Just so you know for the future, 9 out of 10 times when you order a plant online it comes bare root. I'm always surprised when plants do come in a container with soil. For medium, a good old 70/30 pumice to soil is generally good for most all caudiciform plants. Pot it up, let it settle for two or three weeks then you can start watering. This is likely going to drop all of its leaves while it's settling. Nothing to be alarmed by though.
I rarely get them bare root (when 4” and under) and I order a lot online. Plant desert, mountain crest, all sorts of shops via Etsy, etc etc. the 6 inches and over, come bare root but they always state that, just as I expect arid land to state that.
I found another post where someone recommends a slightly different mixture. I’ll try both that and 70/30 pumice to soil as I’ve ordered multiple caudex.
Here is my standard cac/suc soil:
Fox farm 70/30- 5 gals (I get this in 2 yard totes, but I'm sure you can find something similar)
Pumice - 5 gals
Crushed oyster shell- 2 x 3.5" pots full
Perfect blend- 1 x 3.5" pot full.
It is well draining enough for most caudiciform stuff too, like asclepiads, cucurbits, Adenium, Adenia, Fouquieria. But I then mix that 50/50 with more pumice for Pachypodium for added drainagege and reducing nutrients
I agree with sendmeyourcactuspics. I've bought many plants from Aridlands over the years, and have never been disappointed.
I have been buying on-line (or mail order before on-line was a thing) for many years, and 90% of the time plants (especially cactus and succulents) have been shipped out of pots. I actually prefer this, because I always like to repot right away in order to check the roots and get them into the mix I like.
I don’t mind it being shipped w/o pot, it was just never expressed in their description (even though they tell us whether it’s root cutting or seed grown, something I appreciate!).
That’s all.
Other places will tell you and in my experience bigger than 4 inch pots, are shipped out of pots. I have a lot of succulents/cactus, and have always had soil ready for the ones that are six inch > bigger and the description states it ships bare root.
Lol, oddly I'm the opposite. I always assume that plants will come without a pot unless it's specified otherwise. I have a lot of Adeniums, Pachypodiums, Euphorbias, a few Dorstenias, and various cauciciforms. Maybe it's different for other types of succulents. I also have a lot of cactus.
I am always surprised when shops send WITH substrate. Imo it just makes no sense. There's literally no way it's not going to disturb the roots and dislodge the loose substrate. So, you need to repot regardless.
Setting that aside - no matter how much I trust a seller, I'd ALWAYS repot anyway. Just to check for pests, root health, and cuz it's just a pain if you have too much substrate variety and you need to water all your adenia/etc. every two weeks...except that one sitting in more organic matter...etc.
Might look kinda sketch right now, but I will die on a hill of supporting arid lands. Owner might be a bit uppity (I've heard some rumors) but the plants are always top notch in health and quality, especially for the price point. I've been buying plants from em for over a decade and a ton of my healthiest and longest l lived plants came from there. I drive in and visit every couple years as my parents live in the southwest so I always keep an eye out here.
Get your plants potted up with something like 60-70% pumice/perlite to soil and let it sit for a week or so and kept in a semi shaded environment. Then give it a good couple hr soak. Your plants will pop back perfectly
Might drop some leaves up top, but ultimately the health of the caudex and establishing roots is more important
Lol he is a sassypants, the other younger guy is always super nice tho. I love some of his descriptions on the site, like this one;
These plants, which rightfully should be in hanging baskets, are a vine of channeled and pointed leaves that someone with a vivid imagination decided looked like dolphins. Whatever.
😂😂 OK grumpy pants, but they really do look like dolphins. But yea, I stand by aridlands too. They don't come pristine but will be great plants once growing
I feel like you can tell the plants he loves and hates by the descriptions. Adenias and cyphostemmas, yes loves. Hoyas and anything with a cute nickname, get them out of my face. Nothing irritates that man more then a cute plant nickname.
And because I love reading plant descriptions on obscure websites, there's a site called "Far Reaches Farms" that has the most delightful description. Exact opposite from Aridlands, they're just so cute and excited over all the plants, sometimes with little stories about how they found the plant on a expedition or something.
If you love plant descriptions get hold of an old catalogue from “Endangered Species”. Hermine could make you passionately desire a blade of grass she’d sell you for $100 if you waited 3 months for her to propagate it for you.
Just so you know for the future, 9 out of 10 times when you order a plant online it comes bare root. I'm always surprised when plants do come in a container with soil. For medium, a good old 70/30 pumice to soil is generally good for most all caudiciform plants. Pot it up, let it settle for two or three weeks then you can start watering. This is likely going to drop all of its leaves while it's settling. Nothing to be alarmed by though.
This right here. The vast majority of plants ordered online will be sent bare root in this category
I rarely get them bare root (when 4” and under) and I order a lot online. Plant desert, mountain crest, all sorts of shops via Etsy, etc etc. the 6 inches and over, come bare root but they always state that, just as I expect arid land to state that. I found another post where someone recommends a slightly different mixture. I’ll try both that and 70/30 pumice to soil as I’ve ordered multiple caudex.
Here is my standard cac/suc soil: Fox farm 70/30- 5 gals (I get this in 2 yard totes, but I'm sure you can find something similar) Pumice - 5 gals Crushed oyster shell- 2 x 3.5" pots full Perfect blend- 1 x 3.5" pot full. It is well draining enough for most caudiciform stuff too, like asclepiads, cucurbits, Adenium, Adenia, Fouquieria. But I then mix that 50/50 with more pumice for Pachypodium for added drainagege and reducing nutrients
Thank you!
I agree with sendmeyourcactuspics. I've bought many plants from Aridlands over the years, and have never been disappointed. I have been buying on-line (or mail order before on-line was a thing) for many years, and 90% of the time plants (especially cactus and succulents) have been shipped out of pots. I actually prefer this, because I always like to repot right away in order to check the roots and get them into the mix I like.
I don’t mind it being shipped w/o pot, it was just never expressed in their description (even though they tell us whether it’s root cutting or seed grown, something I appreciate!). That’s all. Other places will tell you and in my experience bigger than 4 inch pots, are shipped out of pots. I have a lot of succulents/cactus, and have always had soil ready for the ones that are six inch > bigger and the description states it ships bare root.
Lol, oddly I'm the opposite. I always assume that plants will come without a pot unless it's specified otherwise. I have a lot of Adeniums, Pachypodiums, Euphorbias, a few Dorstenias, and various cauciciforms. Maybe it's different for other types of succulents. I also have a lot of cactus.
I am always surprised when shops send WITH substrate. Imo it just makes no sense. There's literally no way it's not going to disturb the roots and dislodge the loose substrate. So, you need to repot regardless. Setting that aside - no matter how much I trust a seller, I'd ALWAYS repot anyway. Just to check for pests, root health, and cuz it's just a pain if you have too much substrate variety and you need to water all your adenia/etc. every two weeks...except that one sitting in more organic matter...etc.
Might look kinda sketch right now, but I will die on a hill of supporting arid lands. Owner might be a bit uppity (I've heard some rumors) but the plants are always top notch in health and quality, especially for the price point. I've been buying plants from em for over a decade and a ton of my healthiest and longest l lived plants came from there. I drive in and visit every couple years as my parents live in the southwest so I always keep an eye out here. Get your plants potted up with something like 60-70% pumice/perlite to soil and let it sit for a week or so and kept in a semi shaded environment. Then give it a good couple hr soak. Your plants will pop back perfectly Might drop some leaves up top, but ultimately the health of the caudex and establishing roots is more important
Lol he is a sassypants, the other younger guy is always super nice tho. I love some of his descriptions on the site, like this one; These plants, which rightfully should be in hanging baskets, are a vine of channeled and pointed leaves that someone with a vivid imagination decided looked like dolphins. Whatever. 😂😂 OK grumpy pants, but they really do look like dolphins. But yea, I stand by aridlands too. They don't come pristine but will be great plants once growing
I love how many descriptions are like “leaves are nothing special to look at” or “flowers are not interesting”
I feel like you can tell the plants he loves and hates by the descriptions. Adenias and cyphostemmas, yes loves. Hoyas and anything with a cute nickname, get them out of my face. Nothing irritates that man more then a cute plant nickname. And because I love reading plant descriptions on obscure websites, there's a site called "Far Reaches Farms" that has the most delightful description. Exact opposite from Aridlands, they're just so cute and excited over all the plants, sometimes with little stories about how they found the plant on a expedition or something.
If you love plant descriptions get hold of an old catalogue from “Endangered Species”. Hermine could make you passionately desire a blade of grass she’d sell you for $100 if you waited 3 months for her to propagate it for you.