cactus soil?

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eun97

Registered:1250048551
Posts: 74

Posted 1344563641	Reply with quote #1

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 Zone 7b

SEGeo

Registered:1343244935
Posts: 517

Posted 1344569684	Reply with quote #2

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 __________________ Chris Fairchild Virginia Beach, Va. USDA Hardiness Zone 8a Graduate Student - Engineering and GeoScience *I assume all my figs carry FMV* Wish List:

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1344604552	Reply with quote #3

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.

SEGeo

Registered:1343244935
Posts: 517

Posted 1344616787	Reply with quote #4

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 __________________ Chris Fairchild Virginia Beach, Va. USDA Hardiness Zone 8a Graduate Student - Engineering and GeoScience *I assume all my figs carry FMV* Wish List:

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1344647885	Reply with quote #5

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.

slingha

Registered:1339292965
Posts: 656

Posted 1344648159	Reply with quote #6

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

SEGeo

Registered:1343244935
Posts: 517

Posted 1344659044	Reply with quote #7

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 __________________ Chris Fairchild Virginia Beach, Va. USDA Hardiness Zone 8a Graduate Student - Engineering and GeoScience *I assume all my figs carry FMV* Wish List:

Centurion

Registered:1293429646
Posts: 810

Posted 1344694516	Reply with quote #8

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. __________________ Dave Verde Valley, AZ Zone 8

eun97

Registered:1250048551
Posts: 74

Posted 1345048618	Reply with quote #9

thanks guys! sounds like i shouldn't use it...:) __________________ Eun Zone 7b

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1345048889	Reply with quote #10

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

SEGeo

Registered:1343244935
Posts: 517

Posted 1345049705	Reply with quote #11

Centurion, What were your proportions for the mix when using the MG cactus soil? Chris __________________ Chris Fairchild Virginia Beach, Va. USDA Hardiness Zone 8a Graduate Student - Engineering and GeoScience *I assume all my figs carry FMV* Wish List:

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