How do I Make Potting Soil for Cactus Plants?

Cacti need a special mix of potting soil to thrive and grow. You can buy expensive potting soil from the garden shop or you can make your own high-quality potting soil that will provide the cacti with the nutrients and drainage that they need. The key to making your own potting soil is the proper mix of ingredients and fertilizer.

Topsoil
Vermiculite
Peat moss
5 gallon bucket
Plastic garbage bag
Cookie sheet
Meat thermometer
Bonemeal
Cactus fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Mix two parts top soil, one part peat moss and seven parts vermiculite together in a 5 gallon bucket. Add a small amount of water to the mix to moisten.
- 2
  Pour the mixture into the plastic garbage bag and tie it shut. Place the plastic bag on the cookie sheet. Insert the meat thermometer through the bag and into the soil.
- 3
  Heat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the cookie sheet with the bag into the oven. Watch the thermometer. When it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, remove the cookie sheet and bag from the oven.
- 4
  Remove the mixture from the plastic bag by pouring the mixture back into the 5 gallon bucket. To ensure that the mixture has a good pH, add bonemeal to the mixture. For every 12 quarts of mixture, add 1/2 cup of bonemeal. Mix it thoroughly into the mixture.
- 5
  Add a cactus fertilizer. Follow the directions on the package. Pour it into the mixture and mix thoroughly.

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