Plant group

Cactus and desert succulents: soil, pH and plant guides

Plants built for drought, which rot if the mix stays wet. Living Soil has guides for 13 plants in this group, built from published references.

Every plant in Cactus and desert succulents

Mixes for cactus and desert succulents

Mineral heavy cactus mix

A mineral heavy mix that drains fast, so cactus and succulent roots never sit wet and rot. Flexible to build: many different materials can fill the recipe.

Easy cactus mix

An easy cactus mix made from things that are simple to buy. It is usually porous enough for desert plants, so their roots stay airy instead of soggy.

Good to know

pH: the references give 5.5 to 6.5 for cactus and desert succulents in general.
The mistake to avoid: Watering on a schedule instead of waiting for the mix to dry out, especially in low winter light.

Questions

What soil do cactus and desert succulents need?

Plants built for drought, which rot if the mix stays wet. Living Soil has 2 mixes for this group, each from a published reference, and guides for 13 plants.

What pH do cactus and desert succulents need?

The references give pH 5.5 to 6.5 for cactus and desert succulents in general. Each plant's own guide adds its notes where the references give one.

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