In a glass bowl with sand, cacti add decorative accents to the windowsill. The exotic plants are beautiful to look at when they are planted out in the sandy rock garden and present their flowers. You can find out here which types of cactus are suitable for sandy substrate and what you should pay attention to when planting.
How to plant cacti in sand?
To plant cacti in sand, choose lime-free quartz sand and suitable species such as bishop's cap, old man's head or sea urchin cactus. Use a container with water drainage and drainage, fill it with sand and place the cactus in it. Water and fertilize regularly in summer.
These cacti feel at home in sand
Cacti thrive in the deserts, mountains and rainforests of Central and South America. The drought and heat specialists within this multifaceted succulent family are native to steppes and dry deserts, where the soil is predominantly composed of mineral components. These genera and species are perfect for planting in sand:
- Bishop's hat (Astrophytum myriostigma)
- Greisenhaupt (Cephalocereus)
- Silver Candle (Cleistocactus)
- Hedgehog columnar cactus (Echinocereus)
- Sea urchin cactus (Echinopsis)
In particular, this frugal and undemanding group of cacti includes the wonderful opuntias. This genus contains more than 190 species that have no objection to sand. In contrast, leaf cacti, such as the Christmas cactus, are not suitable for cultivation in sand.
Planting a cactus in sand – This is how it works
Not all sand is suitable as a substrate for cacti. Since the succulents do not tolerate lime, building sand, bird sand or play sand are taboo. Instead, please use lime-free quartz sand. How to plant correctly:
- Only use a bowl or pot with an opening in the bottom for water drainage
- Pour pumice gravel, lava granulate or polystyrene beads over it as drainage
- Fill the planter with sand up to 1 cm below the edge
- Unpot the cactus and place it in the middle of the sand
If you have planned a place for your cactus in a sunny bed, there is no need for drainage as long as the soil is well-drained. Please only plant non-hardy cacti outdoors after the Ice Saints and put them away again in September so that they complete their winter rest in a bright, frost-free place.
Tip
If cacti thrive in pure sand, the water and nutrient supply comes into focus. Water the succulents regularly in summer, as this is when they build up their water reserves for dry wintering. Since sandy substrate contains no nutrients, fertilize the plants from May to September with a liquid cactus fertilizer (€7.00 on Amazon), which you add to the water every second watering.
