What kind of soil is everyone using for your Thanksgiving...
3ft to light, indirect
6” pot with drainage
Last watered 3 days ago
10
Best Answer
Good question! I transplanted my plant last spring and like @LittleSongbird I used Succulent soil too. It’s not wrong to use succulents soil, but it’s not mom’s (mother nature) home cooking. 🙂
▫️They’re not really a cactus, but an Epiphyte plant, that grows on trees in the Rainforest. So, they don’t naturally want the same old sandy soil as a cacti that live in the desert. They grow in decaying trees bark.
▫️So, using Epiphytic cactus soil is highly recommended, because it replicates mom’s home cooking. 🙂 Epiphytic soil is regular potting soil, mixed with a couple of these organic ingredients: peat moss, pumice, orchid bark (or bark chips) & perlite. [But, gardening can get a little pricey 🙂.]
▫️Good news! this plant will adapt to any well draining soil, including succulent soil only. But, succulent (by itself) is not the best soil. I mixed a small amount of regular potting soil with its succulents soil, to help the soil hold moisture a little longer. I also put a lot of perlite in its soil.
▫️I hope your Thanksgiving Cactus will live long and prosper with lots of beautiful flowers.
▫️They’re not really a cactus, but an Epiphyte plant, that grows on trees in the Rainforest. So, they don’t naturally want the same old sandy soil as a cacti that live in the desert. They grow in decaying trees bark.
▫️So, using Epiphytic cactus soil is highly recommended, because it replicates mom’s home cooking. 🙂 Epiphytic soil is regular potting soil, mixed with a couple of these organic ingredients: peat moss, pumice, orchid bark (or bark chips) & perlite. [But, gardening can get a little pricey 🙂.]
▫️Good news! this plant will adapt to any well draining soil, including succulent soil only. But, succulent (by itself) is not the best soil. I mixed a small amount of regular potting soil with its succulents soil, to help the soil hold moisture a little longer. I also put a lot of perlite in its soil.
▫️I hope your Thanksgiving Cactus will live long and prosper with lots of beautiful flowers.
@ZingGoldenhill short answer—start with a mix like Fox farms Happy Frog and add perlite in the following ratio: 2 parts mix plus 1 part perlite. Don’t use miracle grow. It doesn’t drain well and as a result your plants especially something like a Christmas cactus are prone to fungal infections and fungus gnats. Long answer. Native Habitat and Soil Conditions for Christmas Cactus:
Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera) are native to the shaded, humid rainforest regions of Brazil.
They grow as epiphytes, often on trees or rocks in the understory of the forest.
Their habitat features filtered light and moderate moisture levels.
Soil conditions consist of organic matter like decaying leaves, moss, and bark where they establish themselves on trees or rocks, not in the ground.
Contrasting with Arid Succulents:
Arid succulents thrive in dry desert environments with infrequent rainfall and intense sunlight.
Soil for arid succulents requires excellent drainage to prevent water retention and root rot.
Arid succulent soil recipes focus on materials like sand, gravel, or grit to enhance drainage, minimizing organic matter.
DIY Recipe for Christmas Cactus Soil Mix:
2 parts regular potting soil or a mix like Fox Farms Happy Frog Potting Mix (as a base)
1 part Perlite or coarse sand (for improved drainage)
This mix provides good drainage while mimicking the slightly more humid conditions of the Christmas cactus's rainforest habitat. Unlike arid succulents, this mix does not include moisture-retaining components like peat moss, as it is unnecessary for this cactus species that prefers a more humid environment.
Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera) are native to the shaded, humid rainforest regions of Brazil.
They grow as epiphytes, often on trees or rocks in the understory of the forest.
Their habitat features filtered light and moderate moisture levels.
Soil conditions consist of organic matter like decaying leaves, moss, and bark where they establish themselves on trees or rocks, not in the ground.
Contrasting with Arid Succulents:
Arid succulents thrive in dry desert environments with infrequent rainfall and intense sunlight.
Soil for arid succulents requires excellent drainage to prevent water retention and root rot.
Arid succulent soil recipes focus on materials like sand, gravel, or grit to enhance drainage, minimizing organic matter.
DIY Recipe for Christmas Cactus Soil Mix:
2 parts regular potting soil or a mix like Fox Farms Happy Frog Potting Mix (as a base)
1 part Perlite or coarse sand (for improved drainage)
This mix provides good drainage while mimicking the slightly more humid conditions of the Christmas cactus's rainforest habitat. Unlike arid succulents, this mix does not include moisture-retaining components like peat moss, as it is unnecessary for this cactus species that prefers a more humid environment.
I use succulent soil from miracle grow and my plant grew nice and healthy