One of the best videos I've seen on cactus soil mixes. Very informative. Totally agree with you on the pumice, it's definitely my favourite mineral component to use in mixes. If I could choose only one to use it would always be pumice. Look forward to checking your other videos out. You've definitely earned a sub from me. Happy growing 👍🏻🌵☀️🏜
Daz, thanks so much for guiding me to this channel through your latest video. Cheers mate. Just subbed. Great channel and can’t wait to see some more vids! 🌵🌵🌵🌵
Absolutely the best. I so enjoy your series. A cactus collector here in the states. You explain and express like no another. A huge fan here. All the best. 🌵❤
So thorough! Thank you. Here are some of my takeaways. We need: Porous rocks - retain water and aid in drainage and aeration; may include pumice, perlite, or even general lava rock (pumice in this mix) Small rocks - increase drainage; may include granite or coarse sand (1-4mm) (decomposed granite and sand in cactus mix in this mix) Larger rocks - give structure; may include limestone or larger lava rocks (the limestone and pumice in this mix) Organic matter - give primary nutrients; may include potting soil, regular soil, or compost (cactus mix in this mix) Organic water retention - Peet moss or coconut coir (cactus mix in this mix) Slow nutrient release - zeolite or, maybe, just slow-release fertilizer (zeolite and fertilizer in this mix) Lightweight rocks - decrease weight of the soil; may include pumice or perlite (pumice in this mix)
Live in arid lands in aus, so impressed to find an Australian perspective and advice that i can work with. Spent many years working on adenium obesum soil for my climate so this vid is gold. Thanks so much
I was really happy this year when i found a good source of course sand / small stone near me. I live in a small town and there arn’t many options for course soil mix additive’s around. On a hunch i ended up contacting a nearby quarry to see if they had what i was looking for, and sure enough they did! They are one of very few quarries around here that have a wash plant, so they are able to provide 1/4 minus wash which is mostly between 1/16 of an inch up to 1/4 inch in size, it is quartzite and calcite with other mineral mixed in as well. It’s a lot heavier than broken down wood bark which i could use as i mostly grow tropical trees but that wasn’t something that i could get a hold of so heavier components it is. But I’m very happy with it! $60 for a 6 foot trailer load full. I actually end up using what is more like a cactus mix for a lot of my tropical trees because here we get sooo much rain in the summer and the winters are cold so they need that extra drainage. For my cactus mix i use 50% of that coarse sand, 20% coco coir, 10% perlite, and 20% of other various mineral sands dependant on what i have at the time and what the plant might want, say limestone.
It sounds like a good mix you’ve found. Buying in bulk straight from the quarry is a top solution too - wish I had something convenient like that around here!
I use Searles Robust cactus & succulent. Don’t have enough experience with others to suggest any to avoid - Searles generally make good quality stuff so I aim for it.
Could you make a video about watering? How can you tell that it is time to water a cactus? I've been told for succulents in general to wait for wrinkles?
Great idea! I’ll schedule something up. Wrinkles aren’t a necessity, with just a few exceptions. But it’s a surprisingly complex thing influenced by many factors - i water my cacti twice a week over the warmer months but I wouldn’t recommend that unless you’ve perfected your soil mix. A good rule of thumb is to water again when the soil is dry. Anyway, thanks for watching!
Informative video, thank you! ...by the way, is the good fungus really have significant soil quality? My cactus are mostly slow growth one such as turbinicarpus, copiapoa, aztekium, is it good to add the fungus in the soil?
Realistically it’s not a necessary thing. It can be good for keeping harmful pathogens at bay, but if you grow your plants well, it may have no noticeable difference on your plants and their growth.
I was reviewing this video and wondering if you have any advice for repotting fragile succulents. I have a string of pearls that is doing fairly well but I had potted it in a sand/pumice/soil mixture. I'm worried about the sand, plus the pot is a too deep nursery pot that I never intended to be its permanent pot. But now I am intimidated by the prospect of repotting it and am envisioning an accidental but inevitable massacre. I know that I'd be able to prop the parts that fall off, but still.
Let the soil dry as much as possible, so it just falls away from the roots. Gentle massages to the root ball to help what sticks. Other than that.. good luck. 🤞
It’s an okay substitute for pumice. I don’t like it personally because it’s so light it floats to the top of the mix over time, but in terms of water retention and trace nutrient release it performs the same sort of job as the pumice in my mix.
I use Perlite because I can't get any Pumice where i live except air gun pellet sized begged stuff at Bunnings. I would love to source crushed garnet too but no luck so far.
Sand is fine as long as it is very coarse. The finer the sand, the more water retentive it is. Not sure how coarse paver sand is, but there’s a simple test: fill a pot with it, soak thoroughly in water and see how long it takes to dry out.
One of the best videos I've seen on cactus soil mixes. Very informative. Totally agree with you on the pumice, it's definitely my favourite mineral component to use in mixes. If I could choose only one to use it would always be pumice. Look forward to checking your other videos out. You've definitely earned a sub from me. Happy growing 👍🏻🌵☀️🏜
Thank you! It’s impossible to understate just how perfect pumice is as a medium for these plants.
Daz, thanks so much for guiding me to this channel through your latest video. Cheers mate. Just subbed. Great channel and can’t wait to see some more vids! 🌵🌵🌵🌵
@@DannyRose-nw9yd no worries, Danny 👍🏻🌵☀️🌼🏜
Absolutely the best. I so enjoy your series. A cactus collector here in the states. You explain and express like no another. A huge fan here. All the best. 🌵❤
Pumice is great for nearly all plants.
So thorough! Thank you.
Here are some of my takeaways. We need:
Porous rocks - retain water and aid in drainage and aeration; may include pumice, perlite, or even general lava rock (pumice in this mix)
Small rocks - increase drainage; may include granite or coarse sand (1-4mm) (decomposed granite and sand in cactus mix in this mix)
Larger rocks - give structure; may include limestone or larger lava rocks (the limestone and pumice in this mix)
Organic matter - give primary nutrients; may include potting soil, regular soil, or compost (cactus mix in this mix)
Organic water retention - Peet moss or coconut coir (cactus mix in this mix)
Slow nutrient release - zeolite or, maybe, just slow-release fertilizer (zeolite and fertilizer in this mix)
Lightweight rocks - decrease weight of the soil; may include pumice or perlite (pumice in this mix)
A pretty thorough summary! Now… you don’t NEED all that stuff, but if you can give them that sort of mix they’ll be all the happier for it!
Live in arid lands in aus, so impressed to find an Australian perspective and advice that i can work with. Spent many years working on adenium obesum soil for my climate so this vid is gold. Thanks so much
Thanks for watching! Glad you’ve found it useful.
You have a good one too Michael. Excellent teaching!
Appreciate it!
Loving your videos mate. Cheers
Thanks mate, appreciate the support
Great video
Appreciate it! 🤘🤘
what a fantastic video, you scratching my itching spot, mineral mix, for healthy plants.
so informative! thank you lots
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it
Love hearing these topics :D
Thanks man
Great video thanks, haven't ever considered wearing a mask before but it makes sense to!
Mate the amount of dust that comes off some of this stuff… it’s no good. Probably mitigated by doing it outside but who wants to take the chance?
I was really happy this year when i found a good source of course sand / small stone near me. I live in a small town and there arn’t many options for course soil mix additive’s around. On a hunch i ended up contacting a nearby quarry to see if they had what i was looking for, and sure enough they did! They are one of very few quarries around here that have a wash plant, so they are able to provide 1/4 minus wash which is mostly between 1/16 of an inch up to 1/4 inch in size, it is quartzite and calcite with other mineral mixed in as well. It’s a lot heavier than broken down wood bark which i could use as i mostly grow tropical trees but that wasn’t something that i could get a hold of so heavier components it is. But I’m very happy with it! $60 for a 6 foot trailer load full. I actually end up using what is more like a cactus mix for a lot of my tropical trees because here we get sooo much rain in the summer and the winters are cold so they need that extra drainage. For my cactus mix i use 50% of that coarse sand, 20% coco coir, 10% perlite, and 20% of other various mineral sands dependant on what i have at the time and what the plant might want, say limestone.
It sounds like a good mix you’ve found. Buying in bulk straight from the quarry is a top solution too - wish I had something convenient like that around here!
A great video ❤❤ Love from Srilanka
Thanks!
Great video bro! Awesome explanation. Watching from southern California!
Appreciate it!
Excellent! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
What slow release fertilizer do you use? Any to avoid?
I use Searles Robust cactus & succulent. Don’t have enough experience with others to suggest any to avoid - Searles generally make good quality stuff so I aim for it.
Could you make a video about watering? How can you tell that it is time to water a cactus? I've been told for succulents in general to wait for wrinkles?
Great idea! I’ll schedule something up. Wrinkles aren’t a necessity, with just a few exceptions. But it’s a surprisingly complex thing influenced by many factors - i water my cacti twice a week over the warmer months but I wouldn’t recommend that unless you’ve perfected your soil mix. A good rule of thumb is to water again when the soil is dry. Anyway, thanks for watching!
love from california!
Thanks!
Informative video, thank you! ...by the way, is the good fungus really have significant soil quality?
My cactus are mostly slow growth one such as turbinicarpus, copiapoa, aztekium, is it good to add the fungus in the soil?
Realistically it’s not a necessary thing. It can be good for keeping harmful pathogens at bay, but if you grow your plants well, it may have no noticeable difference on your plants and their growth.
Hi, nice video.
What the different of soil for terracotta and plastic pot? I use terracotta. Thanks from Italy
Thank you! In terracotta pots I’d be using more organic material - the pots will dry quicker, so retaining more moisture will be your goal.
@@AridZine grazieeeee.
I was reviewing this video and wondering if you have any advice for repotting fragile succulents. I have a string of pearls that is doing fairly well but I had potted it in a sand/pumice/soil mixture. I'm worried about the sand, plus the pot is a too deep nursery pot that I never intended to be its permanent pot. But now I am intimidated by the prospect of repotting it and am envisioning an accidental but inevitable massacre. I know that I'd be able to prop the parts that fall off, but still.
Let the soil dry as much as possible, so it just falls away from the roots. Gentle massages to the root ball to help what sticks. Other than that.. good luck. 🤞
@@AridZine Thank you!
What are your thoughts on adding perlite to a cactus mix
It’s an okay substitute for pumice. I don’t like it personally because it’s so light it floats to the top of the mix over time, but in terms of water retention and trace nutrient release it performs the same sort of job as the pumice in my mix.
I use perlite with no issues. Last year I had a Peruvian grow over 2 foot.
You are correct I slow down the loss of perlite by putting a light top coating of fine river rock.
I use Perlite because I can't get any Pumice where i live except air gun pellet sized begged stuff at Bunnings. I would love to source crushed garnet too but no luck so far.
How much mycorhizal fungi would you add?
Doesn’t take much. A teaspoonful every 5 litres or so perhaps - just a few spores will kick things off in a pot.
But, i have heard that paver sand is good for drainage?
Sand is fine as long as it is very coarse. The finer the sand, the more water retentive it is. Not sure how coarse paver sand is, but there’s a simple test: fill a pot with it, soak thoroughly in water and see how long it takes to dry out.
20 min video on cactus soil
Well observed
Now if only i could find out where to get half that stuff 😢😢😢
If you can’t get the more exotic stuff, pumice and zeolite are the best things in this mix.
Sir, you are so handsome
😅