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Cacti & Succulents

What type of planting medium for succulent picture?

12 years ago

I am making a vertical garden with sedums and and sempervivums. I don't want to make the frame too heavy but I will use whatever medium is needed for best results. Any of the online sites I've read just say 'potting soil' and I'm guessing that the results over time with succulent pictures are poor as a result.

Has anyone here tried this? I have turface, coconut coir and, of course, the awful commercial cactus mix available to me right now (and I'm resisting the urge to just go and plant)! What would you use? I am in a Metro area so I can get whatever is needed. Ideas?

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Comments (5)

norma_2006
12 years ago
I would believe Turface would be fine with soil mixed in a little peat if your water is hard. I have seen this done but haven't tried to do it myself, at my age I wouldn't dare. If it is vertical what hold in the soil, or do you use wire screen to hold it all in. The kind that is used for the bottom of a rabbit hutch? perhaps 50% shade cloth may work? these are just ideas going through my head. Norma
caudex1
12 years ago
The ones I've seen have no soil at all, they contain the long fibered sphagnum moss not the shredded stuff. The long fibered coir would work too. Soil and shredded stuff will wash out with watering vertically. If it was laying flat while watering the soil would stay put.

Here is a link that might be useful: Living pictures
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I understand, Rina. As you know, I am always grateful for your advice. It's just that I really do like this stuff, and I spent a lot of time researching it before investing in the bag I have now. for me, it is a go to when all else fails. And I think people write it off on the board for various reasons, most of which are not actually problems if you get the right kind or know how to use it. I actually put it away for a while because I was working with soilless mixes. But it turned out to be an ideal substitute for peat in 511 mixes or gritty mixes that need just a smidge of soil. But then you use turface for that, which I just don't like using for some reason. also, I am totally skeptical of scientific studies, particularly those performed by universities. Often these results are skewed by outside funding, which some schools, particularly those in what we call "developing countries," must rely on to subsidize their research. This is not to say I don't trust them. I just regard them with a healthy dose of skepticism. Ive come across a few studies or discussions of coco coir for houseplants and gardening in my research. And, as I said, I spent a lot of time discussing its uses and potential problems with the hydroponic store people here. They are very well informed and helpful, and they helped me to select the most appropriate type for my needs. at the very least, I would say that as an amendment it is tremendously useful and certainly better than your average peat mix. But I could imagine that the watering learning curve could turn people away from it unless they have far too much time on their hands as I do:). i think the original issue at the center of discussion was peat alternatives. In my area, coco coir is used extensively in potted succulents and tropicals. And I was initially interested in it because I bought a plant here that was potted in it, and I really loved it. So it does seem to be a suitable alternative for peat in many cases.
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cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
12 years ago
If you can encapsulate (I don't know what the word is for making something totally tubular) the soil medium in such a way as to capture it and the plant's roots w/o losing the soil....something not much used anymore but there are still ladies (and some men, I've read) who use nylon stockings. One would imagine silk stockings would be so much better (and closer to Nature) - make a small hole for the plant's trunk/root ball and then close the whole with thread. After this your cage of metal can be put around the tube of plants in the stocking material and the cage mounted on a board / other surface. Mind you, I've not done it myself but it seems reasonable, doesn't it?

I want to be the first with a wreath of Ariocarpus, but I'll have to get three or four first and figure out how. Can you imagine imitating a limestone cliff?
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
12 years ago
is not another NewAger phrase or Tony Robbins Power Message. It should have read '....close the hole.'.

Now I'll go listen to some Jimmy Cliff.
bindersbee
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the link. That site says to use 'cactus mix' too. I guess it will work. I will lay some moss against the wire mesh then fill with soil then screw on the back of the form. I have used a larger wire mesh than is used on frames for purchase- I want it to hold things in but not girdle my succulents. I also have some rooted sempervivum that wouldn't fit though the smaller mesh and I'm impatient! LOL! I'll keep it horizontal for 6-8 weeks and then it should be rooted enough to go on the wall. We shall see!

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