Date: Mon, 8 May 2000 17:23:47 -0500 From: "Strata, Inc." <strata@flash.net> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1557$foo@default> Subject: To Kit
> I suspect that their soil is too wet. It may also be contaminated
> with whatever it is in sand that washing removes. I planted them in a
> 50/50 mix of long-fiber sphagnum & sand when I got them. I now know
> that I probably should have used sphagnum peat instead of long-fiber
> & that I should've washed the sand.
Long-fiber Sphagnum (or Sphagnum peat moss) is fine. The problem may be the
sand. You must use SILICA sand, because it is slightly acidic, it retains
moisture, and the mix with the Sphagnum more closely resembles the natural
habitat of CPs. Lots of playsand from hardware stores is alkaline. Not
just any playsand will do. Test it. I have been buying 50 Lb. bags of
SILICA mix from Tom Thumb for years, for about $2.
> ......(They have "Cactus Mix," ....half a truckload of sand across the
> sidewalk.".
Forget about these sands! Just pure Silica sand or an acidic mix thereof.
If you just cannot find sand, plant them in a 50/50 mixture of Sphagnum peat
moss and Perlite (from any nursery).
> Is re-potting them a good idea, or is it likely to be too much of a
> shock to them? I just got them bare-root about 3 weeks ago.
> As long as it's washed thoroughly, does the type of sand really
> matter? .......I transplanted these tonight to new pots with a
> 50/50 mix of washed sand from around the corner & peat. Should I wait
> to see how these do before I do anything else?
>
Test the sand from the side walk (use a PH test kit). If it is not acid,
repot your plants in Sphagnum/Silica, or Sphagnum/Perlite, or pure Sphagnum.
Take care,
Michael Pagoulatos
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