Choosing the best soil for cactus can be considered one of the key points in the care of this plant because if you do not choose the right cactus potting soil, eventually, the roots will start to rot, and you will witness the death of your plant. Note that cacti are a large group of plants that can be prepared according to the type of plant. But these plants generally need soil with high drainage; 80% of those who destroy their cactus use improper soil and irrigation. Cacti are one of the most beautiful and popular plants; some cactus species are suitable for keeping in houses and apartments. The great diversity of cacti and their many properties, including the ability to absorb harmful rays, have made many people want to keep at least one cactus pot in their living environment.
But unfortunately, most people face the problem of cactus care and cannot keep a cactus alive for a long time. There are important factors in the basic care of cacti, the main and most important of which is choosing the right soil; in the following, our experts in theHplants will introduce you to the most suitable cactus potting soil.
What is the most important characteristic of cactus soil?
Before introducing suitable soil compositions for cactus, it is necessary to explain the points and conditions of cactus soil. It is very important to consider these points in having a healthy cactus. To better understand the soil requirements of plants, you must know the types of cactus.
Simulation of the place of residence
The most important thing is to know that by choosing the right soil, we are trying to simulate the plant’s natural habitat. In general, when plants feel in their natural habitat, they show high resistance and tolerate other sudden environmental events such as humidity changes, temperature changes, etc. On the other hand, plants show a more balanced and suitable growth in their natural habitat.
Low moisture absorption
Cactus soil should be dry and free of moisture. The origin and native region of most cacti are places without even the slightest moisture in the air or the soil. Therefore, after choosing the right soil, it is important to place it in a not-wet place so this moisture does not spread to the soil. However, some of them prefer a humid environment. Also, don’t store much moisture in the soil after watering it.
Lack of nutrients
Another important point in choosing the right soil for cacti is that the soil of these plants must be mineral. This point reminds us that the cactus soil should not be very rich; therefore, fertilizing and feeding this plant is different from most plants.
High soil drainage
Another important feature of cactus soil is its drainage and high porosity. This factor becomes important because it can remove excess water after irrigation well, and it also gives the plant dryness and lack of moisture by having a constant flow of air in the soil and increasing evaporation. This feature is considered one of the most basic points in choosing the right soil to prevent the plant from being infected with fungi.
Having materials to absorb moisture
Cacti absorb the moisture they need from the soil. The act of absorbing moisture by cacti is very high, and because of their fleshy and juicy nature, they can keep this moisture for a long time. Therefore, there is no need for long-term and dense moisture to remain in the soil; for this reason, it is very important to use compounds such as “peat” to maintain optimal moisture for a certain period.
Pay attention that the amount of peat used in the soil depends on the type of cactus or your living environment. If your cactus is a desert species or you live in a humid environment, you should reduce the amount of peat used. But you can use more peat if your cactus is a tropical and moisture-loving species or you live in a very dry environment. But you have to take care of its complete drying.
Sand alone is prohibited
Although most cacti prefer soil that is easily wet and easily dry, be careful that using empty sand is not suitable for planting cactus. Sand has no nutritional value, and planting cactus in it will cause the plant to die after a while. No matter how much you feed the plant with different fertilizers because the sand does not absorb the materials needed by the plant, it will cause the death of our plant.
Soil acidity
pay attention to the plant soil PH. The favorite soil of most cacti is alkaline soil with a pH between 6.1 and 7.8. Therefore, the acidity level of the soil should be measured. If the acidity level is high, it should be changed because the growth of cactus in non-alkaline soil is almost zero.
if you want to learn how to Test Soil pH read this article.
What is the difference between cactus soil and regular potting soil?
The main difference between soil for cactus and other houseplants is its top drainage. In the following, we discuss some main features and their differences.
Different composition: The soil of other plants consists of a combination of peat moss, compost, cocopeat, garden soil, etc., which has more organic matter, but cactus soil has more nutrients such as perlite, pumice, gravel, sand, etc.
Maintaining moisture: the soil of other pots can absorb more moisture, but cactus soil must have high drainage and store less moisture.
Soil aeration: Cacti have delicate roots that will grow best with proper air circulation in the pot environment; therefore, it has less density, which improves aeration and allows cacti roots to grow.
Drainage: This may be emphasized a lot in this article because it is one of the main elements of cactus soil. When you add water to the pot, the water should immediately penetrate the soil and leave the bottom of the pot, but in other plants, the water can stay on the soil for 20 to 30 seconds.
What causes the brown spot on cactus?
How to identify bad soil for cactus?
One of the signs mentioned above is the plant is not growing or wilting, which indicates that your plant needs suitable and rich soil. In this case, it is better to add fertilizer and nutrients to the soil, but remember that besides the fact that the cactus soil must be rich, it must also have very good drainage. Over time, it is possible that the pores of the soil will be closed and the soil will be very sticky, in which case the water will not pass through it well. To test the soil drainage, you can pour water on the soil, and if it is not absorbed in less than 20 seconds, it indicates that the pot does not have the right soil and you should replace it.
How to make cactus soil ?
To plant cactus, you can use ready-made soil available in the market or prepare suitable soil yourself. Below, we will briefly compare corporate soils and artificial soils;
1. Buying ready-made soil saves time, but the composition of corporate soils often consists of (90% sand + 10% vermicompost). This combination is very weak, and the main cause of concern for many cactus owners is the low speed and growth rate.
2. One of the compounds available in the market is soil consisting of (60% sand + 20% animal manure + 20% cocopeat). This soil is nutritionally suitable. But the heavy soil makes it a little more difficult to take care of the cactus because you have to be very careful in the amount and intervals of watering. The use of this combination makes the possibility of plant rot somewhat probable.
3. By preparing cactus soil at home and saving money, you can ensure that you have used first-class compounds and are free from contamination. Therefore, you will eliminate the worries caused by possible soil contamination and subsequent plant diseases.
4. The cactus soils available in the market are usually sold for all types of cacti, and different species are not considered in their preparation. But in preparing the soil at home, you can prepare the most suitable soil while studying and knowing the plant and with written information about its primary habitat and type.
The best combination for planting cactus
As mentioned above, for each type of cactus, the appropriate soil for its species should be prepared. But there is a golden combination that you can use to plant most cacti. This combination, which is not available for sale in a ready-made form, can be used in all weather conditions and is as follows;
70% sand + 10% animal manure + 20% peat moss
Homemade cactus soil
If, for any reason, you decide to make your own cactus soil, you need to buy raw materials. Below, we will introduce the best soil composition, the raw materials needed for its preparation, and the characteristics of each primary cultivar.
Characteristics of raw materials for preparing cactus soil
If you intend to prepare the best soil for cactus at home, you should pay attention to the materials you use for soil, which we will describe below.
1. Sand for cactus soil
The main and main composition of soil for cactus is sand. Try to use sands without salt and lime; for this purpose, do not choose the sands found on the slopes of the mountains and mines for this soil, and use the riverside sands.
Sand causes soil drainage and facilitates air and water passage in the soil, so the sand used must be free of any soil particles. Wash the sand several times with water before combining it to remove dirt particles. After washing the sand, leave it in the sun to dry completely, and if it gets hot, let it cool down.
As mentioned earlier, sand is devoid of nutritious compounds and has no nutritional value, so it should not be used separately and should be combined with other materials. Also, avoid choosing coarse-grained sand; the most suitable size is sand with a size of 3 to 7 mm.
2.Animal manure and soil suitable for cactus
Ten percent of cactus soil is animal manure. The animal manure used for planting cactus must also have certain characteristics; for example, this manure must be cow, horse, or sheep manure; using chicken manure is not suitable for this purpose.
Also, this animal manure must be completely old and burnt so that the organisms, pollution, and grass in them are completely dry. If you don’t have such fertilizer, you can dry the fresh fertilizer by heating it.
Always sterilize it before using animal fertilizers with insecticides and fungi available in the market; using contaminated fertilizers will lead to serious and uncontrollable problems.
3. Peat Moss
Peat Moss is responsible for delinquent duties in Cactus Land. Therefore, it is one of the important components of this soil; 20% of cactus soil is peat moss. Although this composition is not so rich, it provides part of the soil nutrients. Also, peat moss is an excellent drainer that can hold excess water and prevent the roots from rotting.
In preparing suitable soil for cactus, if you cannot provide suitable animal manure, you can use more amounts of peat moss because it reduces the possibility.
How to mix cactus soil
After preparing the above ingredients, heat them in the sun or on a flame until their moisture reaches zero, then sterilize them with fungicides and mix according to the amount of each. Be careful not to use leaf or garden soil instead of the above compounds.
The composition of soil used in greenhouses (experimental cactus soil)
In addition to the above combination, another experimental combination is also used in greenhouses; this combination is also suitable for planting cactus, so most greenhouse owners claim that this combination is the best for growing cactus. In this composition, 5 ingredients are mixed; these 5 ingredients are as follows;
1. Sand
2. Animal manure
3. Pete Moss
In preparing cases 1 to 3, all the above points must be observed.
4. Cocopeat and cactus soil
It is very important to use cocopeat to increase the root formation and root filling rate in cactus soil. The amount of cocopeat used in this composition is ten percent.
The cocopeat also helps maintain the moisture required by the cactus, the amount of moisture needed for root growth. Since cacti are non-humidity-loving plants and prefer dry conditions, using a lot of cocopeat in cactus soil is not recommended.
5. Perlite
To increase soil porosity, ten percent of perlite is added to cactus soil. By making the soil porous, perlite plays an important role in improving the stability of the roots, increasing air circulation, and increasing the absorption of nutrients by the roots; it creates positive changes in the plant’s growth process.
How to combine the above materials to prepare cactus experimental soil
Sterilize 10% perlite + 10% cocopeat + 20% peat moss + 60% sand by observing and combining all the mentioned points; for this purpose, use suitable and non-contaminated tools and substrate.
what is the best soil for snake plant?
Changing the cactus soil
Contrary to what most people think, cactus needs to change the soil. When you see signs of lethargy, withering, and loss of freshness in the plant, it is time to change the potting soil. If we consider these factors related to unsuitable soil, failure to change the soil on time will cause diseases in the plant, which may be too late to save the plant and change the soil.
Although cacti do not have a good relationship with changing the soil a lot if the growth of the roots fills the empty spaces of the soil or when the roots have no place to grow, the soil of the pot should be replaced. Except for soil contamination, spring or late winter is the best time to change the soil.
Can garden soil be used for cactus?
Do not use garden soil directly and alone for cactus, succulents, or meat plants. Because they will cause root rot, you can use garden soil in the cacti soil. This way, you have cocopeat + perlite + peat moss and a little garden soil in the cactus soil mix. If you don’t have access to other soils, you can mix sand and garden soil for your cacti. But remember that garden soil alone is heavy and unsuitable for meat plants.
Is drainage important in cactus growth and soil?
Cactus soil drainage is one of the main and inseparable elements of the soil of all types of meat plants, which can cause their growth or destruction. Drainage should be observed both in the pot and in the soil; the drainage in the soil will increase by adding sand and perlite, and the porosity of the soil will improve; this will cause oxygenation and decrease the humidity around the root. In addition to soil drainage, the pot should also have high drainage. In this way, make a few holes in the bottom of the pot and fill the first layer of soil with pebbles to strengthen the pot’s drainage. If these two conditions are observed, your plant will suffer from fungal disease and root rot much less, and the plant’s roots can grow easily.
Coal is the best supplement for cactus soil
Should we use charcoal in cactus soil or not? You can use coal for a complementary combination in any of the above combinations.
Add a third of a cup of crushed charcoal to your soil mixture. With its anti-fungal property, charcoal will kill fungi every time you water your soil, and you will not need chemical fungicides. Also, charcoal is very effective in the growth process of your plant because it is rich in potassium.
Conclusion of best soil for cactus
I hope you can find many wonderful combinations for cactus soil, but I suggest that if you are a beginner or have no information about how to mix soils, you should use ready-made soils. In this article from the thehplants, we tried to write about our own experiences for you; we will be happy if you also write in the comment section if you use another combination for cactus.