel, vermiculite, etc. enter the soil in a certain proportion. This allows you to make the soil coarse-grained and loose. It will let in air and moisture. Every cactus grower should know the features of preparing such a mixture.
Choosing a container for transplanting
Before you know which land is suitable for a cactus, you need to choose the right container for transplanting. In this matter, the plant is considered quite demanding. Even if the soil is chosen correctly, but the cactus is transplanted into an unsuitable container, it will develop worse.
The pot can be made of any material other than metal. It is important to choose the right shape and size. Taking the plant out of the old container, you should evaluatethe size and structure of its root system. If it is more developed from above, it is better to give preference to a shallow, but wide capacity. If the roots are long and have a pronounced main stem, it is better to choose a deep but narrow pot.
The size of the container should not be large. It should be slightly larger than the root system of the cactus. It should also be noted that drainage will take some space in the pot. If the plant is sick, it is better to transplant it into a very small pot. When choosing a container, the type of cactus is also taken into account. For example, many babies appear on mammillaria. In this case, many individual plants can grow in a pot.
Features of the pot
When deciding which land to plant a cactus in, you should also choose the right type of container. The material for the pot can be almost anything. Most often, cacti are grown in plastic small containers. Even yogurt cups are suitable for these purposes.
Also one of the best potting materials is clay or ceramic. They can be decorated in various ways. Even ordinary coffee cups are suitable for these purposes. Some cacti growers grow plants in coconut shells. There are many options. It is not recommended to use metal utensils for such purposes. She can rust. This negatively affects the growth of the cactus.
If there are a lot of plants, containers can be placed on one tray tightly to each other. This facilitates the transfer of the collection, increases the stability of each cup. Moisture stays longer in plastic containers. Watering is done less frequently. Potmust have drainage holes.
Forbidden Ingredients
Land for planting cactus should not contain organic fertilizers. Such additives are rich in nitrogen. This component negatively affects the development of the plant. Cacti, consuming nitrogen, become loose. Their stem is stretched. The spines and hairs become weak, the skin will not have time to grow at the same rate as the stem. Wounds, cracks and scars will form on the surface. This is a life-threatening condition for the plant.
Resistance to diseases and other external influences in this case becomes low. The cactus can be attacked by pests, fungal infections. Most likely the plant will die. Therefore, it is forbidden to add bird droppings, manure or horn sawdust to the soil.
The soil should not contain pests and their larvae, undecomposed organic waste. It is important that it remains loose throughout the life of the cactus.
Soil features
When studying what land to transplant a cactus into, there are several options to consider. You can prepare the mixture yourself. Universal primers are also on sale. However, when buying them, it is important to pay attention to what types of cactus they are intended for.
The main requirement for the soil is its high granularity. Cacti do not tolerate digging the earth. Therefore, the soil must be loose due to its special composition.
Also, the land should be nutritious. For this, it is necessary to enrichsoil with certain components. Experienced flower growers say that it is best to use clay-soddy soil or leaf humus for these purposes, which include coarse river sand, crushed stone.
How to make your own mix?
Cactus soil at home is prepared according to one of several methods. The first approach involves mixing leafy soil, turf, peat and coarse sand in equal proportions.
If the cactus belongs to the flat type (for example, echinopsis), the soil for it should be more nutritious and porous. In this case, 2 parts of soddy soil are mixed with 1 part of leaf humus, peat, coarse sand.
Representatives of the Cereus family need very nutritious soil. These cacti are known for their fast growth and large size. For such plants, the mixture is prepared from 1 part of leaf, sod land, peat, and ¼ of humus.
From the finished soil mixture, you can make soil with improved characteristics. They are suitable for unpretentious types of cacti. For them, take 2 parts of the finished soil mixture. 2 parts of coarse sand and 1 part of gravel are added to it.
Recommendations from experts
Advice from experienced professionals will help you understand what kind of land is needed for cacti. Choosing the right mixture composition, you should also ensure the high quality of all components. Leaf humus, which is involved in the preparation of the soil, should not contain knots, twigs and other debris.
Clay-turfthe earth also should not contain grass or roots. It can be presented in the form of lumps. River sand should be well washed. It should be free of dust and other unnecessary components.
You can add charcoal and brick to the mixture. These components are mixed in equal proportions. They are well crushed, cleaned of dirt and dust. Crushed chalk and eggshells are added to the soil with a volume of 3.5 liters. It will take no more than 1 teaspoon of such an additive. You can also add one teaspoon of superphosphate and a handful of vermiculite.
Brick and peat
Crushed brick and peat may be included in the soil for cacti as an additional component. This additive performs several functions in the mixture. First of all, bricks with peat make the soil porous. They also maintain the correct level of moisture inside the pot.
Brick and peat are hygroscopic substances. They absorb excess water when watering. Then gradually they give this moisture to the soil. This is a kind of earth moisture regulator.
The combination of brick chips, peat and river sand is especially successful. If applied separately, one can observe the adverse effects of these substances on the plant. Over time, the brick disintegrates, forming dust. If there is too much sand in the soil, it will dry out. If too much peat is added to the mixture, it will adversely affect the roots of the plant. Therefore, all components must be in the soil in a certain proportion.
Sand
The composition of the land for cacti often includes river sand. Its grain should be large. The more grains of sand, the better for the mixture. Sand must first be washed under running water. Such a component will give the earth looseness and the required porosity.
If sea sand is used to create soil, it must be soaked in fresh water for a long time. Moreover, the fluid is changed periodically. Otherwise, sea sand will negatively affect the growth of the cactus.
Alternatively, crushed expanded clay can be used for the mixture. It also needs to be washed thoroughly. The grain size of the stone fraction should be 3-4 mm. If the cactus will grow in the open air, additional components can be used less. It is recommended to use pure, and preferably sterile, components.
Vermiculite can also serve as a soil baking powder. Its porous granules are presented in the form of scales and grains. They also have the ability to regulate moisture levels, just like broken bricks.
Sheet primer
Studying what land to plant cacti in, you should learn more about such a component of the mixture as leaf humus. It has certain properties that contribute to the harmonious development of cacti. Replacing this component with something else will be difficult.
Leaf soil contains many nutrients that are necessary for the plant. Moreover, such components are in the form already processed by bacteria. This cactus makes them easier to digest.
This type of soilabsorbs water well. It dries faster than alumina. This helps to prevent stagnation of moisture. The soil must be clean, free of traces of parasites and infections. If land is taken from a garden or orchard, it is better to prefer the soil on which legumes grew. This soil should not be fertilized for 3 years before planting the cactus. If the deciduous soil is taken from the forest, it is better to collect it near the beech.
Clay soil
Land for cacti, which was taken in the forest or in your garden, may be too light. In this case, you need to add a little alumina to it. Such soil will retain moisture and nutrients in the pot. Clay soils are especially often used as part of the mixture when planting large varieties of cacti. Their root system clings well to lumps of such soil, providing proper plant nutrition.
Pulverized clay cannot be used for such purposes. It will cement the soil. When choosing a soil additive, you can make a simple experiment.
If you squeeze fresh soil in your hand, it should turn into a lump. With stronger compression, the soil crumbles. If, even with light compression, the soil immediately crumbled, a little clay is added to it. In dense soil that remains in a lump, sand, broken brick and peat should be added.
Other supplements
Cactus soil may contain charcoal and sulfur. They prevent the formation of rot, infections. They also loosen up the soil. For 1 liter of soil mixture, add a teaspoon without a slide of sulfur andsome charcoal powder. The latter should be crushed to a state of fine crumbs.
Superphosphate will enrich the mixture with phosphorus. When it is used, the acidity increases slightly. This is useful for cacti if the soil has an alkaline pH.
For the formation of spines, bristles and hairs, the cactus needs a certain amount of lime. It optimizes the metabolism of the plant. At the same time, the cactus better absorbs the nutrients that are in the soil. Astrophytum and white mamillaria require a lot of lime. It is added to the soil in the form of crushed eggshells, shells, chalk.
Degree of acidity
To determine which land for cacti is preferable, you need to pay attention to the degree of its acidity. This indicator shows the concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance. The neutral pH level is determined at the level of 7 units. If the indicator exceeds this value, the soil is alkaline. A lower pH value indicates that the soil is acidic.
Almost all varieties of cactus grow well in a neutral to moderately acidic mix. If you water them with hard water, the soil will become alkaline over time. Therefore, the land needs to be renewed.
If the pH is 7.5 units, the growth of the cactus may stop. When the pH is set at 8-8.5, the plant dies. The normal acidity level is 5.5-6 units.
Universal primer
Land for cacti of many varieties can be purchased at a speci alty store. Most often, gardeners purchase "Soil"Cactus". It has optimal acidity. The hazard class of the mixture is 4. It is safe for the environment and human he alth. Baking powder can be added to it.
The package indicates the list of cactus species for which the presented mixture is intended. This soil is suitable for 4/5 of all existing varieties of cacti. For 1/5 of the plants, you will have to prepare the soil yourself, taking into account their characteristics.
Having considered the features of preparing the soil and choosing all the necessary components for it, you can grow a he althy beautiful cactus.
