It is fascinating to read of the different mixes used by growers. I have just finished moving my collection of Mesembs (200) including Conophytum, Lithops, Gibbaeum, Faucaria and Stomatium from the peat free JI2 which I found to be rubbish from 5 suppliers to 100% pumice using 1-3mm for seeds and yo...

Hi I know that a few years ago in Scotland two growers contracted legionnaires disease from the substrate that they were using and it was reckoned that they had not washed their hands before either eating or touching their mouths. The above led me to look at substrates and initially to avoid any tha...

I use the Dymo Letratag model and tapes that I buy on eBay. I am pleased with the model. It is priced at around £30.00 on Amazon UK. However ALDI sell the same model from their stores twice a year for around £15.00 where I bought mine. I have a couple of photos available, however I cannot get this a...

I am growing 90% of my Mesembs around 120 including Lithops, Conophytum, Gibbaeum, Faucaria, Cheiridopsis plus a few others in 100% 2-5 mm Pumice for the last 9 months and am very pleased with the results. I feed them monthly in their growing seasons only with Maxicrop seaweed plant growth stimulant...

Hello Depending on your desired size and depth, I have been buying my pots from the 'Desert Rose Shop' on eBay. They sell 4cm x 4cm, 5cm x 5 cm, 6cm x 6 cm in terracotta plastic. and 10cm x 10cm in black plastic. They are strong plastic pots and will last for years. The supplier is very reliable I g...

I am now using 100% 2-4mm Pumice for around 40 of my Mesembs which include Lithops, Conophytums, Faucaria. Cheiridopsis, Titanopsis, Dinteranthus and Stomatium. I recently sowed 8 Faucaria tuberculosa seeds in Pumice and 7 germinated. A colleague who grows everything in Pumice has found that all his...

I have been using 1-3 mm Pumice and 3-5mm for the last 6 months and am pleased with the results. I also feed once per month with Maxicrop Seaweed organic plant stimulator which helps to replace any missing nutrients at 1/4 strength. I repotted a Lithops back into John Innes for a friend 2 months ago...

I have been using the traditional JI2 or 3 plus 2-4mm RHS grit since I started with Cacti and succulents in 2018. In the last year or so I have found the quality of JI by a number of suppliers to be very poor and have found in the bags twigs, stones, live roots, conifer cuttings and glass. Now that ...

I am currently using Maxicrop Seaweed plant growth stimulant at 1/4 strength on my Mesembs which are growing in 100% 2-4 mm Pumice and feeding on a monthly basis during their growing season with good effect. Fellow growers have suggested using slow release plant food such as Gro-Sure Slow Release Fe...

I am gradually repotting my collection of Mesembs into 100% 2-4mm Pumice as my initial trial has been successful.

Do any growers using pure Pumice know if Mealy Bugs are less likely to be attracted to Pumice than when potted in JI2?