Small soil question (+ substrate for Lithops?)

9 years ago

So far, I have only ever grown succulents in gritty mix. It's a really great mix, but I thought I would try a 50% soil 50% perlite mix to see how it goes. So this question is mainly addressed to those who use this kind of mix. The first thing I realized is that once the mix dries, the small soil particles start to sift through the big perlite particles, and exit through those (extremely necessary) drainage holes. Even more comes out when you water. I assume that eventually, you could be left with no soil in the mix at all. That would be a problem.

How do you guys deal with this?

Okay, now for the Lithops side. I have been growing my Lithops in plain old gritty mix, but ever since their repotting (excuse me, rescuing), they just don't seem to be establishing all that well. I assume it has to do with the coarse soil mix against their fine and fragile roots... If anyone has input here, I would gladly take any advice.

Thanks a bunch!

Featured Answer

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I do not use any soil in the mix, but even grit could fall/wash out thru drainage hole. I use pieces of mosquito screen over the drainage. Some ppl use plastic canvass (sold in small sheets or pieces in craft stores) - I prefer window screen since the mesh is finer. I cut them to fit bottom of the pot. Some ppl suggests it clogs up - not in my experience (but as I said, I do not use soil). Actually, I use them even when starting seeds in seedling mix (which is fine) if I use bigger pots - do not have any problems, but seedlings are potted up after relatively short time. So maybe not very good comparison...

(I can't help with Lithops, but do not believe about gritty soil damaging roots...they grow in pretty harsh 'soils' in wild...it is likely growing conditions? I have seen Lithops handled pretty hard by professional growers - and they lived! I have few in gritty.)

ETA: good reading from an expert -Steven Hammer - if you didn't already checked it out :)

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Comments (8)

User
9 years ago
When the soil gets low I would repot it because that would take awhile anyway
mesembs thanked User
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mesembs
Original Author
9 years ago
Rina,

I do use screen and drywall tape for my pots, and I am very happy with the way they keep all the mix in. I guess I will have to keep experimenting.

It is possible to grow Lithops in gritty mix, of course, but I think it would be easier for them to become established in a finer mix that hugs their roots. I have read Steven Hammer (very good), but from what I remember, he doesn't outline a specific mix. I will have to search through it again ;)

Joshua:

Yeah, soil falling through isn't a HUGE problem, but anything less than perfection irks me rather a lot (until I get used to it, at least).
gdinieontarioz5
9 years ago
My lithops do well in gritty mix consisting of chicken grit and Oil Sorb. Quite a few came back with double heads this spring.I have potted up a few in Lechuza Pon now, which is just a bit coarser. If they don't do well in there, I will add a bit of clay, as someone here suggested in an old thread I found. I have done that for my Neohenricia, and I am convinced that saved its life. Even with watering every day it slowly died. Since I added the clay (I just took some from the garden, crumbled it, and sent it down to the roots with a spray bottle), it has perked up and what was left of the plant started to make new growth. It might have been fine if I had watered enough after repotting, but it got too dry, lost too many roots and could not re-establish. Which is kind of what you suggest, it helps them establish.
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mesembs
Original Author
9 years ago
gdinie,

Thank you for that input! My Lithops aren't currently in dire straits, so there isn't a rush to do anything with them. I may consider doing what you said, and mulching with some regular soil or clay, but for now it's the waiting game...
gdinieontarioz5
9 years ago
The plants I had trouble with were ones that I bought in the fall. I then tried to get them to establish in their new pots, while at the same time giving them a cool, dry winter. That might not be the smartest idea. They came out with too few and dried up roots. I just this afternoon had to disturb a small lithops that I had transplanted into LP maybe three weeks ago. I saw that it had developed a few new roots, so this one was doing fine. I also have a new Neohenricia, which I will transplant into LP as soon as it stops flowering (probably after tonight). I will try what happens now without the clay, but if necessary I will add some. The plant with the clay needs to be watered every day, but it is in full sun, so that might explain something.

I did my best to work the clay into the gritty mix, so it is not really a mulch. It is hardly visible, but you can see that the water does not drain immediately, like with the other plants.
mesembs thanked gdinieontarioz5
mesembs
Original Author
9 years ago
By mulching, I meant spreading some over the top and working it in with water, like how you did it. I probably could have used a better term :P
gdinieontarioz5
9 years ago
Hokay ;-).