Image - Pomice per Bonsai
Cacti are succulent plants that live in the hot deserts of America. There, the terrain is sandy, so over time they have evolved to have roots capable of withstanding both extreme heat and lack of rain (not humidity).
When we intend to grow them, one of the first things we have to do is ask ourselves what is the ideal substrate for cactus, since otherwise we would run the risk of putting one that is not the most appropriate for them.
Cacti do not resist drought well. Yes, I know that in many places they will tell you just the opposite, but… no. In fact, I know a man who would tell you that they need as much water as any garden plant. And it has its logic: there can only be plant life, that is, there can only be plants where there is availability of water, either in the form of rain or humidity.
Our protagonists they grow very close to the coast. Every morning there is dew. Water droplets that the pores in the body of the cactus absorb. This is how they quench their thirst. But beware, this does not mean that they have to be watered daily: their habitat conditions are different from those in, for example, any garden in Spain; it's more, they should only be watered if the substrate is dry.
But How should this substrate be? Well, this one would have to be as similar as possible to the land of its place of origin. Thus, the recommended is the following:
- For seedlings: black peat mixed with 50% sand.
- For cuttings: mix 70% fine sand with 30% black peat.
- Young or adult plants: universal culture substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts. But there are exceptions:
- The Ariocarpus or Aztekium type collection cacti are recommended to be planted in 100% pumice.
I hope it has been useful to you 🙂.