CACTUS AND SUCCULENT CARE

A thread and background that nobody asked for!!!! Ever found cacti and succulents cute but they all end up dead? Then read this!

So most cactus and succulents are commercially grown in the highlands of Benguet. Obviously there is a huge difference between the temperature and humidity. That is why they either lose their pinkish colors or they... die.

But being in the lowlands does not mean hopeless! These were some my collections back in 2016-2017. Though some died when I started working (2018) and more died when I got sick of Hyperthyroidism (2019).

Care tip #1: SOIL MIX

Succs from Benguet come in small plastic bags with clay loamy soil. It may work in the highlands but it certainly does not work here. So you will need to make a special gritty soil mix of pumice or perlite* + garden soil or compost.

Care tip #2: Your succs need full sun

If you've experienced burned succulents (as in black, fried, crispy), then its because you placed it under the sun right away. After repotting, keep it in shade for like a week. Then water it! Then GRADUALLY introduce to sun exposure.

Timetable example

Day 1: repot succs

Days 2-9: just keep under the shade while roots are adjusting

Day 10: water, but still keep in shade

Days 11-13: place under the sun for 1 hour each day

Days 14-17: 2 hours each day

Day 18 - onwards: 3 hours-onwards

Caretip #3: lots of !

The amount of sun that your succs receive should be the basis of your watering. If its exposed to 4 hours sun everyday, then water it everyday. If its placed beside a window with daily 1 hour direct sun exposure, then water it every 2 days.

You've probably read that succulents are dessert plants so they dont need daily watering. Nope! They LOVE water. That is why a gritty soil mix and direct sun exposure are important elements so that your succulent gets hydrated.

Leaving your succs on loamy and wet soil often is the cause of rot. But if your soil dries fast and you water it consistently, expect them to look like gems.

Care tip #4: pots.

Any pot WITH A DRAINING HOLE is generally fine. But traditional clay pot is best. It is porous so water does not dwell on the soil. Plus, you get to help the local livelihood of a barangay! Paint usually conceals the pores so I don't suggest painted pots.

Btw rain is ok. That is why a gritty soil mix is very important. For as long as your soil is gritty, your succ can withstand ANYTHING!!!!!!! Also, healthy plants are not prone to pests. So I swear. Gritty soil mix gid ya. It all starts there.

Care tip #5, optional: fertilizer

Succs can actually survive and thrive without any fertilizer but you can try this. It's controlled released and you can apply this once every quarter. I had this since 2015 and omg damo pa bilin!

Care tip #6, optional but important: join your local and national cactus and succulent FB groups!!! You will learn a lot from them and all of these, I learned from heavy researching in various FB groups.

Where I bought the things I mentioned above:

1. Pumice - Cedarhills Garden Center, QC. There were no pumice AND perlite in Iloilo City back then. P150 for 5 kgs back in 2015. Shipping was more or less P400, but mga 2 weeks kay via sea cargo. Lol

2. Perlite - Ramgo website. It was about P250 + shipping fee. Perlite is generally more expensive than pumice but it is lightweight.

3. Clay pots - Hibao-an and Aganan. About P4.00 for the small ones and P7.00 for the big ones. I ordered in bulk.

Note: all 2015 prices.

4. Osmocote fertilizer - I think Lazada? About P500 ata.

5. Succulents - Online seller from Cavite: Green Thumb Plant Shop. Benguet sellers: Razeru CNS Partneros (personal account), Amity Outlet. Quezon Memorial Circle and Farmer's Market, Cubao. Robinsons Main.

Demonstration thread. Hopefully I get to continue this.

I got 3 new succulents. These used to cost P350 each in Benguet way back in 2015. I am glad I got all 3 for P370 this 2020.

Follow though the extension of this thread to see how I replant my succs.

08/06

I got these just last night. Succs are still planted in Benguet soil. The lower left succ's center is clearly getting lighter because that's the sign that it lacks sunlight. So I am exposing it to morning sun right now just for 1 hour. (7:20AM-8:20AM)