New to the forum, and first posting.
Not unfamiliar with problems associated with growing succulents, caudex plants, cactus, etc. with inappropriate mixes. I've had many failures, and killed off some of the best plants money can buy. Now, I mainly grow plants that form a water-storing caudex, aka "Fat-Plants". I'm too old and impatient to wet-nurse finicky plants, like orchids, or, attention-craving bonsai, etc.
I live in NYC, Zone-7b. The growing season here, is very short, usually rainy, and can be dark, steamy and cloudy. It sucks. It's not like any desert, so culture must be spot on, or stressed plants will die. My substitute "desert" is my back deck, that's exposed to full-sun. It can become broiling hot, and containers can cook roots, quickly. All my plastic containers are painted white to help reflect some heat. Effective? Who knows? Just read thru all the discussions about everyone's favorite growing mixes, but not one mention about eliminating "Perched Water Table".... Interesting. My triumphs began when I read and understood the concept behind eliminating the dreaded perched water table in containerized plants.
Al's famous quick-draining, gritty mix.... eliminates the possibility of roots soaking in stagnant, fetid, moisture. I have used it for years. The requisite Pine Bark Fines can be a PITA to find, so I use "Repti-Bark" purchased at the major pet supply stores. It's expensive, but so are some of my plants. I also use Aquarium grit, and use either TURFACE-MVP of NAPA AUTO, Oil Dry/Sweeping Compound PN 8822 in place of TURFACE. Mix equal parts, and stick your plants into this stuff. I also use a handful of either crushed oyster shells, or, some ground egg shells + some activated bone-charcoal pellets. Done. I water infrequently with "Foliage Pro 9-3-6". My plants thrive. The best part about the gritty mix: when the time comes, you can easily unplug your plants from this always-crumbly gritty mix, for necessary re-potting into larger containers, with very little set-back. Caudex plants seem to love it. Adeniums will grow well in this medium, but my too-quick-to-come, cooler night temps, will easily throw these PITA plants into dormancy. Adenium are problematic, for me. Adeniums are NOT my favorite fat plants, not at all. Bursera, Operculicarya, Uncarina, Jatropha...all thrive. Uncarina is almost always in blossom, and, for weeks. Best successes for me: Bursera fagaroides, Uncarina peltata, and Operculicarya pachypus. Trunks on all, thickening nicely, and plenty of new growth. Adenium and Pachycormus discolor, (in my growing conditions), are the real losers. Both plants put out hardly any new growth, and Adenium will rot in a NY second. (Personally, I think Adeniums are imported into this country with undetected, mosaic virus which weakens these plants and only shows up when plants push out the tell-tale, mal-formed leaves). I view Adenium as a transient, very temporary plant, IN MY GROWING CLIMATE. Their blossoms are nice, anyway.
Back to the gritty mix....so water just pours thru Al's mix, and there's no annoying Perlite kernels floating to the top of the mix. Fungus Gnats are usually no longer a problem either....and the slimy moss, that can cover overly wet mediums, is gone too. The pebbly mix stays clean and fresh.
I'm in my 8th year of growing my caudex-forming plants in Al's mix, and I've had no real problems. During the winter months, the Bursera, Operculicarya, Uncarina, and Adenium all lose their leaves, and get only an occasional misting. The dormant plants and the surface of the growing medium get an occasional sprinkle -just to keep the plants hydrated. Dormancy period lasts longer than my growing season. By late-March the Bursera gets ready for pushing out a new set of leaves, followed by the Operc. I take my cues from the plants, and I start lightly watering when plants start to break buds. When the back deck gets hot, the plants go out. When the Uncarina starts pushing new growth.... it grows very fast, even to the point of cutting it back just to keep it in shape.
I try to give my plants as much sunlight as possible during dormancy. All these plants have photosynthetic branches and mainstems, including the greenish caudex. They continue to use nutrients and make food- even when there are no leaves on their branches. Amazing.
New York City might be a lot of things, and it sure ain't a hot, dry desert. But, I enjoy the challenges and growing caudex-forming plants, which can be very forgiving. I only wish I new that these fat plants existed years ago, back when I first started growing plants. I certainly would've had more triumphs, rather than expensive failures.
Thanks for the interest.
