I forgot the photos, sorry!!!

Those are young millipedes.

Thank you rina for the details - I didn't know much about succulents last year so most of mine are in the same peaty mix, like I said I've been waiting all winter to repot everything. I'm going to try a mix of premixed orchid mix, perlite, vermiculite, and I'm still on the hunt for some crushed granite or grower's grit.. I've never made a potting mix before.

Where would millipedes come from? Just from the few weeks it lived outside? Or maybe they were in the jades when I bought them? I haven't seen them in any of my other plants, but everything has been in pretty close quarters for the winter. Are they harmful to the plants themselves? Should I avoid dumping the soil in or near my outdoor gardens?

Thank you again :)

Allison

Skip the vermiculite. I am not sure what premixed orchid mix contains. I wouldn't include too much bark (some is OK), lots of perlite and grit would be great. Typical gritty mix has only 1 part bark.

I can't tell you where the 'pedes came from. They can come from outside and if they find good, moist environment, they stay. I would definitely dump the soil, it could go onto beds in the garden or compost heap.

If you avoid lots of organics and overwatering, there should be no problem with centi/millipedes.

How about find a cactus mix which has no peat? I believe EB Stone has no peat. Maybe add in some perlite? This might be easiest for Allison.

Even a cactus mix w/ some peat but added 50% perlite would be fine. Bark isn't something Jade growers here seem to suggest. Also as suggested above, a smaller & I'd suggest unglazed terra cotta pot.

I'm having trouble finding non-organic stuff... I do have a bunch of perlite though.

Rina, why skip the vermiculite? I potted a cutting from my big opuntia in a 50/50 mix of vermiculite and perlite, and it actually thrived all winter with a sprinkle of water in the early fall and total neglect. It has a baby pad now. I figured it would be a good thing in modest amounts since I read here that it holds water. Enlighten me?

I removed the jades from that pot this morning and washed the soil off. The stems are still firm all the way down, though one has a black spot just below soil level that looks like it rotted a bit and then dried up. All the roots are dark and look pretty dead to me. Should I cut the roots off, or just cut the bottom part of the stem off and let it callous?

Im going to make some calls to the local stores and look for a cactus/succulent mix today. Does anyone have any suggestions for another non-organic component? I'm not sure yet if I can find the grower's grit/crushed granite locally.

Many thanks to everyone who responded!

Aquarium gravel and chicken grit are two alternatives.

Sure, you can use vermiculite. It holds much more water and offers less aeration than perlite; perlite is more porous and allows water to drain more readily and offers more aeration. So for succulent mix, perlite is much better, it also lasts longer. Vermiculite is fine for rooting and for using for water-loving plants.

Dark roots are not always dead, but I can't judge from the photo. Maybe you should cut a piece of one to see flesh inside - if dry, they are dead. If there are any live roots, it is better since plant has something already to take moisture & nutrients in and will anchor itself faster in new mix. Otherwise they should be cut off - but only if dead or mushy/rotting. If the stems are firm, that is a good sign, the darker spot - if dry/healed over - should be ok too. It may have been either as you suspect or perhaps even mechanical injury that has healed. When potting, I would keep it above soil level so it could be monitored & less chance of water getting in.

Just about any nursery/garden center and even stores like Wallmart, Lowe's will have cactus & succulent mix; I don't use it at all so have no comment.

Other inorganic ingredients are pumice, scoria, turface, hyadite, growstones...I would expect that chicken grit should be available in Maine :) - but sometimes one doesn't know where to look. I didn't either (living in Toronto, Canada, didn't have any idea about chickens & the grit :) - but eventually found farm supply store and that's where I buy it.

ps: I have used aquarium gravel as Crenda suggested above - it is right size for the mix.