Anyone try using the miracle gro brand cactus/citrus soil for cuttings or small baby trees when you uppot from the plastic cups?  I have had lots of issues with too much water retention when uppotting at young stages and was curious to see if anyone has used that type of soil.  It says it's fast draining so it seems like a good idea...? Thanks:)

Eun,

I currently have a single Celeste in anew pot with this soil. So far so good, however we are only at one week today. Since repotting and coming in from half way across the county the little guy is doing pretty well. 

If you are going from perlite and vermiculite, personally I would still use the cactus soil as only 50% as done with other soil mixes at those young ages. But I am only guessing here as being fairly new to growing figs. 

Chris

I have never used Miracle Grow cactus mix so can't really comment on it specifically. I have many succulents and use a custom mix with about 50% chunky material that will allow air at the roots. Pumice, diatomite, turface things like that. I would feel very comfortable using that mix for growing rooted cuttings, however, it is very expensive so I don't. Watch with MG products as they typically contain fertilizer which is not very safe for young cuttings. Never use Scotts Succulent mix for anything including succulents. It contains a fair amount of fine sand which will compact and prevent air at the roots.

BLB,

Sand is used in agriculture to loosen certain soil profiles. Personally I have used an 80% sand mixture on Bonsai many years ago and had wonderful results with water uptake and nutrients. The plants did need to be watered more often due to the lack of holding marie of the sand, however what was held was completely available to the plants through root uptake. 


Chris

The sand I am talking about is a very fine sand that Scott's uses and that will compact the soil in the pot and prevent air at the roots. If you would like to buy a bag and give it a try, go for it. I'm guessing your bonsai "sand" was more like a gravel or a turface type product. I also have grown bonsai for years and used various bonsai mixes and that is what they contained, none had sand. I would never use sharp sand for bonsai or cactus or figs. I'd put it in my son's sand box where it belongs.

i just yesterday purchased miracle grow perlite.  yes, even mg perlite has mg in it.

BLB,

Don't know where your located, but I am actual in a coastal town with lots of old beach and marine sediments. The sand is not very fine but has been weather a great deal previous to deposition and hence then from weathering through soil formation processes. 

Since you are also familiar with "rocky" soils you probably understand the size : capillary relationship. obviously as well a silica (granite base) materials is far superior to the CaCO3 (limestone base). 

When I am lazy and do not go get the sand local I will use general purpose sand from the big box stores as a base material with perlite, vermiculite, peat and compost. 

I really should get some samples and use my scanner with a size card to show the differences. 


Chris

I used MG cactus soil for some of my cuttings this last winter, mixed with course sand and compost.     It retained too much water in my 24 oz cups.  I had tons of gnats and some root rot.    I think perlite and/or sand and maybe just a little compost (very little), would be better.

thanks guys!  sounds like i shouldn't use it...:) 

If you can find pumice, turface or fresh water diatomite for horticulture, mix about 50% one of those into it and you should be ok. for figs though, much cheaper to just find a good soil mix and add perlite at same ratio

Centurion,

What were your proportions for the mix when using the MG cactus soil?

Chris