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I was wondering what type of soil or whatnot yall use for cacti and… | The Cactus & Succulent Circle | Planta community

Sky

I was wondering what type of soil or whatnot yall use for cacti and succulents? I use the miracle gro cacti and succulent soil and water down miracle gro fertilizer. Ive seen mixed reviews on miracle gro and Ive also seen some people say to mix sand or peat in, but also that sand and peat holds water longer which then leads to root rot even with drainage holes. Also, when you first get a plant, do you kind of loosen the root ball before you plant it in a new pot or do you leave it in its shape from the stores plastic pot?

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9 comments

  1. BigGrac

    I’m ballin on a budget so I also use miracle gro cacti and succulent soil and I haven’t had any issues so far. I mix it with equal parts of pearlite and orchid bark - they’re also cheap and add extra drainage. I bought a small bag of pumice stones that are basically rocks and sometimes throw and handful of those in too. It really depends on the plant whether I repot it right away and if I disturb the root ball when I do. If the soil looks gross or super wet (usually how they come from big box stores), I’ll get it out of there and try and get as much soil off the roots as possible. If the soil looks okay then I leave the plant to acclimate to my home environment until I get the urge to repot - sorry not a super scientific process haha. Everyone’s process is different but I hope this helps!

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  2. Phil

    I have 100+ succulents. Packaged cactus soil should amended. Actually my basic succulent soil is Jacks Gritty Mix. I then add some organics to that, but usually not more than 25%. For some I use 100% Jacks. You can amend miracle gro with grit to loosen the soil and aid draining. Cheapest add in is perlite and sand. No peat. You can find some diy soil recipes online. For people just starting out, I always suggest shallow terracotta pots. They help avoid root rot because they are porous. Most succulents will begin to wrinkle and leaves will feel rubbery when they need to be watered. Soil should be 100% dry before watering for most succulents. And they need more light than you think. All of mine are under grow lights plus some get morning sun. For new plants I try to remove some of the soil, especially if it’s wet. Fertilizer? They don’t need much. I have succulents fertilizer from Jacks Gritty Mix web site. It’s cheaper at the website rather than Amazon. Hope this helps.

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    • Melikeplants

      How much time every day do you spend watering/caring for your plants?

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    • Phil

      Not really sure. If I’m short on time, less than 30 minutes to just water. On average a guess would be 90 minutes. I watch very little tv. Whereas many people spend their evenings in front of the tv. Sometimes it’s my entire afternoon, depending on what I’m doing. Many people have many more plants than me. Succulents take far less time, and space. Check out my profile.

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    • Buffy

      Are those Soltech bulbs? I want them but not in my budget right now. I am using Sansi.

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    • Phil

      Those are all Sansi lights, some clip ons and bulbs. I have some Barrinas also but prefer Sansi for the concentration of the light.

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    • Phil

      And there is a hanging Sansi in there too.

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  3. Sapphire

    I like to add amendments like orchid bark to increase aeration and easy drainage when watering. I like to use small chips for orchid bark, and the bigger the roots, the bigger the bark should be for your soil. :)

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