Where are you in the world and what kind of conditions do you get there? Knowing that is helpful in giving specific advice. Here's your answer: Hi, I live in Denmark. Cachi, please see this: https://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43819 What Zac just said is the reason why I send that link...

Well pumice is not really available here and i dont really like perlite cause it floats... thats why i use the crushed red brick it is almost the same like clay granules just a bit sharper. Yes, indeed -- Perlite is the least preferable mineral because it's a floaty pain in the backside. If the cru...

For a cactus where you can't get it out of the pot by pushing up from the center drain hole (or other drain holes), soaking the pot before you start won't hurt the plant because you will eventually be washing off all of the potting media and letting the roots dry a week or so. If you don't want to ...

Thank you! Untill now i thought coir is the magic ingredient, and oh believe me every person i ask has such a different way to prepare the cactus soil, as i ask more people, the more comfused i am! I know the feeling, and sadly a lot of confusion comes from gardening websites. Given Mike's many yea...

I want to repot my echinopsis oxygona and some other cacti, in a few days, because of this i made some cactus soil with 20 % soil, 20% coconut coir, 30 % crushed red brick and tiles, 10 % river sand, 10 % perlite and 10 % seramis. Until now it was ok with soil from the garden, will it tolerate that...

Thank you so much- this was incredibly helpful! Guess I have a weekend (year?) project ahead of me. I’m glad I have a chance at saving him! My pleasure! :D Assuming that your other cacti are in the same potting soil that got the San Pedro in trouble, now would be a good time to take them out of the...

See this:

https://trichocereus.net/trichocereus-p ... -pachanoi/

Thank you; sad but I expected as much. Is the other portion still salvageable? Showing no black spots. I plan on getting a new pot and the potting soil if you think I can split the two. Nice thing about the forum is that experienced growers can help beginners go through the learning process, so you...

First of all, see this: https://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43819 The black area is dead tissue known as necrosis. Once it starts, it won't stop, and unfortunately your cactus won't survive since the necrosis started either in or below the base. I should also mention that your cactus is...

These little Shore Flies are around the same size as those nasty Sciarid Flies, but I don't think they do any harm. Anyone experienced them hanging around your succulents? https://imgur.com/a/jUdvAe4 Not on my plants, but they're kind of a nuisance when I go to the beach and explore the tidepools h...

Nino_G wrote: ↑Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:22 pmThank you Steve! Very informative article, I learned a lot.

You're welcome!

I apologize for resurrecting relatively old thread, and I'm not sure if this is right thread at all, but I would like to discuss the effect of chlorine in tap water on our plants. It is somewhat confusing subject for me for I always thought water should be kept in an open dish for at least 24h to &...

Another thought for all members who have been plagued by sucking pests (mealies, armored scale, and pest mites) -- they really do suck both figuratively and literally! From hydrobuilder.com (https://hydrobuilder.com/learn/npk-ratio-nutrient-balance/): "Magnesium and calcium go hand in hand, and...

Definitely is. I've had scale outbreaks before, just never this bad. If you live in the US, I highly recommend an Imidacloprid soil soak. This is a systemic effect -- the Imidacloprid is taken up by the roots into the plant, making the plant's juices toxic to mealies and armored scale. Unfortunatel...

Very good! Overnight lows in my part of L.A. are slowly creeping up into the low 50s, although not consistent enough for deep watering until later this month. Your overnights aren't there yet, so I'm guessing early to mid-April before you'll be ready. When you are, the offset with roots means that y...