Spanish Fly - Question about limestone

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

IIRC, you mentioned few times that you grow Mexican desert cacti in a mix that includes limestone.

I wonder if limestone aggregate (sold here as High Performance Bedding) that is clear stone with no fines and dust, could be used in mix for cacti that like/grow in limestone.

I found a list of cacti that prefer limestone substrates, not sure if it includes most of them. Would you mind to elaborate? limestone loving cacti

I have very few cacti, but maybe will get few more :)

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SpanishFly - (Mediterranean)

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

rina - I do indeed use limestone in my mix for Mexican desert cacti - habitat pics show the place to be covered in chunks of the stuff.

Epithelantha micromeris and A.N Other
I buy it in bags of large chips, and break it up with a hammer to go through about a 1/4" mesh. I have 20% in my mix. I would imagine that your limestone aggregate would be great.

The genuses that I specialise in are mostly the smaller specimens, although some can grow quite large. Acharagma, Ariocarpus, Astrophytum, Aztekium, Epithelantha, Geohintonia, Leuchtenbergia, Lophophora, Neolloydia, Obregonia, Ortegocactus, Pelecyphora, Stenocactus, Strombocactus, Toumeya, Turbinicarpus. Quite a lot of those are monotypic genuses.

Currently sheltering in their winter quarters, cold frames and mini greenhouses, I will be posting some pics when they emerge in March. Your pics are Astrophytum myriostigma crossed with one of the spiny Astros - A. myriostigma is spineless.

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Comments (13)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thank you for the info!

Here is photo of the limestone - suitable size, no sifting needed :) Too bad most succulents do not like limestone...
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SpanishFly - (Mediterranean)
8 years ago
Looks very good to me - wish I could get it in that size.
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a thanked SpanishFly - (Mediterranean)
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Would send you some if it was possible - but it would be too heavy in bigger quantities. I have lots of it - few tonnes in hopes to make succulent/alpine garden..

I have very few now, mostly easy-to-get plants. Here are couple cacti previously grown in low light:
Very small plants:
These need repotting:

Couple more:
SpanishFly - (Mediterranean)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Most generous offer - I can buy it OK but have to bash it with a hammer to get the size about right. Some interesting cacti - 1 and 2 show the importance of good light - some dramatic improvement there. I like your soil, looks like mine, with some top dressing. Do you have a name for No 8? Tephrocactus, maybe?
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I use gritty mix - more-or-less same amount of chicken grit+perlite (you hate it, but works great; and I can't get pumice); very little (10-20%) turface. Topdressing is usually bigger sized chicken grit.

#8 is Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus (hope that is correct). Segments fall off easily.
SpanishFly - (Mediterranean)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
One thing I can get is lava rock - I think that is the same as pumice - it is red - comes in from Lanzarote, a volcanic island that is part of Spanish territory.
Jeff (5b)
8 years ago
I was looking into lava rock a few days ago and found this: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/red-lava-instead-of-pumice-dsvw-vd~1828057 not that I really came to a conclusion.
SpanishFly - (Mediterranean)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks JeffO - looks like it might not be the same - not that that would bother me - I would bung it in if I wanted to. But some of the comments are total BS - sharp edges that might damage the roots !! Yeah, right. And I like my pots heavy - so they don´t fly about when the wind blows.
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Original Author
8 years ago
Lava rock is good, I wish I could get it easily. And sharp edges are preferred...:) I never tried to weigh it, but it must be lighter than grit.
Jeff (5b)
8 years ago
Well now you cause me to want to try it. I see a lot of people grow Haworthias in that, especially red and I like to how looks too. Decorative top dressing can take attention away from the plant in my eyes. I've been trying some Pumice/Perlite/Vermiculite (not much of the latter) which looks nice, but near white isn't my favorite. If nothing else, lava could be a good top dressing.
aloebot
8 years ago
Rina, is the high performance bedding sold in the garden area or building supplies?
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Original Author
8 years ago
aloebot

I bought it from garden supplier (few tonnes), they sell soils and all kinds of gravel. You may be able to get it in smaller bags in BBS, I would check only building supplies since it is used also for patios - just as limestone screening. Difference is that screening has lots of fines and dust. This is very clear. See if they carry HPB or HL3 and double-check size.