You can buy special soil for cacti in stores. But in many cases this turns out to be unsuitable because each succulent species has its own needs. In order to do justice to these, it makes sense to produce a coordinated mixture yourself.
How can you mix cactus soil yourself?
To mix cactus soil yourself, use potting and growing soil, compost, quartz sand, coconut fiber, loam or clay. Depending on the type of cactus, adjust the mixture with additional mineral ingredients such as perlite, pumice, expanded clay or lava gravel.
Claims
The exotic plants, with their thickened and water-storing plant parts, have adapted to life in regions that are, at least temporarily, characterized by massive dry periods. Cacti store nutrients and water in the tissues of leaves or stems. The roots that grow shallow in the ground use what is available to them in the mostly barren soil.
Substrate texture
Cacti, which are originally native to hot and dry regions of the world, thrive on a mineral substrate. These specimens include some species from the Ariocarpus and Selenicereus families, some of which grow epiphytically. They are hunger artists and do not need humus. Succulents from tropical rainforests, lowlands and temperate latitudes, on the other hand, have higher nutrient and water requirements. Echinops, Pilosocereus and Chamaecereus value a low mineral content and more nutrients.
This is what you need to pay attention to:
- loose and stable structure ensures air circulation and water permeability
- Water-storing additives prevent complete drying out
- match mineral and nutrient-rich ingredients to the species
Make the mixture
Mix a universal soil that you can adapt to the needs of specialists as needed. Potting soil and growing soil are the basic ingredients, along with mature compost that has been stored for three to four years. You also need quartz sand, coconut fibers and coarse clay or clay. Pumice, perlite and vermiculite, expanded clay or lava gravel are suitable alternatives or supplements for increasing water storage capacity.
Tip
Inform yourself about the natural location of your cacti. The drier it is, the greater the proportion of mineral components in the substrate.
Mineral substrate
Mix three parts of ground or crumbled clay or clay with two parts each of perlite (€20.00 on Amazon), expanded clay and lava gravel. Enrich the mixture with a part of vermiculite.
Humus substrate
The basis is two parts of potting soil, which you loosen with one part of quartz sand. Then add half part each of perlite and pumice.
