Growing advice for cactus

[Hero878]

I've had two rot so I was wondering if these require particular care? Just got a new one yesterday I don't want it to rot too.
One tip I heard was to put a top layer of gravel so the edges of the cactus does not touch the wet surface of the soil after watering as it could rot with the cresting being low to the top soil.


Thank you

[ohugal]

What type of soil do you have now? It's true about the layer of gravel, but don't put it on the existing soil before you know what type of soil it is. The gravel could prevent evaporation of water. Especially if the existing soil is not free draining enough. An appropriate soil is an important start.
Also, are you watering your cacti right now? In what conditions are you growing them in?

[Hero878]

What type of soil do you have now? It's true about the layer of gravel, but don't put it on the existing soil before you know what type of soil it is. The gravel could prevent evaporation of water. Especially if the existing soil is not free draining enough. An appropriate soil is an important start.
Also, are you watering your cacti right now? In what conditions are you growing them in?

Thank you! I have repotted it yet so it's in the nursery mix still which is pretty decent stuff as it's a cactus nursery in Italy. Yes I was thinking the gravel on top could hold the moisture in.
I think where I went wrong previously was keeping them in plastic pots. I've had a lot of custus die because they never dry quick enough and I only have a north east facing window.
I've moved everything into ceramic pots and so far no issues
With wet soil anymore. I'll just water from the bottom so that the top soil doesn't get soaking wet.

[ohugal]

Finding the right growing conditions (type of soil, type of pot, etc...) takes time. Cleistocacti can have a little bit of organic material in their mix, although I have one in a completely mineral soil. Let's see how that goes. Dressing the soil with gravel allows a better water distribution though. Just see you don't plant your succulent 'deeper' than before.

[Hero878]

Finding the right growing conditions (type of soil, type of pot, etc...) takes time. Cleistocacti can have a little bit of organic material in their mix, although I have one in a completely mineral soil. Let's see how that goes. Dressing the soil with gravel allows a better water distribution though. Just see you don't plant your succulent 'deeper' than before.

Thanks I guess that's it. I've found what works for me now so will stick to it

I just got a new cactus the other day but have not found a breathable clay pot yet so had to use a plastic pot unfortunately.
I have buried the calloused end so that it's sloping but I kind of liked how it looked lying flat as shown in the other photo. The roots are already growing sideways towards the ground anyway so wasnt sure if it was worth me planting it at an angle with the bottom half buried.

[mikethecactusguy]

This is a Creeping Devil. This is how they grow. Buy a pot twice a long as the one you have now. You will need it.

[greenknight]

Some grow those in a section of roof gutter.

[Hero878]

Thanks! I wasn't show how deep the pot should be but if they work well on drain pipes then I guess a very shallow pot would be fine.
I've also seen photos of these growing from hanging pots where only the base has contact with soil and they look healthy growing that way as well. But I guess letting them crawl along a bed is best as that's how they grow in the wild

[mikethecactusguy]

I bought this from an ebay seller. It was an arm that fell off a larger plant. It took 4 months for it to root and as it started to grow it started to bend. But as you can see, it's decided to from vertical.

20220303_162445.jpg (128.17 KiB) Viewed 990 times

20220303_162449.jpg (102.23 KiB) Viewed 990 times

20220303_162501.jpg (145.71 KiB) Viewed 990 times

[Hero878]

Thats a very nice specimen thanks for sharing. Looks like its growing nicely vertically. I wonder if it will start to dip down and crawl along the ground below the pot at some point?

[mikethecactusguy]

Its a hard decision I have. Do I let it continue this way or pull it and reroot it on its side. There is a guy who displays and wins a ribbon every year at the Cactus Show in Pasadena Ca. His has been growing for years and has grown longer than the planter its in.
On the other hand, it may pup or grow an arm and I can root that.. Time will tell