Why purchased. Soil for cacti: we do not buy, we do it ourselves. The basic rules for transplantation are
Purchased soil for cacti and succulents is not suitable. Succulents grow in the desert where the soil is dry dust, clay, stones and sand. Look at the photo in the article for native cactus habitats: we need to replicate this at home. And don't try to give them "more nutritious" soil, as you will only ruin the plants.
Purchased mixtures, even special ones for succulents, are all based on peat. It is not suitable for these plants. absolutely. Even "Desert Cactus Soil" is still based on peat.
Cacti will collect moisture immediately, store it in their bodies, and excess water must be evaporated or drained to prevent fungal diseases and rot. Actually cheaper (and better for plants) make your own mix.
Why is purchased soil unsuitable?
Succulents have too little immunity to soil microorganisms. Ordinary plants are resistant to them, but not succulents! In succulents, normal soil microflora can cause root rot and then the entire plant.
So that the microflora in pots is not bred, for succulents never use peat organic substrates and water the plants only after complete drying of the earth. Microbes with this method of cultivation are constantly dying, do not have time to multiply.
Succulents in nature live exactly like this: their soils are mineral, not organic, sandy, clay or rocky, the content organic matter very little and very little moisture. The soil is usually dry, the number of soil microorganisms is at a very low level.
What is the perfect cactus mix?
This is an environment that promotes optimal health for your cactus and mimics the natural grainy, dry, low-nutrient soils they naturally grow in.
The cactus family are succulents that store moisture in their trunks, stems, for use during dry and arid periods. They tend to be found in desert environments, although some are tropical and subtropical. These plants prefer sunny places with large quantity warm, areas where there is little rainfall and the soils are harsh. Most plants are ideal for the home because of their minimal maintenance needs. These hardy plants need water, but not to the extent that other plants require. They are unique in shape, they bloom beautifully.
What is soil microflora?
Soil microflora - microscopic fungi, bacteria and algae. For life, they need organic components of the substrate. In addition to organic matter, they require stable conditions so that the soil does not dry out completely.
When growing ordinary plants, microorganisms receive just such conditions: the soil remains constantly wet.
Plant roots can also serve as a substrate for soil microbes, but ordinary plants able to defend against it. Not succulents. For them the best prevention from rotting is the use of mineral soils, small pots, and watering - only after the soil has completely dried out and has been in a dry state for some time.
Purchased soils
The plant store sells only soils on peat basis, which is completely unsuitable for succulents. This also applies to soils with the names "for cacti, for succulents." Plus, fertilizer is also added to peat.
Peat is inherently a natural substrate for soil microflora to which succulents are not resistant.
Peaty mixtures have a high water-holding capacity: they dry out slowly, which is favorable for microbes, but not for succulents. Dried peat in a pot is then extremely difficult to wet.
In general, if you want to become a real cactus grower, you will have to compose the soil yourself. Fortunately, it's not difficult. And even very interesting!
Commercial potting mixes claim they can "provide everything the necessary conditions for the growth of cacti and other succulents. Experienced growers will assure you that this mixture is ideal for all types of cacti. In addition to being inadequate for some cacti, commercially available mixtures do not work for most cacti. These mixtures are primarily a combination sand and peat But, as we said above, the soil for cacti should not be constantly wet, otherwise the roots will rot, and behind them the whole plant.
The worst part about commercial mixes is that once the commercial mix has dried, it becomes very difficult to re-wet it due to the nature of the main ingredient, peat. As a result, the water will stand at the top and mostly run down the inner wall, leaving most of the soil mass dry.
DIY soil for cacti and succulents
We will make a loose mineral substrate, which dries out very quickly. Ordinary street land from a forest or from a garden, mixed with coarse sand, is suitable for us.
The main components of the substrate for succulent plants:
- clay base: forest, garden, street land
- mineral baking powder: coarse sand, small stones, perlite, vermiculite, lava, pumice
Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.
Avoid large pieces of bark and wood chips.
Pumice- relatively light volcanic rock, porous. Its more affordable substitutes include perlite, insoluble cat litter, potting soil aquatic plants, sandstone or other similar substance ( agroperlite, as well as vermiculite). The goal is to provide inorganic matter, which allows water to quickly pass through the mixture, while at the same time making the mixture somewhat "airy".
Can be added to soil coir (coconut fiber), it is for sale as soil for terrariums. It is a coarse, fibrous material that is technically organic but decomposes very slowly. The purpose of adding coir to a cactus mix is to help retain moisture and air, providing structure to the mix. Unlike peat, coir is easy to moisten after drying. Coconut fiber is sold in very tightly pressed briquettes. Before use, it must be torn by hand: the coir expands at least three times its original volume in the briquette, and even more.
Coconut coir and other soil components for succulents.
clay minerals constitute the main basis soil fertility due to its ability to retain nutrient salts.
The disadvantage of clay is its caking and poor penetration of air into the soil, therefore, in its pure form, clay is not used for planting.
It is necessary to add a significant amount of mineral baking powder: any material with a particle diameter of 1-4 mm, ideally 2-3 mm. This is coarse sand large, small can be weeded out through a sieve.
Coarse-grained sand can be easily found in any pet store in the aquarium supplies section, and small pebbles are also sold there, which can also be added to the soil.
If this desert cactus, use the simplest mixture of clean fine sand, coarser grains of sand and some soil. If you have tropical view, add some peat. A plant like Euphorbia is remarkably adaptable to almost any soil and can even thrive in dry soil.
There is no need to ignite or steam the earth. The main thing - do not flood, let's dry properly.
Potassium permanganate should also not be spilled, it is a strong oxidizing agent that degrades Chemical properties soil.
Some add a little bone meal to the soil, sometimes fertilizer. And remember that cacti are very fond of watering with slightly sweetened water (water with regular sugar).
Use only small pots because large land takes too long to dry between waterings, which is bad for succulents, especially in winter. Small plastic or clay pots are needed, for small cacti a 100 ml pot is more than enough. Most importantly, do not flood the plant!
Keep in mind that besides the soil, there are many other factors such as light, humidity and temperature that affect the growth of cacti. This should all be considered along with the composition of your soil. Don't be afraid to experiment, it's very interesting!
Complete nonsense, unfortunately common
Hello!
Agree, flowers in the house are a joy for the soul, a kind of small oasis, looking at which we give rest to both nerves and eyes tired of the computer and TV. Beneficial features indoor plants very versatile and the hostesses are not in vain happy to breed them.
Moreover, most flowers do not require our constant attention, most often they only have to be watered, and all other "operations" are carried out from time to time - top dressing, spraying, transplanting.
And today we will master the most important operation, learn how to properly transplant indoor flowers, which have long taken root in our home, and flowers purchased in a store.
So, based on our requests, we chose a flower, and, satisfied with the purchase, brought it home. Now it is imperative to follow all the rules for transplantation, otherwise after a while it will be necessary to carry out a funeral ceremony for the removal of the dried "body". Either in best case the flower will hurt for a long time, get used to it, but will never become as beautiful as it was at first.
Transplantation of purchased flowers has its own nuances, during which housewives often make the same mistakes. If you are going to transplant a pet that has already settled down with you, then points 3-5 will come in handy.
Error one
After purchase, the plant is immediately placed next to other home flowers.
You should not do this, because if your "newcomer" is infected with pests, it will harm his neighbors as well. Therefore, after the purchase, we send the plant to "quarantine", during which it, at the same time, will be able to "get used" to the house. Usually "flower quarantine" lasts 1-2 weeks, during which the flower acclimatizes, and we do not disturb it, do not fertilize or replant it.
During this time, we observe the plant and if pests and pathogens do not appear on it, then we boldly place it in our collection. If they appear, then we “identify” the pest and neutralize it by treating it with special preparations.
Error two
And the most important thing is that a flower bought in a store is left to grow in the same pot in which it was sold.
The fact is that the transportation of natural soil in open containers (which are flower pots) across the border is prohibited. Therefore, manufacturers during transportation replace nutrient soil inert mixture.
The inert mixture is a combination of coconut flakes, perlite (natural form of volcanic glass) and long acting concentrated fertilizers. Plants can live and develop in such a mixture only for a limited period of time. And if you don't get rid of her root system plants, they will die.
Alternatively, plants in stores may be contained in peat, which is also detrimental to them at home.
Several times when transplanting, right in the main pot with earth, on the roots of flowers, I found special bags or small pots. If they are not removed, then the plant will simply stop growing and developing. Therefore, transplanting flowers in pots is vital.
Error three
Incorrectly selected soil.
Now on sale there are soils for different types plants. But, based on my experience, I will say that they are still not ideal for transplanting your green pets. And almost always, the composition of the soil has to be adjusted.
Soils can be:
Too dense, then we add additives to it, which will loosen it, allowing the roots of the plant to breathe. You can add coarse sand (river, lake), or perlite, which we talked about above, in this case, acting as sand. Or long-staple peat (in which imported plants grow in stores).
If the soil, on the contrary, is too peaty, it is necessary to compact it by adding to it a denser and more nutritious type of soddy soil.
Mistake four
Flower transplantation is carried out according to a gentle scheme
That is, the flower is transplanted into home pot along with part of the soil from the purchased pot in which it grew. This technique is not suitable for purchased flowers.
In transplanting imported plants essential role technology plays, with it, first of all, we must clean the root system of the plant from the “substrate” in which it was from the moment it left the foreign greenhouse until the moment it arrived at your home.
We take the plant out of the transport pot and put its roots in a container with warm water from the tap to soak them. While the flower is soaking, we lay drainage on the bottom of the pot and pour nutrient soil.
When the main part of the substrate “falls off” from the roots of the plants, carefully take it out, holding it by the base of the trunk, and transfer it under running water. Under running water, completely wash out the remains of the substrate from the roots. After that, it is recommended to spray the root system with a Kornevin-type preparation, but to be honest, I have never done this.
Carefully lower the plant onto the prepared soil and completely sprinkle the roots on top. Then pour abundantly with warm settled water.
When transplanting home indoor flowers, we use the same technology.
The only exception is that we do not wash off the soil from the roots, but just shake it off a little and lower the plant, together with the remnants of the “native” land, into the prepared pot, fill the root system with prepared soil and pour it with settled water. Everything, our flower is absolutely happy 🙂, but is still weak, so we protect the transplanted flower from cooling, drafts and waterlogging.
Mistake five
Early plant nutrition
After such a “cruel” transplant, many housewives want to help their pet recover and settle down in new conditions, for which they begin to add various top dressings.
But in no case should this be done, it will be possible to start feeding the transplanted plant no earlier than in a month and a half and only after it, moreover, shows the first signs of normal rooting - new leaves, sprouts, shoots will appear.
The method of transplantation that I have described may seem too traumatic. But do not be afraid, in fact, it turns out to be much more humane for the plant, since the pet will not suffer in a substrate unusual for its habitat.
I applied this method of transplantation to all the plants purchased in the store, and they all tolerated it safely, continuing to grow and delight with their beauty. The only "missing" plant I had was myrtle, but it disappeared due to improper care behind him, the subtleties of which at that time I did not know, only this is a completely different story.
I hope that my experience of transplanting green pets will be useful to you, and if I missed something in the article, I will be glad for your tips.
Indoor plants good for human health
Absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
- sansiviera, which is popularly called the "pike tail";
- chlorophytum;
- a coffee tree.
Plants capable of absorbing dust. Conifers have these properties.
It is called creeping hops, beer hops, curly hops, bitterness... This powerful and beautiful vine has everything to be useful to man. Hops are revered by many peoples of the world, it is a symbol of fertility, strong economy, prowess, happiness and longevity, it is depicted on coats of arms and coins. But many summer residents are not at all happy with him. Hops tend to grow rapidly, inhibiting growth cultivated plants around you. But is it really necessary to fight it?
Two years ago, at the beginning of summer, while walking in the local park, I saw interesting plant. I was lucky, it was just in bloom, and I immediately realized that I needed this in my garden. And although at that moment I did not know what it was and how it was called, I stocked up on cuttings. Then already familiar plant lovers suggested: I became the owner of a buddleia, a shrub that is rare in our parks and gardens. It's a pity! It has several advantages for which it is worth growing it.
Pork with Eggplant - A delicious stew with vegetables and spicy rice is easy and simple to cook for dinner or lunch. It will take about half an hour to cook, so this recipe can be categorized as "if you need dinner quickly." The dish turns out hearty, fragrant, spicy. Turmeric colors the ingredients in a beautiful golden yellow color, cloves, cardamom, garlic and chili pepper add savory notes to the dish. Choose lean meat for this recipe.
seed propagation in the garden strawberry familiar to us, unfortunately, leads to the appearance of less productive plants and weaker bushes. But another type of these sweet berries - alpine strawberries, can be successfully grown from seeds. Let's learn about the main advantages and disadvantages of this crop, consider the main varieties and features of agricultural technology. The information presented in this article will help you decide whether it is worth giving her a place in the berry.
Despite the confusion that has accumulated over the past decades with the name "Christmas cactus", one of the most recognizable and colorful forest cacti, epiphyllums remain everyone's favorite. Leafless, flattened stems, strikingly profusely flowering, hybrid epiphyllums with their hanging shoots and delicate flowers do not require special from the owners complex care. They are able to become the most bright plant from among the flowering succulents in any collection.
Merchant-style buckwheat with meat and pumpkin - simple recipe delicious dinner or lunch. I advise you to bring it to readiness in the oven, although you can also on the stove. Firstly, it tastes better in the oven, as the buckwheat is steamed, it becomes very tasty, and the meat is tender. Secondly, the hour that it languishes in the oven can be spent on yourself or communicating with loved ones. Perhaps many will decide that buckwheat with meat is an ordinary dish, but try to cook it according to this recipe.
Often at the sight beautiful flower we instinctively bend down to smell its fragrance. All fragrant flowers can be divided into two large groups: nocturnal (pollinated by night butterflies) and diurnal, whose pollinators are mainly bees. Both groups of plants are important for the grower and designer, because we often walk in the garden during the day and relax in our favorite corners with the onset of the evening. We are never put off by the fragrance of our favorite fragrant flowers.
Spring and early summer is a hot time for summer residents. There is so much to do in order to get a rich harvest by autumn that sometimes there are not enough hands. But, when preparing beds and planting seedlings and seedlings, do not forget about protecting the garden from pests. Everyone knows that some insects do great harm to garden and horticultural crops. Without exaggeration, we can say that aphids are the most common pest in our beds.
Pumpkin is considered by many gardeners to be the queen of the beds. And not only because of its size, variety of shapes and colors, but also for excellent taste, useful qualities and a rich harvest. Pumpkin contains a large amount of carotene, iron, various vitamins and minerals. Thanks to the opportunity long-term storage this vegetable keeps us healthy all year round. If you decide to plant a pumpkin on your site, you will be interested to know how to get the largest possible harvest.
Scotch eggs are amazing! Try to cook this dish at home, there is nothing difficult to prepare. Scotch eggs are hard-boiled eggs wrapped in chopped meat breaded in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and deep fried. For frying, you need a frying pan with a high rim, and if you have a deep fryer, then it's just great - even less hassle. You will also need deep-frying oil so as not to smoke the kitchen. Choose farm eggs for this recipe.
One of the most amazing large-flowered tub cubanola Dominican fully justifies the status of a tropical miracle. Heat-loving, slow-growing, with huge and in many ways unique bells of flowers, cubanola is a fragrant star with a difficult character. She demands special conditions content in the rooms. But for those who are looking for exclusive plants for their interior, the best (and more chocolatey) candidate for the role of indoor giant cannot be found.
Chickpea Curry with Meat is a hearty hot dish for lunch or dinner inspired by Indian cuisine. This curry is quick to prepare, but requires pre-preparation. Chickpeas need to be soaked in in large numbers cold water for several hours, preferably at night, the water can be changed several times. It is also better to leave the meat in the marinade overnight so that it turns out juicy and tender. Then you should boil the chickpeas until tender and then cook the curry according to the recipe.
Rhubarb can not be found on everyone garden plot. It's a pity. This plant is a storehouse of vitamins and can be widely used in cooking. What is not prepared from rhubarb: soups and cabbage soup, salads, delicious jam, kvass, compotes and juices, candied fruits and marmalade, and even wine. But that's not all! A large green or red rosette of plant leaves, resembling burdock, protrudes beautiful background for one year olds. Not surprisingly, rhubarb can also be seen in flower beds.
Today, experiments with non-banal combinations and non-standard colors in the garden are in trend. For example, plants with black inflorescences have become very fashionable. All black flowers are original and specific, and it is important for them to be able to select suitable partners and location. Therefore, this article will not only introduce you to the range of plants with slate-black inflorescences, but also teach you the intricacies of using such mystical plants in garden design.
3 delicious sandwiches - cucumber sandwich, chicken sandwich, cabbage sandwich with meat - great idea for a quick bite or for a picnic in nature. Only fresh vegetables, juicy chicken and cream cheese and some spices. There are no onions in these sandwiches, you can add marinated in balsamic vinegar an onion in any of the sandwiches, it will not spoil the taste. Having quickly prepared snacks, it remains to collect a picnic basket and go to the nearest green lawn.
Most often, the main trouble that can occur due to the consumption of a low-quality product is poisoning. However, depending on what kind of bacteria the pastry was infected with, the degree of this poisoning depends - from mild to fatal. That is why most doctors advise baking sweet cakes and pastries at home, because then the hostess knows for sure that all the products were of high quality, and their cooking method was correct.
Particular attention should be paid to creamy confectionery sweets, which are sold in markets or train stations from stalls. Most often, people complain of intestinal poisoning from cakes bought, as they say, "from hand." Children who love sweets are most at risk, and cakes and straws from stalls in the market are usually cheaper than similar ones in the store. To prevent health problems, it is recommended not to buy sweets on the street or in the market from dubious persons, to observe the shelf life of the confectionery. In addition, do not feed purchased cakes and pastries to children, but cook them exclusively on your own, taking into account all safety standards and requirements.
Periodically in different countries waves break out infectious diseases associated with the consumption of sweets and especially in hot weather. Moreover, most of these confectionery products were purchased in stores. As a rule, stores buy products from the respective enterprises, but since the production could not comply with cleaning standards, there was no thermometer in the refrigerator, or the products were stored in an unacceptable neighborhood with other goods, the confectionery turned out to be infected with harmful bacteria. It should be remembered that any poisoning purchased product should be punishable by law, and the manufacturer can be punished through the courts by contacting professional lawyers on the website http://www.m-advokat.ru for help, who will help resolve the issue with an unscrupulous enterprise or store. It is important to remember your rights in order to avoid a new poisoning in the future.