Try providing it with 13 straight hours of nighttime darkness. If your beautiful plant doesn’t produce many blossoms or it begins to drop its buds, there could be a few reasons.
Also, keep the Christmas cactus away from drafty areas and avoid sudden changes in moisture, temperature or sunlight. Simply cut back the watering and make sure the plant receives 12-14 hours of darkness and average temperatures around 50-55 F. The plant goes into active growth once it has finished blooming. After blooming, these plants like shorter days and cooler nights. Once the Christmas cactus has ceased all flowering (usually by fall), or about six to eight weeks before you want the plant to rebloom, you should allow the plant to begin its dormancy cycle by cutting back on moisture and reducing both light and temperature. Night temperatures above 70 degrees F may inhibit bud development.
You can help to maintain its bud set by adequate watering, avoid exposure to cold drafts, unvented heaters, or rough handling. Placing a tray of pebbles filled with water beneath the Christmas cactus container is a good way to add more humidity to the home. (15-21 C.) with average to high humidity levels.
Christmas cactus for sale how to#
When considering how to care for Christmas cactus, keep in mind it also prefers temperatures hovering between 60 and 70 degrees F. Applying a mild houseplant fertilizer solution every other week is also acceptable.Ĭheck Out Our Complete Guide to Houseplants Allow Christmas cactus moisture levels to drop and dry out some between watering intervals, but never completely, and never let the plant sit in water, as this will lead to root and stem rot. The plant requires frequent and thorough watering, during its active growth in spring and summer, keeping the soil slightly moist. That being said, too much direct sunlight can burn its leaves, so keep the Christmas cactus in an appropriate area to avoid this.Ĭhristmas cactus moisture is important as well. The Christmas cactus will adapt to low light conditions, but the plant will produce blooms more readily if exposed to brighter light. How to Care for Christmas CactusĪdvice for Christmas cactus care tells us that it performs well under average home conditions with moderate care. The plant is happiest with a soil pH balance of 5.5 to 6.2. The cutting should show signs of growth within a few weeks, at which time the plant can be transferred to another container, if desired, with a looser potting soil mix of compost, loam and sand. To root cuttings for new plants, cut back shoots from the tips, cut at the second joint of each tip. Moisten it evenly and place the cutting in a well-lit area, staying away from any direct sunlight. Plant the segment approximately a quarter of its length deep in slightly sandy soil. Make certain, however, that the cutting is taken from healthy plant foliage only. The Christmas cactus is easily propagated by cutting a short Y-shaped segment from the stem tips. Click here to figure out which holiday cactus you have. Easter and Thanksgiving cacti look deceptively similar. The very first step is understanding if you actually have a Christmas cactus. Let’s look at how to plant a Christmas cactus and care for it. It is not only easy to care for but propagates easily, too, making it an exceptional candidate for holiday gift giving. Christmas Cactus ( Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a popular, winter-flowering houseplant that makes a great addition to nearly any indoor setting.
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