I recommend an allowance of 0.25 inches (0.635 centimeters) from the body of the cactus to the rim of the pot. It should also be deep enough to accommodate the small rocks and gravel at the bottom as well as enough potting soil for your cuttings. The pot you choose should be big enough to accommodate the prickly pear cutting. When choosing the right pot for your prickly pears, you will want one that has big drainage holes at the bottom. You can check out this video if you want to correct drainage problems with your soil, whether you’re doing container gardening or planting directly to the ground. Or you can raise the soil bed by six to eight inches (15.24 to 20.32 centimeters). If this is the case, you can add truckloads of soil. The earthworms will also help decompose the organic matter and make the nutrients easily absorbed by your prickly pear.Īnother reason for poorly draining soil is having a high water table where you are. The organic matter will make the heavy soil drain better while also attracting earthworms. If you live in an area with heavy soil, you can add organic matter into the ground. Well-draining soil will have the water level drop about an inch for every hour spent.
Measure the water’s depth every hour for three hours. I recommend that you dig a hole that is between one to 1.5 feet (30.5 to 45.7 centimeters) deep and a foot (30.5 centimeters) wide.ĭump water into the hole until it’s filled and wait for it to drain completely.įill it again with water and measure how deep the water is. If you are planting directly to the ground, you might want to test the soil first to see if it drains well. Remember that the complete soil mix should be able to support the weight of your prickly pear so that it can stand upright. If it falls apart a bit, then it’s good to go.If it forms into a ball, add more mineral material.Scoop some of the wet soil mixes into your palm and give it a good squeeze. Once you have completed mixing the organic matter and the mineral material together, soak it with water. How do you know if you get the soil mix right? Get something that is not as dense as peat moss and can hold water better, like coconut coir or potting soil.Īs for the mineral material, you cannot go wrong with coarse sand, perlite, or washed gravel. Using peat moss, the roots of your prickly pear will not get enough water because this material repels water. Here’s the thing, while peat moss is recommended for heavy soil, you shouldn’t use it as organic matter in your cactus soil mix. So how do you do that? Mix one part organic matter and two parts sand, rinsed gravel, perlite, and other minerals. There is a cactus soil that you can buy from several retailers, but you can just as easily mix your own. If you are going to grow cacti such as Opuntia in pots, getting the right soil mix will help your prickly pears thrive and grow. Making Your Own Soil Mix for Your Potted Prickly Pears
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