Thanks Rick! I thought some might enjoy this :) I would love to experiment further on another batch of seedlings in the future. I'd grow more and make a wider variety of mixes. No room at my place now, but maybe when I get a bigger place!

Great job, Candice! How old were they when you potted them and how old are they in the photos?

Thanks! I didn't write the exact dates but I think I moved them into their individual pots at 1 month. They are around 4 or 5 months old in these pics, I think.

The cactus soil you used in the grittier mix, is that also from miracle gro? Just wondering if it received any fertilizer.

Interesting experiment.

Here's an experiment on YouTube that I found also interesting.

https://youtu.be/r1wCmMyEwdQ

Dragonstone, yep, same cactus mix thrown in the gritty.

Stuart, interesting video! He had a very big difference in caudex size. Sounds like the main differences were sunlight, soil, and water quality.

Candice,

Great information. Thank you.

Lonnie

Interesting. thanks for sharing. Your study isn't perfect scientifically obviously because the seeds are a mixed bag genetically, but I think there is some validity to it because the results make sense and you planted enough to see A trend. A more organic mix holds more water and nutrients so those showed more lush vegetative growth. Nitrogen in particular will wash out of a gravelly mix fast so I would expect smaller leaves and less shoot elongation. The larger caudex is probably indicative of more roots from the plant trying to reach more water and nutrients. That's my guess anyway. You can have it both ways. Use a gravelly mix and water and fertilize more. Also a gravelly mix is always better for a plant that lives its whole life in a pot. IMHO. That's why most bonsai people use little or no organic matter.

Oh to be clear when I said water and fertilize more - only when its warm and the plant is growing.