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Dec 22, 2014 4:56 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
Hi everyone,

I just read that Pachypodiums enjoy a highly acidic soil (4-5.5pH!) ....does anyone have any experience with this, and if so, how do you make your soil that acidic? I'm using them in pots. I've got one P. geayi planted, one mystery pachypodium I found at a yard sale, and I just ordered some P. eburneum seeds. I love them and want the best for them. I have seen two enormous specimens here in Bradenton FL and on Longboat Key...so they must grow here under some circumstance! Shrug! Thanks!
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Dec 22, 2014 5:55 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Mine are mostly in our 'regular' soil which is pretty much all sand and are thriving. This is P. rutenbergianum.
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Dec 22, 2014 3:37 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
OK! I love your rutenbergianum!

Do you have any experience with P. eburneum? Also, do you know what kind of pachypodium this might be?




Sorry for all the questions, and thank you!
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Dec 22, 2014 4:27 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Only the blooms will tell exactly which Pachy that is - It looks a bit like P. saundersii.
Check the poster with Pachypodium flower pictures for handy identification.
http://www.out-of-africa-plant...

No experience with P. eburneum I am afraid.
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Dec 22, 2014 5:40 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
Oh my. Well I guess that will take a while!

Have you ever purchased plants from that site?
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Dec 22, 2014 9:20 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Yes. They are a great outfit located right here in Naples (and I did get to tour their place, but they don't sell from the location, everything is by mail order - but I had a 'connection'...)
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Dec 23, 2014 4:44 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
Wow, I would LOVE to wander around there for hours! Thanks for the great info, Hetty Big Grin
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
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Dec 24, 2014 5:00 PM CST
Name: 'CareBear'

Amaryllis Cactus and Succulents Dog Lover Hostas Irises Region: Pennsylvania
Sempervivums
Kate,
You can lower your ph safely by using Sulfur sold for Analyzes and Holleys. I think it's called 'Holley Tone'. Mix with water and just water it. I have used this for my Sansevierias, then all my African succulents like Huernias and Stapelias. I don't think you can lower the ph down to 4.5 but close. To go much lower you may have to go a purer sulfuric acid or battery water. It gets very dangerous at that level for both you and your plants. I never heard of going down that low. Usually 6 - 7 is good enough.
Stush
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Dec 24, 2014 6:04 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
Thanks Stush! So you lower the pH for your Sansevierias, stapelias & huernias...what else would you use that with? I got some of the sulfur stuff you mentioned. I was thinking it would be good in my "tropical" plant garden...with alocasias, philodendrons, strobilanthes, ferns, chenille ground cover, dracaena, taccas, diffenbachia, etc etc...
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
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Dec 25, 2014 10:29 AM CST
Name: 'CareBear'

Amaryllis Cactus and Succulents Dog Lover Hostas Irises Region: Pennsylvania
Sempervivums
Kate,
Maybe but I don't know the ph range for those plants. I used it with my jade plants as well. It helps stop root fungus and used with a little phosphorous gives them a boost. I know annuals seem to like sweet soil as well as your veg. garden plants.
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Dec 25, 2014 2:20 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Kate I have read that all cacti do better using acidic water, don't know the numbers, but I agree with what Stush said about 6 being good! This is a good and interesting question! Thumbs up
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