Perlite and cactus soil.

caliboy1994 · 04-03-2012, 05:24 PM

What would the ideal mix of Perlite and cactus soil be?

caliboy1994 · 04-03-2012, 07:29 PM

After some research, I'm thinking maybe 20-30% Perlite and the rest cactus soil. Does this sound good?

sunfish · 04-03-2012, 07:29 PM

25% perlite

natej740 · 04-04-2012, 11:01 AM

I've grown a few bananas in cactus soil and they did great. It drains really good without the extra perlite.

Bob3 · 04-04-2012, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natej740

I've grown a few bananas in cactus soil and they did great. It drains really good without the extra perlite.

Out here in CA, where it's drier than a popcorn fart, straight cactus soil can drain too fast, (except for maybe young TC plants & fresh corm/pup cuttings).

natej740 · 04-04-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob3

Out here in CA, where it's drier than a popcorn fart, straight cactus soil can drain too fast, (except for maybe young TC plants & fresh corm/pup cuttings).

Yeah that's what I was getting at...cactus soil drains fine without the added perlite

caliboy1994 · 04-05-2012, 12:52 AM

The problem is I have thick, nasty clay soil.

Bob3 · 04-05-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natej740

Yeah that's what I was getting at...cactus soil drains fine without the added perlite

I use perlite (and pumice stone) to soak up & hold water rather than enhancing drainage.

momoese · 04-06-2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

The problem is I have thick, nasty clay soil.

Are you asking how much to mix in with your garden soil in the garden, not in a container?

caliboy1994 · 04-06-2012, 08:31 PM

Yes, in the garden. I'm planting two plants in the ground next Saturday. The soil in my area tends to retain moisture, so I was thinking that a really well draining mix would be good.

venturabananas · 04-06-2012, 10:40 PM

It's probably overkill, but I've amended the soil in the planting holes in my yard (which has heavy clay soil) with cactus mix, pumice, and compost -- roughly equal parts to about 1/2 native soil. Probably just pumice and compost would be no different. And probably just compost would be fine, but I like the insurance of drainage from the pumice.

I like pumice instead of perlite because it is heavy and anchors the plants down better than the perlite "popcorn".

caliboy1994 · 04-07-2012, 12:08 AM

Thanks for the advice. But I have plenty of Perlite, so I might as well use that.

04-03-2012, 05:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 262,854 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Perlite and cactus soil. What would the ideal mix of Perlite and cactus soil be? __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

04-03-2012, 07:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 262,854 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Perlite and cactus soil. After some research, I'm thinking maybe 20-30% Perlite and the rest cactus soil. Does this sound good? __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

04-03-2012, 07:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,022,534 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Perlite and cactus soil. 25% perlite

04-04-2012, 11:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
natej740 natej740's Photo Gallery Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 509 BananaBucks : 198,121 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 262 Times Was Thanked 480 Times in 224 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Perlite and cactus soil. I've grown a few bananas in cactus soil and they did great. It drains really good without the extra perlite.

04-05-2012, 12:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 262,854 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Perlite and cactus soil. The problem is I have thick, nasty clay soil. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

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04-06-2012, 08:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 262,854 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Perlite and cactus soil. Yes, in the garden. I'm planting two plants in the ground next Saturday. The soil in my area tends to retain moisture, so I was thinking that a really well draining mix would be good. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

04-06-2012, 10:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
venturabananas venturabananas's Photo Gallery Location: Ventura, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Mark Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,845 BananaBucks : 246,199 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,752 Times Was Thanked 3,969 Times in 1,713 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 39 Times	Re: Perlite and cactus soil. It's probably overkill, but I've amended the soil in the planting holes in my yard (which has heavy clay soil) with cactus mix, pumice, and compost -- roughly equal parts to about 1/2 native soil. Probably just pumice and compost would be no different. And probably just compost would be fine, but I like the insurance of drainage from the pumice. I like pumice instead of perlite because it is heavy and anchors the plants down better than the perlite "popcorn". __________________

04-07-2012, 12:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 262,854 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Perlite and cactus soil. Thanks for the advice. But I have plenty of Perlite, so I might as well use that. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

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