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BorgFace
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Registered: 11/30/04
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Gravel in cactus pots.
#3604991 - 01/09/05 06:39 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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I've heard it being used somewhere before, but I was wondering if generally having gravel or something on the top soil is beneficial for a cactus.
The reason I ask is because I have a San Pedro in a pot and I put about a handful of these smallish pebbles (the type you'd find in a fish tank) on top of the soil. When I brush some of the stones aside I notice that the surface is damp and moist.
Is this ok? Does San Pedro like having its feet wet?
BF.
-------------------- Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination!
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East
Registered: 05/21/04
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: BorgFace]
#3605097 - 01/09/05 07:10 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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gravel on top is usually to keep water from sticking around too long on the plant. whenever i did it i put it down to the "root line", where it goes from green to brown. other than looks i dont know if there is any reason people do it.
they can take wet feet better than lots, avoid too much water though. as in dont be squeezing water from teh dirt.
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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Gr0wer
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: BorgFace]
#3605110 - 01/09/05 07:13 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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It helps in a few ways. It reduces evaporation of the soil. If its white it reflects light and heat away from the soil and too the plant. Also when you water the soil isnt disturbed so you dont hydro dig holes in pots and expose roots. Also it just looks allot cleaner then dirt.
Now that its winter you should let it dry out but come spring and summer water whenever the soil drys, but not rock hard.
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JaRRn
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: BorgFace]
#3605280 - 01/09/05 08:06 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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BorgFace
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: JaRRn]
#3605288 - 01/09/05 08:10 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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lol ok JaRRn, point taken
-------------------- Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination!
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GNIOM1498
Death Cup
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: BorgFace]
#3605846 - 01/09/05 10:47 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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wow i am really jealous of those rcok colors i must do that to mine too. But i just want to feed off of the wet feet thing... will this increase the chance of root rot? even if u water less frequently. Reason for that is because it is cactus and maybe evaporation isn't so bad. But i do have very uneven soil-age
-------------------- ----ALL MY POSTS ARE FICTIONAL-------
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JaRRn
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: GNIOM1498]
#3605857 - 01/09/05 10:50 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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most important thing really is to use unglazed pots, and don't water to frequently.
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zerozero
Stranger
Registered: 08/31/04
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: BorgFace]
#3606035 - 01/09/05 11:37 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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when added as a top dressing it can help to hold up young cacti or cutting.
when added into the soil it helps areate the soil. cacti like free draining soil mix.
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BorgFace
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: zerozero]
#3609094 - 01/10/05 05:37 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ok cool, thanks for all the responses guys.
-------------------- Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination!
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nookjohn
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: BorgFace]
#3612959 - 01/11/05 01:42 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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I use about 20% washed pea gravel in my cacti potting mix. The only downside is that it's heavier than pumice, but the latter is not available here.
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BorgFace
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: nookjohn]
#3613499 - 01/11/05 03:47 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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I ended up using the fishtank pebbles.
Tell me what you think.
P.S. I know he looks a little worse for wear, but he's my personal project. I want to make him the best that he can be. I'm sure you understand
-------------------- Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination!
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zerozero
Stranger
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: BorgFace]
#3613661 - 01/11/05 04:26 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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should be cool, as long as those fish tank pebbles don't stay wet too long, I've had fish tanks but I'm not sure if the pebbles dry out quickly like lava or hydroton, mine were always submerged in water.
and that cutting doesn't look any worse than the ones i got from BBB, course they looked like shit.
poke around in the soil every once in a while if you can't tell if the soil is the right dampness.
perlite might help, but if you water correctly you might not need it.
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JaRRn
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: BorgFace]
#3614219 - 01/11/05 06:49 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
BorgFace said: P.S. I know he looks a little worse for wear, but he's my personal project. I want to make him the best that he can be. I'm sure you understand
Yup, no such thing as an ugly cactus.
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boomer420
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: JaRRn]
#3642862 - 01/18/05 10:33 AM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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I used the multi colored fish tank pebbles in mine
-------------------- Shit house mouse
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BorgFace
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: boomer420]
#3644218 - 01/18/05 04:13 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'm definitely going to get some for my new cactii.
I was thinking purple for my Loph. I'm sure it will look very pretty
-------------------- Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination!
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theocean06
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Re: Gravel in cactus pots. [Re: zerozero]
#3644280 - 01/18/05 04:26 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
zerozero said: and that cutting doesn't look any worse than the ones i got from BBB, course they looked like shit.
By BBB, do you mean Bouncing Bear Botanicals (bouncingb.com)? I was going to order some San Pedro from them, but you say the cactus (cacti) you ordered looked pretty bad?
-------------------- The story of life is quicker then the blink of an eye, the story of love is hello, goodbye. - Hendrix
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