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A good container compost should offer the plant a
substratum for both
stability, a high water capacity, good
nutrients supply and a sufficient
air space for ample root
respiration allowing
water and nutrient
uptake.
The balance of these needs will vary, however, depending on the plant
being grown and the stage of growth. When a
substrate is
saturate of
water most of the
air is drove out. If it is too dense, without air,
roots suffocate and lead to
rot, otherwise a
soil that is too
porous,
will dry out too rapidly and the plant either has to be watered daily or
suffer the consequences of desiccation.
Potting mixes resolve problem combining different ingredients
with opposite qualities, some that holds water and other that keeps the
mix open and light. But usually container media in
horticulture serves primarily as mechanical support for the
plant. They have only small reservoirs of water supply and short
substrate columns that affect drainage of water
The trend in
conventional gardening for many years has been the increased use of
soil-less media. A major reason for this has been concern about
soil-borne plant
diseases and the excessive density of mixes where soil
is a dominant ingredient. However, soil is still used in some
organic
blends.
There is no single perfect potting soil. If one works for you, then it
works for you. Experiment! Working from tried-and-true recipes is a good
idea, especially at the beginning, don’t be frightened to experiment
with different blends for different plants. When experimenting, begin by
making small batches and give them a thorough evaluation.
Potting soil for cactus and succulents:
Known the ample variety of cactus and
succulent plants, there is no one
perfect formula for potting soil, but the majority of these plants are
rather tolerant.
The major characteristics to look for are good
drainage and
aeration,
for the reason that standing water and a insufficiency of air
circulation in the substratum easily make rotting the
root.
A suitable potting soil must have superior
drainage - a traditional
potting soil will retain some moisture between watering thus increasing
the chance of root rot and should not have a large amount of
organic
matter such as peat,
compost,
manure. High
columnar
specimens should be
planted in a potting substrate that is firm as much as necessary to
prevent them from tumbling. coarse sand or
gravel may help to increase
the soil compactness. The medium should be slightly
acid, with a
pH of
5.5 to 6.5.
Most commercial potting mixes for cactus and succulent available on sale
contain too much organic material and have unsatisfactory
drainage. It
is best to amend them with pumice grit or
perlite.
See also: Mineral substrate Ingredients for culture substrate:
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