If you absolutely must, then:
one part commercial mix
two parts perlite
two parts gravel

Don't use the 'sand' at all, it serves no purpose and is not from the desert.

The commercial mix you have is more than likely made up predominantly of peat moss, so you should remake a new soil mix every year and repot your plants.

And this mix really has no nutritional value so you have to fertilize with a balanced formula that has all the trace elements necessary for plant growth.

I still do not approve of this mix.

x

Cactus and succulent soil is a decent base.
Add 30 - 50 percent Perlite, then work the gravel in.

You could use a sprinkling of the sand decoratively. ;)

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Xerophyte, what's your soil consist of?
Do you make your own composted soil?
Do you use yard dirt in your mix?

Thanks,

Josh

greenman Josh

yes, i use yard dirt. I have an area I "quarry" from, where there's no history of fertilizers or chemicals, just a patch where the occasional weed grows.

My dirt is mainly clay. When wet, i can mold it into a ball and it holds its shape. I like clay because it does not decompose, it holds nutrients well, and can be moistened evenly with little water. The downside is that with a heavy watering hand clay is not forgiving.

I used to mix about 50-50 garden soil with aquarium gravel. perlite is just as good but I don't like how it floats to the top.

I'd add pumice/ lava rock and more gravel for species that are more rot-prone, and anything that stays out in the rain.

Recently I've been incorporating more Turface in lieu of the soil. It is made of the same clay and has all the same great properties except that it is much more porous and there is a smaller risk of overwatering. In fact, it's probably impossible to saturate the mix if it is exclusively made up of Turface and other drainage substrates (perlite, gravel, pumice).

I still use some garden soil because there are some nutrients in it. For fertilizer I'd recommend incorporating a dash of 5-6 months Osmocote plus (has all the micros) at the start of growth with some supplemental gypsum for added calcium which many cactus seem to prefer. Or very diluted Algoflash 4-6-8 with micros.

I don't buy the whole "don't give nitrogen to succulents" advice, because I personally haven't notice any detrimental effects. Anyone else really notice a difference?

x

Cactus and succulent soil is a decent base.

I strongly disagree. Maybe you have found a brand which is decent but the best I have seen have been barely acceptable and most are just awful. You may be able to get away with it for big vigorous Euphorbias, the type of cactus you find in Home Depot, or tolerant shrubbies like Sedums, but I guarantee you will not be able to keep an Ariocarpus or Lithops alive for more than a few months.

Look for loam. It might be in your back garden, it might be in a bag. I would suggest you avoid a clay mix for now, start with a sandy loam and add your preferred chunky material. Experiment with sand only only plants which you can bear to kill. Even on the surface you are creating trouble. When you have more experience, you may want to try a heavier soil base which can give good results with some species but gives less margin for error.

If you absolutely cannot find loam, then look for a bagged soil based on bark. That is a very good base for epiphytes, Adeniums, tropical plants that need excellent drainage, and you may be able to work with it for desert cacti.

Lastly, think about coir. I haven't used it, but many growers find it makes a good base.

I'm a big believer in fast draining soil and put together ingredients that work very well for me in my climate and the the way I care for plants. But I've seen gorgeous plants grown in pure peat.

Made a trip a number of years ago deep into the interior of the Yucatan of Mexico. Walked through a stick house village that the gravel path for a road went through and saw some of the most beautiful agave, aloe, barrel cactus, bougainvillea, and hibiscus I had ever seen. They were all in 5 gallon plastic buckets and rusted out cooking pots. All the lady used was leaf litter from the jungle surrounding her and limestone gravel she picked up out of the path.

Think what I'm trying to say is a good soil mix is preferred, but it's not critical for most plants. Probably what's more important is climate and how you care for things.

I've had smarter people than me say "that won't work" talking about a certain soil with a certain plant not knowing that is exactly what I'm doing and being very successful at it. What they really should say is "This is what I have done under the conditions I have. And it didn't work for me." So it didn't work for you, doesn't mean it won't work somewhere for some one else.

Experiment, try things. Imitating others in completely different climates and weather conditions will not always be a good idea. Applying some of those things may be better. I'm always amazed when people in tropical regions of the world try to tell someone in Canada what soil to use, what fertilizer to use and how often to water. Those people are clueless to what's really going to work in Canada even though they may be one of the top commercial growers of a certain species in the world.

My mother grows spectacular plants in stuff I think you could set fence posts with. A big part of her mix is clay based yard soil. Any time I give her a plant, it has to be taken to her bare root because she hates my mix. Oh well. :-)

I've heard commercial Adenium growers complain lately about coir a lot lately. The very same people that were singing it's praise a few years ago when it hit the selves. They see certain mineral deficiencies in their plants in spite of good fertilizer routines.

I don't know. Never had an interest in using it, so I'm only repeating what I've heard.

randy

Shrubs, you're right, it probably wouldn't be useful for you in the UK. For most folks, though, cactus and succulent soil *is* a decent base from which to begin. Think of it as an apple pie: the C&S soil as the dough, with all the additives mixed inside. I wouldn't suggest a dough pie any more than I'd suggest a mix of 100% C&S soil.

Xerophyte,
thanks for a very helpful break-down. I think I'll start to work some of the native soil into my mixes. I've used garden/yard soil for my pachira, equisetum, woodwardia, and osage oranges, but mostly to stretch my bagged soil ingredients.

Randy,
as always, you put my mind at ease.
Thanks for the balanced perspective!

Josh

you're right, it probably wouldn't be useful for you in the UK. For most folks, though, cactus and succulent soil *is* a decent base
I'm afraid this one has very little to do with climate. A peat-based mix simply isn't a good choice for desert cacti, mesembs, many Euphorbias, the more xeric Crassulas, etc, when there are better alternatives available. It is possible to grow almost anything in almost anything and you may have found ways to make peat plus rocks work for you, but you're condemning beginners to much disappointment by claiming it is a good base for those plants.

Thanks for all the advice:

I've gone with about forty percent of each of perlite and CS mix, and about twenty percent gravel. Visually, it looks like ground up oreo cookies and is very light. It has to be an improvement over what the plants came in, at least in terms of drainage.

So far, I've planted an aloe and a dish garden of cacti in it, we'll see how it goes.

Honestly, I think I have to learn more in general about soil and gardening to make decisions about building a soil from scratch. I'm not buying plants that are more than 4-5 dollars, so if a soil doesn't work and I lose a plant, hopefully I've at least learned something.

Blutarski, I apologize for condemning you to disappointment ;) When your plants die, I hope you'll forgive me for the part I played! Just kidding, of course. I think things'll be fine, and I'm glad you went ahead with what you had on hand. The hum-bugs will always try to discourage you.
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"It is possible to grow almost anything in almost anything and you may have found ways to make peat plus rocks work for you, but you're condemning beginners to much disappointment by claiming it is a good base for those plants."
No, I'm not condemning anyone to any such thing.
You overstate the case, and you insult me in the process.
Modulate your tone, and you'll be better received. Further, examine the various applications of the word "decent."
Surprise me, prove you're not just another elitist.

Josh

My taste for succulents isn't as broad as Shrubs. My Adenium habit puts a limit on space available for other things, but if I found myself drawn to some of the really exotic hard to grow plants he works wonders with, He would probably be the first person I went to for advice.

randy

Agreed, Randy, particularly if I were to move to the UK. And, if I ever take on anything more finnicky than a jade plant, I'll be sure to mix the most decent soil I can.

My bristling is more about the taste of the medicine than the medicine itself.

Sorry for the partial Thread-jacking, Blutarski!

Josh

This is just a discussion forum, we all have differing techniques and growing regimes.

Blutarski - try everything, in time you'll figure out what does and does not work. Try buying several $2 aloes and plant each in something different, and see for yourself what happens after 2 or 3 years, then come back and report the results.

Some of us have already been through the ascending part of the learning curve. The only way you'll learn is by trying. Don't listen to what any one person has to say, just try out different things on your own.

It's a fun hobby, enjoy the successes and the failures.

x

haven't you guys met al[tapla]?

Met him? No. Read him, yes.
He has some great soil threads!

Josh