Supplies

12 assessed against 100 species

Every page here opens with a test rather than a product, and the most likely outcome of most of those tests is that you do not need the thing. 1 of these we recommend against outright.

Supply	Verdict	Species that need it	Typical price
Perlite	Worth it	86 of 100	$8–25
Orchid bark	Depends	37 of 100	$12–30
Cactus and succulent mix	Depends	21 of 100	$7–20
Pumice	Depends	14 of 100	$15–35
Moss pole	Depends	13 of 100	$15–45
Humidifier	Depends	27 of 100	$25–90
Grow light	Depends	18 of 100	$20–80
Filtered water	Depends	11 of 100	$20–45
Terracotta pots	Depends	24 of 100	$4–30
Insecticidal soap	Worth it	100 of 100	$10–22
Moisture meter	Do not buy	24 of 100	$8–20
Self-watering pots	Depends	33 of 100	$12–45

Why these pages open by telling you not to buy

A supply recommendation is only worth anything if the same source is willing to say no. Misting bottles and pebble trays do not raise humidity in any way a hygrometer can detect. Cheap moisture meters measure conductivity rather than water and drift as the probe corrodes. Self-watering pots are routinely sold planted with the succulents they are worst for.

Which species need what is filtered from our own records — the soil recipe, humidity floor, light floor or growth habit already published on each species entry. Prices are hand-checked ranges, never live figures. We hold no merchant relationships, so there are no commission links anywhere on this site yet, and we do not accept payment for placement.

Sources

This database's own care records for 100 species; each entry cites its own authorities
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — cultivation and pest records
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — pest and disease guidance
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — accepted names and families

Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-12. How this is sourced.