Soil Study 1

Over the past year I’ve studied the various components of soil and their relationships to the plants that either exist or grow within it’s base. Realizing that herbaceous plants require an organic mix just as succulent plants also require an inorganic mix is the rule that sits at the top of my list. From here we look forward to what is organic and what is inorganic. My mix varies slightly between cactus and succulents where like many bread dough recipes the ingredients are the same but differ in quantity.

I would like to offer my on recipe for a cactus mix and solicit for commentary and discussion in the months to come. Currently Stan Yalof and myself have established a test matrix with 3 species of 30 plants each where we have planted the mix below along with various other mixes of various PH’s and in a controlled environment (my greenhouse) will measure the growth rates of these various mixes over a period of 1 year. We will be sharing the progress of this test on a quarterly basis.

Cactus and Succulent Mix

Ingredient List

Coconut core – made from the husk of coconuts this is also called COIR pronounced choir. $ 9.00 /3.2cu ft (1/2 garbage can )

Silver silica sand # 20 grit. The smaller the grit number the coarser the grit therefore the smaller the better(never higher than # 20). This is the same silica sand that causes lung disease so care is required when handling. $ 4.00 / 100 lbs.

Oyster shell – Natures best calcium $ 6.50 / 50 lbs.

Dolomite lime- Composed of calcium and magnesium, is a bacteria inhibitor, mealy bug inhibitor and beneficial mineral. $ 5.89 / 50 lbs.

Gypsum- promotes root growth, improves fertilization efficiencies, aids water penetration and loosens soil. 3.89 / 40 lbs.

Pigeon Grit- Composed of Granite grit, shell iron oxide and charcoal. $ 7.00 / 50 lbs. at the livestock feed store.

Volcanic Pumice- inert material provides aeration and drainage. $ 20.00 for one half yard

Steer Manure – cheap organic 74 cents / cu ft or chicken manure for 2.39 / cu ft

Tool List

The Recipe

Note: other beneficial ingredients are osmocote at 1 teaspoon/gal and mesquite charcoal at 1 part / 10 parts.