Sand is not usually good unless it is very coarse, and even then its not the best. Perlite mixed 50-50 with most cactus mixes (instead of potting soil) is better. What kind of cacti?

tj

Hello!

Sand, unless it is pretty coarse, doesn't do much in the way of drainage. What you will want to do at the very least is 50% perlite and 50% cactus/succulent soil. Your cacti will be pretty happy in that, but maybe in the future you will want to switch to a more durable mix.....

Here is a popular thread to educate yourself on:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/2842847/container-soils-water-movement-and-retention-xxii?n=493

Read it all, if you can!

~palmsandsnow

I'd love to know what they are! Most look like little barrels to me, but one is very tall, another is quite tall, one is four sided - not square, but with four ribs - looks like a cross from the top. I think the more unusual ones came from the Boyce Thompson Arboretum in AZ. Mixed seeds. So much fun to watch come up! Thanks for the advice.