Homemade succulents: soil composition and DIY preparation

How to sterilize soil

There are several ways to disinfect the ground before replanting adenium in it. The simplest is roasting in the oven. The soil (without baking powder) is spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet, placed in the oven (mode - 15 minutes at a temperature of 200 degrees). Then you need to wait for the soil to cool and transplant adenium into it.

Calcining in a water bath is another easy-to-implement method. A pot of water is placed on the gas, a baking sheet is placed on top with soil distributed over it. The duration of exposure is 60 minutes.

Using a microwave is a modern method. The soil is distributed in "portions", each placed in baking bags. You need to select the "Warming up" mode, set the timer for 4 minutes.

A solution of potassium permanganate is also a simple method. A light pink liquid is prepared, after which the entire surface of the soil is abundantly irrigated. You can replace potassium permanganate with special agents like Fundazol.

Note! You can choose any method of sterilization, but experienced florists advise using several

Home care

Cacti in nature

Now that it has become known how to plant succulents, you need to figure out the rules for caring for them. Succulents are not very capricious plants, but they still require compliance with some rules.

Climatic conditions

Given that this species mainly refers to desert plants, it is important for it to provide a dry climate and temperature drops. Flowers should take a break from the heat of the day at night

It is good if the room is about 26 ° C during the day, although in summer 30 ° C is allowed, and at night the temperature should drop to 20 ° C.
Lighting. These flowers love bright light, so they are best placed on the south side. If this is not possible, and the windows of the house face the north side, then you need to take care of additional lighting. As for direct sunlight, it all depends on the type of flowers. Cacti mainly belong to plants that can easily tolerate the sun, but it is better not to expose aloe and duvalia to the sun's rays.
Watering. Although succulents do not need frequent watering, it should still be well-oiled. From spring to autumn, depending on how the soil dries up, the soil is irrigated once every 1-2 weeks. In winter, the plant is in a dormant period, so watering should be significantly reduced. Depending on the temperature regime, the flowers can be watered either once a month or once a winter. In the summer, the main thing is to prevent the roots from drying out, but the soil must remain dry for at least 3 days.
Top dressing. Fertilize plants with special agents that are designed for succulents. The soil should not be oversaturated with nitrogen. In winter, flowers are not fertilized at all, and in spring, fertilizing is applied once a month.

Also very important in terms of care is the question of how to transplant succulents at home. This process is practically no different from transplanting other plant species. It is necessary to chicken out the old earthen lump, spread the root system in a new pot and fill it with new soil. However, there is one peculiarity of transplanting succulents - during the first week, the plant does not need to be watered.

Plants are transplanted according to the standard scheme.

No matter how hardy succulents may seem, they are still very sensitive to the environment and require attention, like other plants. If you surround them with warmth and care, then the florarium will sparkle with different colors and will delight the eyes of any guest.

vote

Article Rating

How to choose a pot and soil?

The choice of a container for transplanting a Decembrist is one of the important factors for the future development of a plant. The Decembrist has a superficial root system, which means that the roots grow more in breadth than in depth. Therefore, a shallow but wide container is suitable for a flower. Do not choose a pot that is too large, as the plant will try to fill the entire volume of capacity with the root system and it will not have the strength to bloom. When transplanting the Decembrist into a deep container, in the future there is a risk that the water will stagnate at the bottom and waterlogging will occur.

The recommended size of the transplant container is one tenth (about 2-3 centimeters) larger than the previous one. Suitable pot materials for a "Christmas" cactus are plastic, ceramics and clay. A constant soil temperature is maintained in a plastic container, the plastic itself has the ability to absorb excess moisture. The main advantages of ceramics and clay are their environmental friendliness. What kind of pot is needed for a Decembrist flower: the choice is up to the florist. In order for the soil in the container not to overheat, it is desirable that it be light in color.

Transplant pot

Important! Drainage holes at the bottom of the pot are a prerequisite for the proper development of the Decembrist. Excess water is drained through these holes after watering, through them you can also water the plant by immersion

What kind of soil to choose for the first and planned Decembrist transplant? The flower loves soil saturated with organic substances, loose and moisture-permeable soil, with a slightly acidic level of acidity, which shouldn't be above pH = 6.0. Garden soil will definitely not work. The flower shops sell a special substrate marked "For cacti". The composition of the substrate includes the following ingredients: nutrients, coarse river sand, humus and peat.

You can prepare the soil yourself. Below are three soil options for the Decembrist. This will require

• land from the garden, coarse river sand and peat in a ratio of 1: 1: 1/2, respectively;
• leafy soil, sod soil, coarse river sand and peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1, respectively;
• leafy and soddy soils, coarse river sand, humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1/4, respectively.

In self-prepared soil, you can add in small quantities: dry leaves, brick chips, vermiculite, small pieces of foam and coal, soil "For orchids", where bark and coal are present.

Soil for the Decembrist

Important! Drainage is a necessary component in filling a flower pot for a Decembrist. Drainage removes excess moisture during watering

As drainage can be used: expanded clay, pebbles, small pebbles, brick fragments, pieces of foam and wine corks.

general information

Plants of this type are undemanding, they do not need special care and conditions. They can do even for a long time without watering, which is not noticed with other indoor flowers. Such drought resistance is a consequence of the desert origin of plants and their ability to accumulate moisture inside the fleshy tissues.

Also, sometimes flower growers make the mistake of taking land from the garden where nitrogen fertilizers were used. If there is too much nitrogen in the soil, succulents will begin to stretch too quickly, which is harmful to their health and spoils their appearance. An excess of nitrogen and accelerated growth are also fraught with cracking of the peel of cacti.

More often than others, the following succulents are grown at home:

• Kalanchoe;
• aloe;
• various types of cacti;
• stone rose;
• agave;
• fat woman.

Soil composition

A wild species of zamiokulkas grows in Africa, where the rocky-sandy soil. Therefore, the soil for planting should be as close as possible in composition to the natural substrate.The powerful root system of zamiokulkas is a tuber system, thanks to which the plant does not need moisture for a long time, water accumulates in the tubers. Dense loamy soils retain moisture for a long time, which does not contribute to the development of the plant, but only leads to decay of the root system. Therefore, for good development, the plant needs light, loose substrates, the consistency of which contributes to the penetration of air to the roots.

The composition of the soil must necessarily contain sand, expanded clay, charcoal and a little sod land. Each of the components has its own purpose.

The sand makes the substrate loose and airy, allowing the root system to grow deeply without hindrance.

Environmentally friendly expanded clay, made of clay and shale, copes well with the role of the drainage system of the plant. Due to its porosity, it not only quickly absorbs moisture, but also retains it for quite a long time, thereby contributing to the regulation of the water balance of the zamiokulkas.

Coal and peat moss (sphagnum) perfectly protect the plant from diseases caused by bacteria. Moss, which is a natural sponge in its structure, promotes air circulation.

Vermiculite, added to the substrate as an additional component, prevents the growth of various types of mold, and also serves as a drainage due to its ability to retain water.

Perlite is also good drainage. These white pebbles, no worse than expanded clay, retain moisture inside themselves, and the top layer of the substrate covered with them is reliably protected from drying out.

Ready-made soil for zamiokulkas is always on sale. The necessary components are present in the soil in the correct proportions.

What kind of soil does a plant need?

As a rule, a mixture is chosen for ficuses: "Ficus" or "Palm". Almost every manufacturer produces similar products. The most famous of them are:

• Seramis;
• Garden of Miracles;
• Flower happiness;
• Vermion;
• Weltorf;
• Seliger-Agro.

As a rule, the compositions differ from each other, but mainly they contain the following components:

• biohumus;
• mineral supplements;
• sand;
• dolomite flour;
• peat;
• lime;
• expanded clay.

The primer purchased in the store is ready for use and does not require additional processing.

Ficus benjamin requires a neutral or slightly acidic soil that is highly moisture permeable and enriched with nutrients.

The flower reacts painfully even to a slight stagnation of moisture in the pot. If the soil brought from the store is too dense, it is recommended to add a small amount of sand, especially for young specimens.

Features of making soil at home

It is not necessary to look for the ideal ground mixture in specialized flower shops. This does not happen. Of course, manufacturers are trying to isolate the golden mean, but all flowers are living beings. They are influenced in different ways by certain conditions. They perceive the environment differently.

Note! For some species, purchased soil may be a truly ideal option for growth and reproduction, while for others it may not. It is for this reason that you can make soil for cacti with your own hands.

And although this can take much longer, but then you do not have to waste your nerves worrying about the fact that the cactus is missing something, etc.

To create the desired soil mixture, it is necessary to take into account all the individual requirements and characteristics of a particular type of plant: its root system, previous habitat, age.

If the cactus has a fibrous root system or is still young, then the mixture is prepared in the following proportions:

• 1-2 parts of leafy land;
• 1 part of sod land;
• 1 part sand or zeolite granules;
• 1 teaspoon of broken red brick or pebbles for 1 glass of soil;
• 1 teaspoon of charcoal powder for 1 cup of soil.

If the cactus has powerful turnip roots, or the plant is more than 3-4 years old, then the mixture looks like this:

• 1 piece of leafy land;
• 2 parts of soddy clay soil;
• 1 part river sand or zeolite granules;
• 1 part of broken red brick or perlite.

For your information! Perlite increases the aeration of the soil, as well as its moisture holding capacity. It is especially important for cacti that grow in dense clay and sandy soil. Perlite lowers the pH, slows down the processes of salinization and waterlogging.

Landing features

The money tree is a bright representative of the succulent genus, belongs to the Tolstyankovye family. The plant has a tree-like trunk and a rounded crown

For the normal development of the fat woman, it is important to choose the right soil. In this case, the leaves of the plant will acquire a rich dark green color with a reddish tint, will be dense and fleshy, and the plant itself will quickly adapt to new conditions, will have a healthy appearance.

The process of planting a fat woman cannot be called complicated, but it requires compliance with some mandatory rules and has characteristic features. An important step in planting Crassula is to create good drainage, which is responsible for maintaining soil moisture at the required level. When planting a fat woman, you can use the following materials as drainage:

• ceramic shards, brick chips, gravel and crushed stone are natural materials that everyone can have at hand;
• agroperlite, special expanded clay, vermiculite are special products that are offered in flower shops;
• Styrofoam is excellent for drainage, moreover, this material protects the ground from the cold.

It is important not only in which land the crassula will be planted, but also in which pot. To choose the right container for planting a plant, you need to follow some simple tips.

Due to the considerable weight of the plant, it is better to choose a ceramic or clay pot.

The weight of the container will balance the heavy plant and the whole structure will be more stable.
Feng shui lovers should pay attention to the pots of red, golden, brown, silver, black colors.
Shallow roots require a low but wide pot. The diameter of the container must match the crown of the plant

If the crown exceeds the diameter of the pot, then it's time for a transplant.
The bottom of the container must have drainage holes. Otherwise, the plant may die in a short time.

When everything is ready, you can come to the relocation of the plant.

Crassula must be planted carefully, since it is in fact very fragile. Do not be confused by the thickness of the leaves and branches: the money tree is easy to injure, especially during transplantation.

• The plant is removed from an old container. To do this, you need to grab the tree by the trunk and pull lightly. Thus, it will be possible to preserve the root system and leaves.
• The old earth is shaken off a little from the roots of the money tree. It does not need to be removed completely.
• The roots cannot be straightened. The plant is immersed in a new pot and placed in the center.
• Crassula is sprinkled with prepared soil on all sides. It should not be compacted; it is better to add a new one when, after watering, the earth in the pot will settle down by itself.
• At the end of planting, the plant is abundantly watered and irrigated with settled water.

For information on how to transplant a money tree correctly, see the video below.

Soil for cacti

First, once again about the soil for cacti. It should be loose, water and air permeable. One of the main loosening components of any substrates is sand. But we often omit the postscript, taking it for granted that the sand should be river sand, well washed, and sifted from dust. If this is not done, then the sand will add not loosening, but cementing properties to the entire soil.Take a look, there are two types of sand in the photo, one is taken in a sandbox near the house (it got there from a construction site), the second is river sand, washed and larger (sifted), they even differ in color. After wetting, the first sticks together in lumps, the second, on the contrary, does not keep its shape - it crumbles, and, of course, only this is suitable for us.

Another component is zeolite granules made of cat litter ("Barsik-standard" or any other, only non-clumping filler). They are also added for loosening, but for this they are prepared: they are thoroughly washed and then sieved. A coarse fraction is added to the soil. The remaining components of the substrate, traditionally: garden soil or universal soil from the store and small expanded clay. The earth can be replaced with a coconut substrate, which has the main advantage - friability, it does not stick together into a monolithic piece, allows the roots to breathe, and its acidity is close to neutral. When adding coconut substrate from briquettes, it should be borne in mind that it swells at the first wetting, increasing in volume three times. In order not to be mistaken with the quantity, and after the first watering the cacti did not "kicked out" from the pot, it is better to wet the coconut substrate in advance and dry it again, and then mix it into the soil.

Suitable fillers from cyolite (clay) for cacti.

Features of self-cooking

Do-it-yourself soil is quite simple to make, you just need to know what the main elements are in the mixture for these plants. The only difficulty can be finding all the ingredients, since not every grower is ready to go to specialty stores for them. However, there is nothing difficult here either, because as follows from our previous paragraph, some components can be an excellent alternative if you could not find the required ingredients.

It is also worth paying attention to one nuance: the constituent parts of the substrate will change slightly if you plant different varieties of plants. So, here are the basic recipes for potting soil

For desert cacti

For these plants, it is necessary to compose a substrate, taking the following components in equal proportions:

• turf and leafy land;
• peat;
• coarse sand.

For plain cacti

When formulating potting mix for lowland varieties, it is important to consider that they need looser soil than their predecessors. This is the reason for the changes in the composition of the soil mixture:

• turf and leafy land;
• peat;
• humus;
• coarse river sand.

Sod land will need a little more than the rest of the components - two parts. All other ingredients are needed one part at a time.

Families Cereus

These plants are distinguished by fast growth rates and rather large sizes. Because of this, the soil in which they are planted should be more fertile. So, the following elements are included in the substrate for plants of the Cereus family:

• turf and leafy land;
• peat;
• humus.

All ingredients, except for humus, are taken in equal proportions. Humus makes up 1/4 of it, since even such a small amount is more than enough to ensure the required level of fertility.

Soil for unpretentious cacti

These species have the simplest soil composition. It should be noted that humus is not added there at all, since they are not particularly selective in choosing a substrate. So, to prepare a potting mix for unpretentious varieties, you will need the following components:

• ready-made soil;
• coarse sand;
• gravel.

It is necessary to observe the proportions of 2: 2: 1, and then the substrate will turn out to be good and nutritious.

How to tell if a succulent needs to change its substrate?

The first time you need to change the soil for a dollar tree is necessary immediately after purchasing it in a flower shop.

Since the plant is transported from afar, suppliers are planted in a special substrate to preserve its root system. This soil is ideal for transportation, but not intended for the growth and development of zamiokulkas.

Further transplants of zamiokulkas must be started when, after watering, the water stagnates in the pot on top of the soil. Ideally, a loose substrate, completely entwined with plant roots, will quickly let moisture through, and it will safely fall into the pan.

A caked earth lump is a serious obstacle in the path of water: the liquid is not able to saturate the soil and remains on the surface, which threatens the plant with the formation of rotting areas, and in the future - death. Another signal that the plant needs a transplant is the roots sticking out of the drainage hole.

You should not neglect unscheduled transplants, the need for which may be indicated by the following factors:

• covering the surface of the soil with mold;
• decay of roots;
• suspension of plant growth;
• flower disease;
• damage to the flowerpot.

The growth and development of zamiokulkas depends on many factors, the choice of the right soil is not the last of them

Having paid due attention to this issue, as well as following all the rules for caring for the plant, it will be possible to get real pleasure from contemplating the lush and rich greenery of the dollar tree for a long time.

Ready soil for succulents: an overview of popular soil mixtures

There are quite a large number of ready-made substrates on the market in which such drought-resistant plants can be planted. We suggest considering the most popular ones in order to choose the best mixture option:

• Akadama. This is an ordinary semi-fired clay of various rocks, which is presented in the form of granules of inhomogeneous fractions.

  The larger the plant is planned to be grown, the larger the fraction is used. Advantages:

  • porosity;
  • moisture absorption, its uniform return;
  • lighter composition for growing (important for those who have to transfer different boxes and containers from one part of the greenhouse to another).

In the greenhouse during the year "Akadama" is destroyed, the roots germinate, it turns into fine dust, on which moss can develop. Therefore, it needs to be changed once a year.

• "Seramis". Reddish granules of chamotte fired clay. Visually, they look like broken brick or expanded clay. The mixture is also suitable for other plants (not only cacti or succulents) - it is light, porous, moisture-absorbing. More durable option compared to "Akadama".
• Lechuza soil (lechuza) for succulents. Not a particularly economical version of the composition, gravel is more profitable in this regard, since it is less expensive. 1 fraction of such a mixture is a mineral substrate with zeolite and lava. By weight - heavier than "Seramis", but lighter than gravel. Fertilizer is added to the composition, which has a very good effect on the cultivation.

Also popular are ready-made substrates from such brands: Agricola, Florin, Seliger-Agro, Garden of Miracles, Vermion.