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Blu Spore


Registered: 10/26/02
Posts: 1,320
Loc: Canada
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how to make mineral soil (for lophs and other cacti)
#4115287 - 04/30/05 03:59 PM (19 years, 22 days ago) |
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Here is a small pictorial on how to make a type of mineral soil for cacti such as peyote and other species that need good drainage for their roots. Some peyote are more susceptible to root rot then others, especially the very large ones that need to be put into bigger type pots.
Ok, start with lava rock as your base material. This can be found at most garden stores and sometimes sand and gravel suppliers. It is really good because as it breaks down the soil will become more alkaline, which is what you want for peyote. Then get some weather beaten granite. I found the stuff I use on a mountain slope exposed to the elements, you can usually break the stuff apart with your fingers. Mixed rocks you can get from gravel suppliers or off the ground. You will also need some perlite and charcoal (both are from garden stores) The charcoal helps prevent root rot. Some cactus soil may be added to the mix but I have not found it necessary for peyote.
You will need to crush the stones with a hammer or large rock (Unless you can somehow find pre-crushed lava rock which I have not) Maybe wear some eye goggles because bits of rock can shoot up at your face. Crush the rocks really small but not into dust. You will want about a 1-5mm granulation but a few larger chunks shouldn?t hurt. Then sift out the smaller chunks and dust with a metal siv (sp?) The really small pieces and the dust can compact together, if left in, create a cement like soil. I sometimes wash each bit of soil in the siv to get rid of all the dust and then dry the soil out in the sun.


Now I dont know the exact ratio of all these things but I use mostly the lava rock followed by less granite then a smaller amount of the mixed rock. I think I use about 15% perlite and maybe the same amount of charcoal I never measure I just use what looks right to me. Here is the final mix VvVvV

There are probably other things you could add to this to make it allot better but I do not know about them. Only thing I can think of is pumice. If you know of anything just mention it. I usually use unglazed clay pots, they dry out quicker because they are porous. Oh and here is a pic of a large peyote I had sitting in a mix of cacti soil and sand for over a year and during this time it didn?t put out a single root. When I stuck it in the mineral soil it sent roots out in week!
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Lun4e
Stranger


Registered: 12/05/04
Posts: 213
Last seen: 16 years, 4 months
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Re: how to make mineral soil (for lophs and other cacti) [Re: Blu Spore]
#4116703 - 04/30/05 09:55 PM (19 years, 22 days ago) |
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That peyote root pic is cool. I've never eaten peyote (or mescaline for that matter) but I have a lot of respect for it. Cheers to this sacred cacti!
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nookjohn
Nooker


Registered: 08/26/03
Posts: 1,560
Loc: Dancin' in the street
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
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Re: how to make mineral soil (for lophs and other cacti) [Re: Lun4e]
#4117449 - 05/01/05 02:18 AM (19 years, 22 days ago) |
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Thanks for sharing your recipe.
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Fluxburn
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Registered: 10/22/04
Posts: 2,216
Loc: Oakland, CA, USA
Last seen: 13 years, 5 months
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Re: how to make mineral soil (for lophs and other cacti) [Re: nookjohn]
#4127544 - 05/03/05 11:54 AM (19 years, 19 days ago) |
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Looks like fun with the hammer hehe.
-------------------- ABSTRACT ART (Mine) http://nathanbelomy.com
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Fluxburn
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Registered: 10/22/04
Posts: 2,216
Loc: Oakland, CA, USA
Last seen: 13 years, 5 months
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Re: how to make mineral soil (for lophs and other cacti) [Re: Fluxburn]
#4144153 - 05/06/05 09:17 PM (19 years, 16 days ago) |
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Shit I need to make some, I just got 3 pervian torches, i.e. san pedro machos and they are sooooo cute. This guy on ebay is selling them for dirt cheap, 3 for $15 that are about 5-6 inches. I guess I thought they were bigger since I was thinking they are like about the size of my penis but I am like damn my penis is taller then those right.
I am assuming that this soil works great for Ariocarpus too right? I love Ariocarpus, they are so pretty. Man catcus are so cool, I never knew I liked them so much. Those living rocks are really cute too, OPTICA RUBRA is a red living stone.
-------------------- ABSTRACT ART (Mine) http://nathanbelomy.com
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faslimy
Dead Man

Registered: 04/04/04
Posts: 3,436
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: how to make mineral soil (for lophs and other cacti) [Re: Fluxburn]
#4144218 - 05/06/05 09:35 PM (19 years, 16 days ago) |
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You don't want that kind of medium for Trichocereus plants.
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Fluxburn
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Registered: 10/22/04
Posts: 2,216
Loc: Oakland, CA, USA
Last seen: 13 years, 5 months
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Re: how to make mineral soil (for lophs and other cacti) [Re: faslimy]
#4144227 - 05/06/05 09:37 PM (19 years, 16 days ago) |
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Oh what kind should I use for trichocerus? Right now I have them in just coca coir with nothing else since I only have that and regular soil right now. I read that you can grow san pedro on a lawn with the spinklers going on it, so I should be able to just grow them in soil or cactus soil. The cactus soil I have right now gets hard as a rock thou.
-------------------- ABSTRACT ART (Mine) http://nathanbelomy.com
Edited by Fluxburn (05/06/05 09:49 PM)
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faslimy
Dead Man

Registered: 04/04/04
Posts: 3,436
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: how to make mineral soil (for lophs and other cacti) [Re: Fluxburn]
#4144259 - 05/06/05 09:48 PM (19 years, 16 days ago) |
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For Trichocereus your medium needs to be free draining and fertile, trace elements are important for growth as is a neutral pH.
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