Can I Use Compost for San Pedro Cactus Soil?
As a plant grower, you are a person who loves plants, so when it comes to waste for free as the leaves of your garden work rather than throwing it
Composting has been practiced and described since antiquity. The soil naturally loses 2 to 3% of organic matter, it must therefore be renewed by bringing it fertilizer to guarantee a beautiful garden and the production of beautiful vegetables.
In the garden, the soil loses between 2 and 3% humus per year. If no organic matter is added to the soil, it becomes impoverished and no longer nourishes the plants.
Many of our cactus san Pedro have been growing in the same pot for years. As long as you don’t overwater, they will be perfectly fine. We have only ever used sand as soil with wonderful results. It is extremely important not to use too much compost or manure as it holds moisture which can cause root rot and ultimately kill your cactus.
What is Compost?
Compost is a mix composed of decomposing animal and plant matter. In the forests, a plant withers then dies and then returns to the earth through decomposition in the soil. The soil is regenerated by this method by the plant debris that turns into Humus. This is the reason for the black earth that we see and the distinctive smell we can smell from the forests. The process of making compost is therefore a natural process.
“Compost , natural and free fertilizer , is truly the “nugget” of the garden.”
The process of composting is to allow green waste in the kitchen and garden to break down naturally. It is possible to make compost in a composter, or in a pile outside in the open. From 6 months to one year, worms that are red, as well as soil microorganisms (bacteria yeasts and microscopic fungi) as well as insect larvae (fly larvae and gnats, etc.).), transform the biodegradable waste into color compost.
All composting requires three basic ingredients:
- Browns – This includes materials such as dead leaves, branches, and twigs.
- Greens – This includes materials such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds.
- Water – Having the right amount of water, greens, and browns is important for compost development.
Why Use Compost?
Composting is economical and free and it’s the second-best alternative to recycling per se (which requires the addition of many energy-consuming processes). Basically, the term “composting” refers to converting biodegradable solid waste into humus — a natural fertilizer for plants and trees.
Be aware that 40 percent of household trash is compostable. The trash you throw away can become a significant source of organic and free soil fertilizer for your gardens. There is no need to purchase fertilizer and manure or anything else.
The compost will provide the soil with the nitrogen and carbon necessary for the plants, it will act on the structure of the soil, will improve its water retention, will lighten and aerate the soil, and the earthworms participating in this action. This will generate and maintain a living soil, conducive to the good health of the plants.
Benefits of Composting
- Enriches soil, helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests.
- Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
- Encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.
- Reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint.
How to Fertilize the San Pedro Cactus
Along with irrigation, fertilizing the land is another essential care for the San Pedro cactus. And it is important that the soil of the garden or the earth that is put in the pot has a series of characteristics. Specifically, the substrate must be rich and sandy, in addition to having:
- black peat
- Perlite or another similar compound.
- Clay, but only in the case of already adult cacti.
The use of fertilizers helps to strengthen its growth. They prefer fertilizers rich in potassium and phosphorous, but with low doses of nitrogen. A good NPK ratio for cacti is 4-7-7 or 2-7-7.
FAQ
What’s the Difference Between Cactus Compost and Normal Compost?
Cactus soil is a special type of compost that is used to grow cacti and succulents. The composition of cactus soil is primarily made up of inorganic materials, like sand and volcanic rock, which helps the soil drain well, preventing excess moisture from accumulating in the soil and causing root rot. Organic materials, like peat moss or bark mulch, are usually not added to cactus soil because they soak up water.
The primary difference between cactus compost and regular compost is the type of organic materials that are included in each mix. Cactus compost has a larger ratio of inorganic materials than regular compost.
Do Succulents Like Compost?
Succulents can be grown in a wide range of soils, and they aren’t picky about living conditions. But that doesn’t mean they like it if you give them crappy soil, compost, or manure! The best soil for succulents is well-drained – the quickest way to kill succulent plants is to put them in rich soil, with manure or other organic matter, which holds moisture. Succulents do not appreciate the kinds of conditions that jungle plants love; moist, nutrient-rich compost-based soil. Most succulents are also used to periods of drought, so you should always allow the top two inches of potting soil to dry out between waterings.
What kind of soil does San Pedro like?
So, if you want your San Pedro cactus to prosper, we suggest you make the effort to find the right soil. Now the best way of doing this is a topic of heated debate among enthusiasts!
Some say that a pure mix of sand and grit is ideal, others prefer a mix of gritty soil and compost. Meanwhile, others only plant their cacti in worm manure or specially formulated soil for cacti.
Personally, I have good results with another mix consisting of 50 % regular potting soil and 25% grit/Perlite/lava rock or Perlite, 25% worm manure (compost). I don’t use any fertilizer or insecticide, but instead, catch a few earthworms for the potting mixture so that nutrients are released slowly.
Conclusion
While it’s true that compost can cause root rot and is therefore not the ideal soil for your cactus, you can still safely use compost in moderation—it just requires a little caution. The amount of compost that you should use is the minimum that will allow your cactus to grow without causing any other ill effects.
Source:
https://swap.stanford.edu/20151013020747/http:/www2.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
