|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
Yukon Cornelius
Bumble Wrangler
Registered: 09/01/13
Posts: 1,353
Loc: Peppermint Mines
Last seen: 10 hours, 47 minutes
|
Lophophora Soil Mix Question
#25060275 - 03/13/18 10:42 AM (6 years, 17 days ago) |
|
|
Wanted to get some input on what I should include in my williamsii soil for the fast approaching spring season.
When I first got my babies I foolishly put them in black gold cacti soil with unwashed perlite and sand.
I was thinking pumice, coarse perlite, sand, and possibly crushed oyster shells and limestone. Any advice on what ratios and amendments work best?
These are supposedly 6 year old seedlings growing indoors in a humid coastal climate.
-------------------- "I didn't know chicken's wore suspenders" - Towelie
|
Mostly_Harmless
wyrd bið ful aræd
Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 5,043
Loc: Perfidious Albion
|
|
I would recommend skipping the sand, and the limestone depending on the water they will be given. Cacti prefer acidic water, more so when in alkaline mixes attempting to mimic a habitat which will naturally receive rainfall of a suited pH for growth.
http://ralph.cs.cf.ac.uk/Cacti/Cactus%20and%20Alkalinity.pdf
Also something in there for water retention would help. Akadama, certain cat litters and other fired clay products, lava rock/scoria.
|
abraxxas
god
Registered: 01/16/18
Posts: 87
Loc: Bucaramanga , colombia
Last seen: 1 year, 10 months
|
|
-------------------- psilo huasca , the best way ayahuasca analogues B)Guerrero colombiano
|
Mateo
High on LIFE!
Registered: 06/24/11
Posts: 2,689
Loc: North Europe
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
|
Re: Lophophora Soil Mix Question [Re: abraxxas]
#25060772 - 03/13/18 02:54 PM (6 years, 17 days ago) |
|
|
I use crushed eggshells in my loph soil, works same as crushed oyster shells. Slow release of calcium over time. And one can make this easily. I just save eggshells and when i have gathered a lot i crush them in a mortar and pestle. Seem to work good and is homemade
-------------------- A wise rat has many holes
|
karode13
Tāne Mahuta
Registered: 05/19/05
Posts: 15,290
Loc: LV-426
|
|
|
ferrel_human
stone eater
Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,399
Loc: Darkside of the moon
|
Re: Lophophora Soil Mix Question [Re: karode13]
#25062074 - 03/14/18 06:19 AM (6 years, 17 days ago) |
|
|
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
|
Zombi3
Bella Ciao!!
Registered: 01/11/13
Posts: 27,086
Loc: Bat Country
|
|
I use a mixture of: Pro-mix vegetable soil with micorhizae added Course sand (like sand box sand) Pea gravel Crushed hydroton or clay Limestone screenings Slow release micronutrients and elements And occasionally some unscented cat litter but I don’t always add this
I can’t remember what my exact ration was but I’ll find my notes and repost the ratio.
-------------------- Plants Love To Think
|
FlamingBabies
Stranger
Registered: 03/20/14
Posts: 37
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
|
Re: Lophophora Soil Mix Question [Re: Zombi3]
#25072678 - 03/18/18 09:36 AM (6 years, 12 days ago) |
|
|
I use a number of different media, just to see what would happen. I've got some in a perlite/sand mix, I've used straight unwashed sand, I've got some eating stone, and some in a peat-based mix with perlite and sand. All seem to work very well for me. I think your growing environment and the ratio of the volume of the pots to the plants growing in them plays a very large role in which media mixes will be suitable for you. I grow in small pots in a dry, hot room under artificial light, and my mixes all dry out within a week of watering. Eating stone is probably the safest way to grow in any environment (as the water retaining abilities of that medium are practically non-existent) but I have noticed reduced rates of growth (probably because I don't water my stone eaters any more frequently than any of my other lophs). Having said that, if rugged, natural looking plants are your thing (like me), and you're ok waiting a comparatively long time for them to grow, then go for stone.
Edited by FlamingBabies (03/18/18 09:37 AM)
|
Mateo
High on LIFE!
Registered: 06/24/11
Posts: 2,689
Loc: North Europe
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
|
|
The biggest thing to avoid is a soil that holds a lot of water. Very few cactuses like to have wet feet. So a soil that drains well is a must.
Im sure a pure stone mix would work but i would add a little cactus/seedling soil just to get them grow a little faster.
-------------------- A wise rat has many holes
|
pinedownpioneer
Registered: 03/28/10
Posts: 2,536
Loc: TX
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
Re: Lophophora Soil Mix Question [Re: Mateo]
#25073406 - 03/18/18 02:39 PM (6 years, 12 days ago) |
|
|
I use soil which they are native too and add in a little perlite, worm casing, and composted leafs. Some places in west Texas have all types of rocks/minerals mixed together
-------------------- Trade list Need kratom? Message me now.
|
pinedownpioneer
Registered: 03/28/10
Posts: 2,536
Loc: TX
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
|
Some of my lophs are not in native soil and are doing just fine. I just make sure the soil dries fast and throughly between waterings. They respond well to organic nutes.
-------------------- Trade list Need kratom? Message me now.
|
FlamingBabies
Stranger
Registered: 03/20/14
Posts: 37
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
|
Re: Lophophora Soil Mix Question [Re: Mateo] 1
#25073793 - 03/18/18 05:30 PM (6 years, 12 days ago) |
|
|
Interesting, Mateo, that you'd add a growth retardant such as calcium to your soil mix if you were concerned enough about the rate of growth to add something to the mix to specifically enhance rate of growth (cactus/seeding mix you suggested). As far as I know (I could be wrong) lophs merely tolerate limestone and abundant calcium; it is by no means necessary for any cactus to grow. It just happens to be less detrimental to some than others. In fact, the only reason to make any media alkaline for lophs is to slow down their growth to avoid looking bloated and take on a more natural appearance.
Edited by FlamingBabies (03/18/18 05:43 PM)
|
pinedownpioneer
Registered: 03/28/10
Posts: 2,536
Loc: TX
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
|
Most of mine are in a mix that has natural texas limestone. I like it because it keeps their growth normal and hardy. Not bloated and thin skinned like some of the grafts I have or lophs on own roots that are in a rich soil. I also like to think the other rocks/minerals in the rocky substrate give them that extra little nutrients they evolved to live in.
-------------------- Trade list Need kratom? Message me now.
|
Mateo
High on LIFE!
Registered: 06/24/11
Posts: 2,689
Loc: North Europe
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
|
|
The cruched oystershells or eggshells are been added to loph soils by many. I started added it after reading about several people who stated it had a very good effect. To add crushed eggshells will not make your lophs grow slower.
-------------------- A wise rat has many holes
|
|