Cactus Potting Soil

Best Cactus Potting Soil: 5 Top Picks

• Best Overall: Miracle-Gro Potting Mix.
• Runner Up: Espoma Organic Cactus Mix.
• Alternative: Harris Succulent and Cactus Mix.
• Alternative: Soil Sunrise Christmas Cactus Mix.
• Alternative: The Valley Garden Organic Potting Soil.

Can you use regular potting soil for cactus?

Can you use regular potting soil for cactus plants? No, I do not recommend using regular potting soil for cactus plants. It holds way too much moisture, which can cause rot, and suffocate the roots. Instead, you should amend it, or use a sandier mix.

Do cactuses need special potting mix?

Most types must have very open, sandy free-draining soil—putting a cactus into regular garden soil or potting mix will kill it very quickly. You may need to create an elevated bed or rockery filled with this type of soil. If planting your cactus in a pot, use a specialised cactus potting mix.

How do you make cactus potting soil?

Making Your Cactus Plant Soil

1. Three parts regular bagged potting soil.
2. Three parts of either sand, gravel, poultry grit, or surface.
3. Two parts, pumice, and perlite.

Is Miracle Gro potting mix good for cactus?

Pamper your succulents with Miracle-Gro®. Start with Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix. It is specially formulated for use with cactus, palm, citrus and succulents. The fast-draining soil contains forest products, sand and perlite to help prevent soil compaction and improve drainage.

Can I use Miracle Gro All Purpose for cactus?

If planting in the landscape, prepare the soil with Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil Cactus, Palm & Citrus. Water when the top 3 inches of soil are dry. Feed with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food for indoor cacti, or Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food for outdoor plants. Don't prune or over-water your cactus.

Do I need to air dry cactus before repotting?

Allow the plant to dry out for up four days. This allows the roots that might have been hurt to heal hence eliminating any risk of rot in the soil.

How often should you replace cactus soil?

A general rule of thumb is to repot every 2 to 4 years. If you fertilize annually, the latter is more appropriate but if you don't fertilize, repot in two years to replenish soil fertility. The best time is during active growth in January or February.

Do you really need cactus soil for succulents?

Plant Succulents in the Right Soil Succulents need soil that drains, so regular potting soil—or dirt from your yard—won't do. Choose cactus soil or mix potting soil with sand, pumice, or perlite. Succulent roots are very fragile so be gentle when repotting.

Do cactus like deep or shallow pots?

Most cacti have shallow roots and grow slowly, so choose a shallow container. You don't need a deep pot or a very large one.

What is the best soil for cactus and succulents?

For organic matter, we recommend pine bark, coconut coir, compost, or potting soil. Good mineral options include coarse sand, perlite, volcanic rock, fine gravel, and chicken grit. Avoid minerals that store water, like vermiculite and non-calcined clays.

What's the difference between cactus soil and regular soil?

The differences between general potting soil and succulent soil are the ingredients and the consistency. Regular potting soils are made of organic materials that retain moisture, while succulent soil is porous, and designed to drain very quickly.

Can you plant cactus in just rocks?

Ideally, a succulent or cactus would be planted in well-draining or sandy soil and then topped off with small rocks. Even though succulents can't grow in rocks alone, there are several ways to make it look like you're growing them in rock. You can also do this if you are planting them in an outdoor area of your yard.

Do I need perlite for cactus?

Plant your cactus in a mix that is made of peat, bark, perlite, pumice or sand. The peat is used for water absorption. The bark, perlite, pumice or sand gives the soil mix good drainage and aeration. Look for special cactus or succulent mixes with these ingredients.

Does cactus palm and citrus potting mix work for succulents?

Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix, 8 qt. Get beautiful, colorful results with Miracle-Gro. It also contains forest products, sand and perlite to help prevent soil compaction and improve drainage. Specially formulated for use with cactus, palm, citrus and succulents.

Do I need to add perlite to cactus mix?

Cactus may benefit from a higher mix of sand, but it must be the coarse type. Perlite – Perlite is commonly included in most mixes for succulents. This product adds aeration and increases drainage; however, it is lightweight and often floats to the top when watered. Use at 1/3 to 1/2 in a mix with potting soil.

Does aloe vera need cactus potting soil?

Aloe vera plants are succulents, so use a well-draining potting mix, such as those made for cacti and succulents. Do not use gardening soil. A good mix should contain perlite, lava rock, chunks of bark, or all three.

How often do you water a cactus?

Water your cactus only when the soil is completely dry. During the warmer seasons, this could be every 10 to 14 days. Cacti will go dormant starting in the fall and until the end of winter. During their dormancy period, they need less watering, when the soil is completely dry.

How often do cactus need fertilizer?

At a minimum, fertilizing cactus plants once a year is a good rule of thumb, but if you're really organized and can set up a schedule, feeding them 2-3 times per year in the spring, summer, and fall will easily satisfy your cacti fertilizer requirements.

Is Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix good for succulents?

This fast-draining mix contains sphagnum peat moss, forest products, and Miracle-Gro Plant Food for premium nutrition to fertilize your favorite indoor succulent plants. Great for helping to grow happy and beautiful succulent varieties like Burro's Tail, Echeveria and Houseleek.