Even the least remarkable cactus garden designs can be “fixed” with a splash of color – and colorful rocks or glass balls are not your only option. Use pots of different colors to accentuate your cacti and make your garden look much more vivid and engaging. Just make sure you stick with bright colors for the pots.

How to Plant a Cactus Container Garden

1. Think beyond the blooms when you plant a container garden.
2. 1: Find a Container.
3. Most cacti have shallow roots and grow slowly, so choose a shallow container.
4. 2: Add Gravel and Potting Mix.
5. Spread a layer of small pebbles or gravel in the bottom of your container.
6. Arrange Your Plants.

The majority are in green color, while some may be brown-green or bluish. Some are flat like a pancake, while others are round in shape. You’ll find several shaped like starfish or snakes. A cactus plant may grow as big as an elephant or as small as a rat.

Cacti and succulents are usually referred to as desert plants. It is common to assume that they need very bright and intense heat to grow. Most succulents and cacti actually do well in bright locations with partial shade or some protection from intense sun exposure.

Mulching is beneficial for most plants, but cactuses do not tolerate organic or plastic mulches well. These mulches can cause too much water or heat retention in the top few inches of the soil, which will damage the plant’s delicate, shallow roots.

Mulching succulents is a bit controversial among succulent enthusiasts. Some say mulch makes soil way too moist for succulents and therefore advise against mulching where succulents are grown.

How to Plant a Cactus Outside

1. Most cactus plants need lightweight, well-draining soil.
2. Dig a hole that’s equally as deep and 1½ times as wide as the root ball or stem (some transplanted cacti don’t come with large root balls).
3. Set the plant in the hole so the north side of the plant faces north.

We recommend gravel or lava, some kind of rock mulch that is rough, not smooth, and will dry out quickly. Also, we can recommend Corn Gluten, either liquid or pellet, after you’ve pulled the weeds as a pre-emergent herbicide.

Succulents generally have low to moderate nutrient needs and dislike nutrient-rich, bacteria dominated soils. Add organic material, the best being wood chips, mulch and compost. Avoid humus. Add a combination of wood chips, grit (small gravel) and compost to at least 12″.

The arid gardener may ask, “Why is my cactus going soft?”. Likely causes are disease, cultivation, and improper site and ambient conditions. Cacti generally have low moisture needs. They thrive in temperatures above 70 to 75 F.

sandy potting soil

It is highly recommended to use potting soil mixed with sand for growing succulents. The soil mix should not be very nutrient-rich and must have excellent drainage capability. Two parts of Coarse Sand. 1 part of Perlite or Coconut-Coir.

The cacti families are succulents which store moisture in their pads, stems and trunks to use during dry and drought periods. They are generally found in desert conditions, although a few are tropical to sub-tropical. They prefer a cactus growing mix that is partially sand or grit, some soil and a pinch of peat moss.

Coarse Sand – Coarse sand included at one half or one third improves soil drainage. Don’t use the finely textured type such as play sand. Cactus may benefit from a higher mix of sand, but it must be the coarse type. Use at 1/3 to 1/2 in a mix with potting soil.

Your succulents will benefit from a layer of pebbles or pea gravel spread on the soil around the plant. This is also very decorative. Soil: The container you are planting in should have a drainage hole or you can put a layer of crushed rock on the bottom of your container before you put in your planting medium.

The main purpose of placing pebbles on the bottom of the potted succulent plant is to enhance drainage. Succulents and cacti naturally grow in sandy soils that drain quickly. The rocks help move water through the soil to prevent the roots from rotting.

As a rule, succulent plants do not mind crowding whether the plants are grouped in one container or are alone and fully filled out in the container. Transplanting a plant that has filled its container will generally allow the plant to experience a new spurt of growth.