MG Cactus & Succulent Soil
Cathy Cokley Shilow z8 SC
last year
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Comments (34)Hello!! I am hoping one of you very knowledgeable folk are still here and can help me save my beloved plant. I have raised it since it was 3 inches tall and now its dying :( I repotted in mid-summer. Initially, she lost a lot of leaves to yellowing, but then the growth took off. After a month or so, I would say it was 25%- 35% than when I re-potted. Two weeks ago, I fertilized with miracle grow all purpose and now the leaves (both new and mature) are yellowing and falling off. I'm so sad. All advice welcomed! Please HELP!!...See MorePotting mix, regular soil better than cactus/succulent soil?
Comments (5)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...See MoreCoffee Plant Help !
Comments (14)Howdy Wiguy. Coffee Trees aren't the easiest plants to grow in zones 7 and under. After several attempts, I finally managed to keep a Coffee tree indoors during winter months and outside in summer. My tree is going on 12-yrs-old. Winter is harsh on our trees. Three important factors are fresh, circulating air, humidity, and proper watering. Of course, sun is important, too. I discovered Coffee's do well in very bright light. Direct south or west, 'summer' sun will scorch leaves.' Too much sun is the reason my previous Coffee Trees died. During winter my coffee is placed in a cool room, before south and east windows. Also a few hours of artificial light at night. Because Coffee require acidic soil, I add Peat in the mix. The mix consists of, MG Cactus and Succulent Soil, Perlite, Pea Gravel, Peat, House Plant Soil, African Violet Soil and bark. Gravel and Perlite help with drainage. Peat and African Violet Soils acidify. House Plant 'black' soil adds nutrients. I find it mandatory to shower leaves often. Plants perk up after a shower. If possible, daily misting helps, too. Water thoroughly, saturating entire rootball. Before adding more water, soil should dry between. It should look crumbly, not cracked. The best way to check is by inserting a stake deep in soil. If stake comes out wet, retest a few days later. Once stake comes out dry/clean, it's time to water. When summered outdoors, more water is needed. Plastic pots work best. If you're a person who can't resist watering, pot in clay. Better yet, try your best to avoid over-watering. Containers must have drainage holes. During winter, fertilizer is withheld, however I add Super Thrive. Once new leaves form, Coffee gets its first feeding of the year with Fish Emulsion. In summer, it gets a balanced,(5-5-5 or 10-10-10) half-strength dossage of a balanced fertilizer. Make sure fertilizer contains minerals and nutrients. Read the label for ingredients. Inspecting for insects is most important, moreso when wintering indoors. Coffee can acquire different insects. Mealy, Mites, etc. Dry, stale air and constantly wet soil is a No-No, leads to pests and disease. Adding Iron 1-2 times a year is sufficient. Certain plants need extra iron, especially acid-lovers. Follow container directions. Use as a preventative and/or cure from Chlorosis. Good luck, Toni...See MoreAny chance I could root this?
Comments (8)Oh wow - sorry to see that! I had the same thing happen with my PVN. You have to cut away all of the rot. Slice off just above the black area to see what you are dealing with. Then take more slices off until you get to fresh stem. This is what mine looked like - terrible - Mine was a goner. I did not think to try propagating some of the leaves. You still have some nice leaves on there, so I would give that a try. You will probably have to remove some to do your slicing anyway. There's nothing to lose in trying! Good luck and I do hope you find healthy tissue after a slice or two....See Moretapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
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last yearlast modified: last yearCathy Cokley Shilow z8 SC
last year
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