What land is needed for cacti?

The natural habitat of succulents, which are cacti, is not very favorable. However, this does not mean that when breeding these plants it is not necessary to pay attention to the choice of soil. It is important to choose the right soil composition, as well as to give it the structure optimal for the development of the root system. To these parameters succulents are very demanding.

должна быть рыхлой и грубой. The land for cacti should be loose and rough. In the soil comes in a certain proportion of river sand, gravel, vermiculite, etc. This makes the soil coarse and loose. It will let in air and moisture. The features of the preparation of such a mixture should be known to every cacti.

Choosing a container for transplantation

необходимо выбрать правильную емкость для пересадки. Before you find out what kind of land is suitable for a cactus, you need to choose the right container for the transplant. In this matter, the plant is considered quite demanding. Even if the soil is selected correctly, but the cactus will be transplanted into an inappropriate container, it will develop worse.

The pot may be made of any material other than metal. It is important to choose the right shape and size. Got the plant from the old tank, you should estimate the size and structure of its root system. If it is more developed from above, it is better to give preference to shallow, but wide capacity. If the roots are long and have a pronounced main rod, it is better to choose a deep but narrow pot.

The size of the container should not be large. It should be slightly larger than the root system of the cactus. It should also be taken into account that drainage will take some space in the pot. If the plant is sick, it is better to transplant it into a very small pot. When choosing a container, consider the type of cactus. For example, many children appear on the mammilia. In this case, many individual plants can grow in the pot.

Features of the pot

, следует также правильно подобрать вид емкости. When deciding which land to plant a cactus , you should also choose the right type of container. The material for the pot can be almost anything. Most often, cacti are grown in plastic small containers. For these purposes, even glasses for yogurt.

Also one of the best materials for a pot is clay or ceramics. They can be decorated in various ways. Even ordinary coffee cups are suitable for these purposes. Some cactus grow inshells from coke. There are many options. It is not recommended to use metal dishes for such purposes. It can rust. This adversely affects the growth of the cactus.

If there are many plants, containers can be placed on one tray tightly to each other. This facilitates the transfer of the collection, increases the stability of each glass. In plastic containers moisture lasts longer. Watering is less frequent. The pot must have drainage holes.

Forbidden Components

не должна иметь в своем составе органических удобрений. The land for planting a cactus should not have organic fertilizers in its composition. Such additives are rich in nitrogen. This component negatively affects the development of the plant. Cacti, consuming nitrogen, become friable. Their stem stretches out. The spines and hairs become weak, the peel will not be able to grow at the same speed as the stem. On the surface will be formed wounds, cracks and scars. This is a dangerous condition for plant life.

Resistance to diseases and other external influences in this case becomes low. Cactus can be attacked by pests, fungal infections. With a high degree of probability, the plant will die. Therefore, it is forbidden to add bird droppings, manure or horny sawdust into the soil.

The soil should not contain pests and their larvae, undecomposed organic waste. It is important that it remains loose throughout the life of the cactus.

Soil characteristics

, следует рассмотреть несколько возможных вариантов. When studying which land to transplant a cactus , several possible options should be considered. You can prepare the mixture yourself. Universal soils are also on sale. However, when buying them, it is important to pay attention to what types of cactus they are intended for.

The main requirement for soil is its high granularity. Cacti do not tolerate digging up the earth. Therefore, the soil must be loose due to its special composition.

Also the land must be nutritious. For this, it is necessary to enrich the soil with certain components. Experienced growers argue that it is best for these purposes to use clayey-sod soil or sheet humus, which includes large river sand, crushed stone.

How to prepare the mixture yourself?

готовится в соответствии с одним из нескольких методов. Earth for cactus at home is prepared in accordance with one of several methods. The first approach involves mixing in equal proportions leaf land, turf, turf and coarse sand.

If the cactus is of a flat type (for example, echinopsis), the soil for it should be more nutritious and porous. In this case, 2 parts of the turf ground are mixed with 1 part of leaf humus, peat, coarse sand.

Representatives of the Cereus family need very nutritious soil. These cacti are known for their rapid growth and large size. For such plants, the mixture is prepared from 1 part of leaf, turf, peat, and ¼ of humus.

From the finished soil mixture it is possible to make a soil with improved characteristics. They are suitable for unpretentious species of cacti. For them take 2 parts of the finished soil mixture. To it add 2 parts of coarse sand and 1 part of gravel.

Recommendations of specialists

. Advice of experienced specialists will help to understand what kind of land is needed for cacti . Choosing the right mixture, you should also ensure the high quality of all components. Leaf humus, which participates in the preparation of soil, should not contain knots, twigs and other debris.

Clay-turfy ground should also not contain grass or roots in its composition. It can be presented in the form of lumps. River sand should be well washed. It should not contain dust, other unnecessary components.

You can add charcoal and brick to the mixture. These components are mixed in equal proportions. They are well crushed, cleaned of dirt and dust. In the ground volume of 3.5 liters is added crushed chalk and eggshell. It will take no more than 1 teaspoon of this additive. You can also add one teaspoon of superphosphate and a handful of vermiculite.

Bricks and peat

может входить в качестве дополнительного компонента дробленый кирпич и торф. The composition of the land for cacti can include as an additional component crushed brick and peat. This additive performs several functions in the mixture. First of all, peat bricks make the soil porous. They also maintain the correct level of moisture inside the pot.

Brick and peat are hygroscopic substances. They absorb excess water during irrigation. Then gradually they give this moisture to the soil. This is a kind of regulator of earth moisture.

The combination of brick crumbs, peat and river sand is particularly successful. If applied separately, one can observe the adverse effects of these substances on the plant. Over time, the brick breaks up, forming dust. If the sand in the ground is too much, it will dry up. If too much peat is added to the mixture, it will adversely affect the roots of the plant. Therefore, all components must be in the soil in a certain proportion.

Sand

зачастую входит речной песок. The land for cacti often includes river sand. Its grain should be large. The more sand particles are bigger, the better for the mixture. The sand must first be washed under running water. Such a component will give the soil a looseness and the required porosity.

If sea sand is used to create soil, it should be soaked for a long time in fresh water. And the fluid is periodically changed. Otherwise, sea sand will negatively affect the growth of the cactus.

Alternatively, ground crumbs can be used for the mixture. It must also be rinsed thoroughly. The granularity of the stone fraction should be 3-4 mm. If the cactus grows under the open sky, additional components can be used less. It is recommended to use clean, and preferably sterile, components.

The vermiculite can also serve as a disinfectant of the soil. Its porous granules are presented in the form of scales and grains. They are also able to regulate the humidity level, like broken brick.

Leaf Soil

, следует подробнее узнать о таком компоненте смеси, как листовый перегной. Studying in which land to plant cacti , you should learn more about this component of the mixture, as a sheet humus. It has certain properties that contribute to the harmonious development of cacti. Something else will be difficult to replace this component.

The leafy soil contains many nutrients that the plant needs. And such components are in a form already processed by bacteria. Thanks to this cactus is easier to absorb.

This type of soil absorbs water well. It dries faster than alumina. This helps prevent stagnant moisture phenomena. Soil must be clean, free from any signs of parasites and infections. If the land is taken from a garden or a garden, it is better to prefer the soil on which the legumes grew. This soil should not be fertilized 3 years before planting a cactus. If the deciduous soil is taken from the forest, it is better to collect it near the beech.

Clay soil

, которая была взята в лесу или на своем огороде, может быть слишком легкой. The land for cacti , which was taken in the forest or in its garden, can be too light. In this case, you need to add a little bit of alumina. Such a land will retain moisture and nutrients in the pot. Especially often used clay soils in the mixture when planting large varieties of cacti. Their root system is well meshed by the lumps of such soil, ensuring proper nutrition of the plant.

You can not use dusty clay for this purpose. It will cement the soil. When choosing an additive for soil, you can make a simple experiment.

If fresh soil is squeezed in the hand, it should turn into a ball. With more severe compression, the soil crumbles. If, even with light compression, the soil immediately disintegrated, a little clay is added to it. In the dense soil, which remains in the lump, it is necessary to make sand, broken brick and peat.

Other additives

может содержать в своем составе древесный уголь и серу. The land for cacti can contain charcoal and sulfur in its composition. They prevent the formation of rot, infections. They also impart looseness to the soil. For 1 liter of soil mixture should be added a teaspoon without a hill of sulfur and a little coal powder. The latter should be crushed to the state of small crumbs.

Superphosphate will enrich the mixture with phosphorus. When it is used, acidity increases slightly. It is useful for cacti if the soil has an alkaline pH.

To form spines, setae and hairs, a cactus needs a certain amount of lime. It optimizes the metabolism of plants. At the same time, the cactus absorbs nutrients better in the soil. A lot of lime is required for astrophytum and white mamillary. It is added to the ground in the form of a crushed egg shell, shells, chalk.

Degree of acidity

является предпочтительнее, необходимо обратить внимание на степень ее кислотности. To determine which land for cacti is preferable, it is necessary to pay attention to the degree of its acidity. This figure shows the concentration of hydrogen ions in the substance. The neutral pH level is determined at the level of 7 units. If the index exceeds this value, the soil is alkaline. A lower pH indicates that the soil is acidic.

Virtually all varieties of cacti grow well in a neutral and moderately acidic mixture. If you water them with hard water, the soil will become alkaline with time. Therefore, the land needs to be renewed.

If the pH is 7.5 units, the growth of the cactus may stop. When the pH is set at 8-8.5, the plant dies. The acidity level of 5.5-6 units is considered normal.

Universal primer

многих разновидностей может быть куплена в специализированном магазине. The land for cacti of many varieties can be purchased at a specialized store. Most gardeners acquire "Soil" Cactus ". It has an optimal acidity. The hazard class of the mixture is 4. It is safe for the environment and human health. You can add a baking powder to it.

The package lists the types of cacti for which the mixture is intended. Such soil will be suitable for 4/5 of all existing species of cacti. For 1/5 of the plants will have to prepare the soil itself, taking into account their characteristics.

Having considered the features of preparing the soil and choosing for it all the necessary components, you can grow a healthy beautiful cactus.