None of the above should be used for cactus. 40% coarse construction washed sand.(Home Depot) 50% perlite/pumice/ or small volcanic rock and 20% small red wood bark/ or orchid mixl What you want to accomplish is a fast draining mix. I water my cactus thoroughly once a week if they are in 4" pots. I make sure when I test the soil with a pencil or chop stick if it comes up dry, then water. I do want the water to reach the root ball so I test it the same way as as well, making sure the water reaches the root ball. I hope these suggestions will be a help. There are at least 50 differnt formulas for cactus mix. I add other stuff to my mix, been doing this for at least 50 years. Really hot weather I may need to water twice a week. You must use your own judgement you can see the plants I can't. Norma

You tell it like it is, Norma! I wouldn't say you can't use any of those ingredients but they wouldn't be my first choice. Perlite does the job but is annoying. Vermiculite holds too much water for my taste and collapses too quickly for longterm use, but some growers do use it. I avoid peat, it can be OK for a year or two for some species, but collapses too quickly and is especially unsuitable for the North American cacti and Lithops that I like to grow. The Schultz is based on a mix of peat and bark, not good for my plants in my climate but probably a good base for jungle cacti in a hot dry climate.

Norma's mix is quite popular in hot dry climates, also mixes based on coir. I prefer a mix of loam and calcined clay granules (crushed brick or pumice are alternatives). It essentially lasts forever without collapsing but after a number of years it tends to become exhausted of nutrients.