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 select the correct soil composition, as well as give it the 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. The soil includes river sand, gravel, vermiculite, and so on in a certain proportion. This makes the soil coarse and loose. It will allow air and moisture to pass through. Each cactus grower should know the features of preparing such a mixture.
Transplant capacity selection
Before you know which land is suitable for a cactus, you need to choose the right capacity for transplanting. In this regard, the plant is considered quite demanding. Even if the soil is picked up 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 its shape and size. Having taken the plant out of the old tank, the size and structure of its root system should be estimated. 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 shaft, 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 in the pot, drainage will take some place. 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. At the same time, many individual plants can grow in the pot.
Pot Features
When deciding which land to plant a cactus in, you should also choose the right kind of container. The material for the pot can be almost anything. Most often, cacti are grown in small plastic containers. For these purposes, even glasses for yogurt are suitable.
Also one of the best materials for the pot is clay or ceramics. They can be decorated in various ways. Even ordinary coffee cups are suitable for these purposes. Some cactus growers grow plants in shells from coconut. There are many options. It is not recommended to use metal utensils for such purposes. It may 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. In plastic containers, moisture lasts longer. Watering is less common. The pot must have drainage holes.
Forbidden components
Land for planting a cactus should not include organic fertilizers. Such additives are rich in nitrogen. This component negatively affects the development of the plant. Cacti, consuming nitrogen, become loose. Their stalk is stretched. Spines and hairs become weak, the skin will not have time to grow at the same speed as the stem. Wounds, cracks and scars will form on the surface. This is a plant life threatening condition.
Resistance to diseases and other external influences in this case becomes low. Cactus can be attacked by pests, fungal infections. With a high degree of probability, 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 growing period of the cactus.
Soil features
When studying which land to transplant a cactus into, several possible options should be considered. You can prepare the mixture yourself. Universal soils 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 grit. Cacti do not tolerate digging of the earth. Therefore, the soil must be loose due to its special composition.
Also, the earth must be nutritious. For this, it is necessary to enrich the soil with certain components. Experienced flower growers argue that it is best to use clay-soddy soil or leaf humus for these purposes, which includes large river sand, crushed stone.
How to cook the mixture yourself?
Land for the cactus at home is prepared in accordance with one of several methods. The first approach involves mixing in equal proportions sheet land, turf, peat and coarse sand.
If the cactus is of the flat type (for example, echinopsis), the soil for it should be more nutritious and porous. In this case, 2 parts of sod land 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 rapid growth and large size. For such plants, the mixture is prepared from 1 part of leaf, sod land, peat, and also ¼ part of humus.
Soil with improved characteristics can be made from the finished soil mixture. 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 of specialists
The advice of experienced professionals will help you understand what kind of land is needed for cacti. Choosing the right mix, you should also ensure the high quality of all components. Leaf humus, which is involved in the preparation of soil, should not contain knots, twigs, or other debris.
Clay-soddy ground should also not contain grass or roots. It can be presented in the form of lumps. River sand should be well washed. It should not be dust, 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 3.5-liter soil. 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
Cactus land may include crushed bricks and peat as an additional component. This additive has several functions in the mixture. First of all, brick with peat makes the soil porous. They also maintain the correct moisture level 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 regulator of the humidity of the earth.
The combination of brick chips, peat and river sand is particularly successful. If you apply them separately, you 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 you add too much peat 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 friability and the required porosity.
If sea sand is used to create soil, it must be soaked for a long time in fresh water. Moreover, the fluid is periodically changed. Otherwise, sea sand will adversely affect the growth of the cactus.
As an alternative, crushed expanded clay can be used for the mixture. It must also be thoroughly rinsed. The granularity of the stone fraction should be 3-4 mm. If the cactus will grow in the open, fewer additional components can be used. It is recommended to use clean, and preferably sterile, components.
Vermiculite can also serve as a baking powder of the soil. Its porous granules are presented in the form of flakes and grains. They are also able to regulate the humidity level, as well as broken brick.
Sheet soil
Studying in which land to plant cacti, 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.
Leafy soil contains many nutrients that a plant needs. Moreover, such components are in the form already processed by bacteria. Thanks to this cactus, it’s easier to digest them.
This type of soil absorbs water well. It dries faster than alumina. This helps prevent stagnant moisture. The soil should be clean, free of traces of parasites and infections. If you take land from a garden or garden, it is better to prefer the soil on which legumes grew. Fertilizer should not be applied to this soil 3 years before planting a cactus. If deciduous soil is taken from the forest, it is better to collect it near the beech.
Clay soil
Cactus land that was taken in a forest or in your garden may be too light. In this case, you need to add a little alumina to it. Such land will retain moisture and nutrients in the pot. Clay soils are most often used as part of a mixture when planting large varieties of cacti. Their root system is well hooked to lumps of such soil, ensuring proper nutrition of the plant.
Do not use dusty clay for such purposes. She will cement the soil. When choosing a soil supplement, you can do 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 crumbles, a little clay is added to it. Sand, broken brick and peat should be added to the dense soil that remains in the lump.
Other additives
Cactus land may contain charcoal and sulfur. They prevent the formation of rot, infections. They also add looseness to the soil. For 1 liter of soil mixture, add a teaspoon without a hill of sulfur and a little coal powder. The latter should be crushed to a state of small crumbs.
Superphosphate will enrich the mixture with phosphorus. When using it, acidity slightly increases. This is useful for cacti if the soil has an alkaline pH.
For the formation of thorns, bristles and hairs, the cactus needs a certain amount of lime. It optimizes the metabolism of the plant. In this case, 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 is preferable for cacti, it is necessary to pay attention to the degree of its acidity. This indicator shows the concentration of hydrogen ions in the substance. The neutral pH is 7 units. If the indicator exceeds this value, the soil is alkaline. A lower pH indicates that the soil is acidic.
Almost all varieties of cacti grow well in a neutral and moderately acidic mixture. If you water them with hard water, the soil will eventually become alkaline. Therefore, the land must be renewed.
If the pH is 7.5 units, cactus growth may stop. When the pH is set at 8-8.5, the plant dies. Normal acidity is 5.5-6 units.
Universal soil
Land for cacti of many varieties can be bought at a specialty store. Most often, gardeners acquire the "Cactus Soil". It is characterized by optimal acidity. The hazard class of the mixture is 4. It is safe for the environment and human health. You can add baking powder to it.
The package indicates the list of cactus species for which the mixture is intended. Such soil is suitable for 4/5 of all existing varieties of cacti. For 1/5 plants, you will have to prepare the soil yourself, taking into account their characteristics.
Having considered the features of soil preparation and the selection of all the necessary components for it, you can grow a healthy beautiful cactus.