Cactus Soil - What They Using in Lieu of Soil This Site?

Jeffrey Schneider

14 years ago

Hello!

I've been waiting for this Litill Ltd. Terrarium Website to go live: http://www.litill.com/digur1.html

Very cool terrariums, but I can create my own... that is if I knew what they're using for the soil.

Does anyone have any ideas? Ground up Perlite?

Sincerely,

Jeff

Here is a link that might be useful: Litill Ltd. Terrarium Website

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Comments (4)

cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
14 years ago
Jeff,

Terrariums aren't suitable containers for most/all cactus and other succulent plants. Have you asked this question on another forum (say a Terrarium forum)?

C&S soil mixes are many and varied, but one thing they should have is excellent drainage. Ground-up pertlite can be one component, although I'm not sure why you'd want to grind it up - it's usually ready to use as it is. Some folks also use peat, some folks detest it, some folks use lots of soil, some use little...you see where I'm going here? It's really dependent on your cultural conditions and what you're growing.

For more information on C&S soil, you can do a search at this site (using 'soil') and get lots of information. I don't know where you'd go for terrarium information, but there must be a WWW place for terrarium folk, maybe on our own GardenWeb.
Jeffrey Schneider
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you!!

I should have been more specific... the containers I use are very low and wide, the plants are only a few inches from the mouth, which is as large as the container. I know how important air flow and avoiding moisture is to cacti and succulents.

I've been very successful with my own soil mixes, but love the clean white they're using on the Litill Site... that's why I mentioned ground perlite... whatever they're using is pure white... the site just went up, so I don't know how successful the terrariums or mix will be. I'm assuming (and hoping for the sake of the plants) that they've tested the soil. Check out the site. Really looks like ground up Perlite.

I did leave a message in the terrarium forum and will definitely check out C&S.

Thank you SO MUCH!!

Jeff
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I truly beleive that how and where one grows their plants makes a great differance in what does and does not work. I've grown plants of all kinds for nearly 40 years and currantly grow over 400 differant epiphytic plants (with around 150 being holiday cactus) outside half the year and inside the rest and this is what works for me. I hardly ever change the soil on a plant especially the holiday cactus because I don't like to disturb the root system and when repotting I use a good potting soil with some peat because I like the moisture retention and some perlite mixed in for extra drainage. I don't use any orchid bark in the mix for my holiday cactus because of the fine root system and it dried out faster than I like. This works great for me and I get blooms every year. You really need to do some trial and error to see what works for you because for instance what works in California or Florida does not work for me here in Ks. Another thing that's differant for me from what I see posted a lot is moving a holiday cactus when in bud will cause dud drop. I'm constantly moving mine around and turning them and it doesn't bother the buds or blooms at all. I know this isn't the case for some but it is for me. So my main advice would be to listen to everyones suggestions and than find what works for you.
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Personally, I would stay with the C&S mix. If you buy regular soil, you'll have to mix much more perlite in it to achieve the fast draining mix that C&S like. If you do a search on here for potting mediums or potting mixes, you'll get a lot of information and see that most of us are using an almost, if not entirely, soil-less mix. My own consists of pine bark (sold as soil pep), perlite and crushed granite (sold as chicken grit). The reason you were told to mix perlite in with the peat moss is this: if you were to use the C&S mix straight, eventually the peat would dry to a hard clump around the root ball and become hydrophobic, meaning that it would never reabsorb water and allow water to the roots. The perlite will mix in with the peat and create enough spaces around the root ball and throughout the mix that some water will be able to reach the roots. How much water depends on how much perlite you mix in. Nancy
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I checked the bag and it says ingredients include: Canadian sphagnum peat moss (very fancy) Peat humus Lime Organic fertilizer Sand And mycorrhizae Also says satisfaction guaranteed or money back so I wonder if they actually will..... Oh well. I already repotted everything and that was hard on them and they're just coming back now so I guess I'll repot into one of your guys suggestions next spring. I'll look for the palm soil (doubt its up here though! Haha) and then I'll try either teens or Gary's method. Oh well. I've kept my plants for a year (at the beginning) in Miracle Grow organic Potting soil before.... So hopefully it won't cause that much of a mess with my plants!
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tjicken
14 years ago
Could be. The only alternative I come to think of is quartzite sand, difficult to tell from the photos. I seriously doubt that the plants will like it, except for algae, which you will get plenty of if you water it (they love translucent pots and growing media). But of course, for people who only regard plants as decorative elements in an art object it could be something. For a while.
Jeffrey Schneider
Original Author
14 years ago
I agree. I can't imagine the cacti will do very well. They already look sickly.

And white... that white soil is going to discolor, green, brown, whatever.

I think my mix is a nice color. Nice mix of soil and sand.

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Cactus Soil - What They Using in Lieu of Soil This Site?

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cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5

Jeffrey Schneider
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Cactus Soil - What They Using in Lieu of Soil This Site?

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cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5

Jeffrey SchneiderOriginal Author

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tjicken

Jeffrey SchneiderOriginal Author

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Jeffrey Schneider
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