Questions for cacti & succulent growers

[nicki]

While I continue to get the hang of orchids I'm going to try out succulents. I had a jade plant that was given to me from a clipping that for the most part did well till a recent accident.
I just got a few more baby jade clippings and key lime pie succulents to pot.
Any tips here are welcome.
Especially about the type of soil to use and fertilizing. I'm reading different things. A lot of people say to stay away from store bought mixes or don't get ones with added fertilizer. I read different do it yourself mixes. I do have a store bought mix that I used recently only to find teeny tiny bugs in the soil and on the pot. Also watering with it is a pain cause the water tends to pool and spill over the top. I think better drainage and quicker dry time would be best for me.

[orchidsal]

I am certainly no expert on Jade plants or succulents, but your right that good drainage is essential and sandy soils more ideal for these plants. I don't think they are to fussy about fertilizer, but as a general rule I would keep it lite. I understand from a friend who raises them commercially here in New Mexico that many of the newer hybrid succulents and cacti are being breed to flower more often or for the blooms to last longer. Cactus blooms are beautiful, but many of them only last a day or so. Hope this helps a bit. AL

[pavel]

Even the commercially available, "made specifically for cacti" soils mixes are generally garbage. Many contain a large amount of peat -- which when wet generally stays TOO wet for TOO long for many succulents/cacti. In addition, if the peat is completely dried out, it is rather hydrophobic and water just runs off the surface as you noticed. That said, as Al indicated, a more free-draining gritty mix is usually the best way to go.

I'll send you a pm with a link that may be useful.

[nicki]

Thanks