

Some owners may be too eager to provide the soil with a lot of nutrients and fertilizers. They intend to make sure that the soil that the vendors put the plant in is not too compact and inhospitable to the roots. This is why some coral cactus owners will repot the plant as soon as they buy it. Most owners creating a soil mix with perlite, pumice and coarse sand to achieve that drainage. It implies that a good soil mix will usually contain lose and grainy soil as the main basic substrate to be used. This is really the most important consideration.

There are certain things which make for a good soil mix: Well-draining: As we know, root rot is a killer of succulents, including cacti. There are ways to make our own soil mix with these characteristics.

Drainage is a major consideration and that’s the reason for a mix such as this one.

Most owners tend to use a simple 50-50 combination of potting mix and sand. Others will use a more commercial well-draining mix. Soil is a vital consideration when talking about the coral cactus. Overwatering is a sure killer of the coral cactus. If we err, it’s best to do so on the side of caution and underwater a bit. To make sure that this happens, some owners use moisture meters or wooden chopsticks which they’ll insert into the soil to check for moisture. The top layer won’t do in this case we want a top-to-bottom dryness. It’s important to remember that we really want the whole soil to dry off. In the desert, when it rains it pours. The coral cactus will benefit from this approach as well. A desert environment will usually have a lot of sun for days and weeks on end. The ‘soak and dry’ method basically replicates the natural environment that cacti, and many other succulents encounter naturally. Once the pot is drenched in water, and leaking through the drainage hole, we must let the plant be and wait for the soil to dry off before we attempt another watering session. When watering, we want to drench the pot, pouring at the base of the plant. As we know, such a method dictates that we should wait for the soil to be completely dry before watering. When it comes to watering, as with other cacti and succulents, we want to use the ‘soak and dry’ method. Therefore, it’s best to keep the coral cactus away from temperatures below 60 F (15 C). This way, sunburning of the surface is avoided. Having said that, although the coral cactus does like a lot of light, some owners place it in areas where it may enjoy some partial shade. The best temperature for coral cactus growth is usually between 60º to 85º F (15º to 30º C). Indirect or partial light will do a lot of good to this plant. The coral cactus needs a lot of plenty of light to thrive. The fact that the coral cactus thrives in warmer weather should give us an indication of its light needs. Note that if the plant is indoors, it should be getting at least 3 hours of good sunlight each day. If we house the coral cactus in colder places though, we may want to keep the plant indoors and only take it outside in the summer. In that sense, the coral cactus is right up there with the hardiest of cacti. It’s important to note that the coral cactus thrives in USDA zones 10 and 11. It can actually grow outdoors quite successfully and can grow throughout the whole year. The coral cactus enjoys average indoor temperatures. It also stresses the need to bring in the cactus if it’s outside and frosty conditions occur. This surely conditions the placing of the coral cactus. When it comes to temperature, it’s important to note that this cactus doesn’t like the cold. If it’s outdoors, the coral cactus should do well, though be careful that it doesn’t get damaged by excessive sunlight. Partial shade will do quite nicely in this case. If the cactus is indoors, make sure it doesn’t suffer from humidity and receives a good amount of daily sunlight. Having said that, there are some basic pointers to follow. As you read this article, you’ll learn the nitty-gritty of where a coral cactus will actually thrive. The placement of the coral cactus depends on several factors. Let’s go one by one through the main caring tasks you should consider when growing a coral cactus. It’s called a ‘franken-plant’ by some, since it’s actually two succulents in one. The coral cactus originated in Africa and then developed in Thailand. What is coral cactus reverting? Coral cactus basic care guidelines.Is the coral cactus a good beginner plant?.
