When I started getting more serious about plantkeeping last year, I picked up the essentials for repotting the plants I had. I have potting mix, perlite, orchid bark, spaghum moss, and fertilizer pellets
But times have changed and I may have impulse bought a bunch of caudex roots online and I definitely don’t have the right soil for it so I have to pick up some cactus soil. I also may have purchased a bunch of seeds of various plants…
I figured if I’m driving to the supply store, I might as well get everything I might need. So what do you keep around if you want to be able to pot anything?
stubbytoe@slrpnk.net 6 hours ago
I keep vermiculite for more moisture-loving plants, as it releases water for a bit longer than perlite while still providing drainage. My African violet loves it.
Sand is amazing for just drainage and I always add it to cactus and succulent mixes.
Small pebbles (I like lava rocks) have been a must-have for me for a long time. I add them as a top layer for everything. Combined with bottom watering, fungus gnats don’t stand a chance. They’re also good for cacti and succulents that don’t like to sit on top of wet soil for too long. I find them versatile because they can be used as a medium too, for example for succulents. A bonus is that they look real cute and you don’t tend to see the mineral deposits from water (water where I live is rich in minerals).
Hope this helps!