What can I use in place of leaf mold to grow cactus from seed?

Question

I have some packets of seeds for cactus. I do not have much experience in growing from seed cactus. I usually just buy cutlings online.

Well, anyway, the packet says to use equal parts of leaf mold and course sand. I cannot find any leaf mold around here for sale, online, etc... I could make it but I am not willing to wait 9 moths - 2 years for the process.

What can I use instead of leaf mold?

Can somebody also give me what you think works best for cactus seeds?

Answer 1

This is a good mixture:

Cactus soil for sowing:

2 parts coarse, gritty sand with large particles. (sieved through a 5 - 6 mm riddle)

1 part garden loam (sieved through a 5-6 mm riddle)

1 part peat which fertilized and with lime. (sieved through a 5-6 mm riddle)

3 parts Leca pearls (2-4 mm)  (or use small pebbles, pumice or anything that will make the soil "loose") (LECA = Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate)

The ingredients will be available in garden centers or in a friends garden and you shouldn`t be particular about the sieve-procedure, I suppose. Take care that the particles are not too coarse.

Here you find more details:

http://www.bennyskaktus.dk/propagat_UK.h...

Another site makes this ( simpler ) proposal:

Sow seed in moist potting mix, moisten the seeds, and then cover with a fine layer of sterilized, coarse sand.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2107052_propagat...

but I never tried it and I know that the first one works well.