From time to time, I will talk about a certain aspect of what I do to take care of my plants. I have read many books, attended lectures and have gone to many shows in the Los Angeles area. Today I will discuss containers.
Pots: Pot plants in a clean container or pot with a drain hole. When selecting a container, consider the size of the plant in relation to its prospective home. For round plants- ball or barrel cacti, or clustering succulents, use a pot 1-2 inches wider than the diameter of the plant. For vertical plants- use a pot half as wide as the plant is tall. Remember that small pots under 4 inches wide are hard to care for. They dry out rapidly and the plants always seem to need water. Clay, plastic, or ceramic pots,wooden boxes, rocks, can be suitable containers for growing cacti and succulents. You can actually be creative and use whatever container you have. The only prerequisite is that they provide good drainage so that the soil is kept loose and well aerated.
The familiar terra cotta ( red clay pot) is the most popular choice.It is relatively inexpensive and comes in many sizes, but because it is made from porous material, plants dry out faster. If you use the glazed pots, they must be watered with more caution because moisture cannot escape as fast. Plastic pots are often used because they are neat, inexpensive,colorful, and lightweight. The only disadvantage is that they tip over very easily.
Potting Soil: Most cacti and succulents do well in a mixture of 1 part soil, 1 part sand (Coarse builder's sand- Not beach sand), 1 part porous inorganic material ( like perlite or agricultural pumice stone). Agricultural pumice is most ideal because it does not break down, prevents soil from compacting and it does not float like perlite or wash down like sand. Sometimes I also add a small amount of compost , worm casting and bonemeal.
Top dressing: I use a top dressing to give the plants a neat, finished appearance and to prevent the soil surface from crusting. It improves water penetration and retention, helps prevent stem rot and algae growth. It also keeps lighter particles like perlite from floating over the top of the pot. You can get creative by using different colors to accent the plant. Materials can be bought from any garden center, pet store, and building material supply store.
Fertilizer: Plants growing in small pots soon exhaust the nutrient in their soil. When I repot, I use a generous pinch of bonemeal in the soil. This is slow acting and gives the plant a continuous supply of nutrient. During flowering season, I feed my plants with a liquid fertilizer, using one with a high potassium and low nitrogen content. I feed them at the same time I feed my tomatoes, using the same strength solution.
