The Christmas Cactus is a beautiful holiday plant (botanically known as Schlumbergera or Zygocactus) and unsurprisingly when it blooms at Christmas (and sometimes Easter too) if cared for properly. A month before Christmas you can observe the tips of the leaves starting to grow. The tips grow darker with each passing day, until they form a bud. At Christmas, as if by magic, the buds open showing a wonderful flower that will give color and warmth throughout the festive period.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Choosing the Site, Ground and Layout
Step 1. Leave the Cactus in bright but indirect light
Keep the plant in a well-lit place (for example near a window) but out of direct sunlight; too much heat and light can stop growth and burn leaves. You should also avoid exposing it to drafts, air conditioner vents, fireplaces, or other sources of hot air.
- Transfer the plant outdoors in summer to a shady place. It is best to keep it at a temperature like that of home, between 18 and 20 ° C. That said, cooler night temperatures are suitable for initiating flowering. We will talk about the flowering phase in the final section.
- If the window faces north or east, you don't have to worry about the light. But if it faces south or west, you need to dim the light with translucent curtains or other diffusers.
Step 2. Provide the plant with a source of moisture if the environment you live in is dry
Place a tray of water near the plant so that it evaporates and forms moisture. Alternatively, to create a humid environment, you can place the vase on a water-repellent saucer filled with gravel and halfway with water.
The goal is to reach a humidity of 50-60%. If the environment approaches this range, that's fine
Step 3. Use a well-draining container and soil
Planters that you can find in affordable nurseries, such as those for orchids (such as plastic baskets), are suitable. Insert this planter / basket inside a vase that is able to contain water, remember that the basket must remain raised from the bottom of the vase for a few centimeters. To achieve this, add medium-sized stones.
Use a combination of 3 parts of soil and 1 part of sand to pot your Cactus. An alternative is to put one part of soil, two parts of peat or compost and one part of fine sand. Whichever choice you make, pour about 5cm of room temperature water into the outer container and place the basket container inside. After about twelve hours, remove the remaining water. Repeat this process as often as the plant needs water; it may vary according to the humidity conditions in your home. Keep the Cactus's need for water in check by touching the soil and adjusting accordingly
Step 4. Add fertilizer to help the plant grow
Plants that are in the growth phase should be given a specific fertilizer for indoor floral plants. The ideal time to add fertilizer is when the plant is 2-3 weeks old. Follow the instructions on the package to determine how much to feed and how often.
It is important to fertilize the Cactus to keep it in good condition; the branches tend to be fragile and can break if the plant deteriorates the state of health. Generally speaking, you should fertilize her 2-4 times a year, with an N-P-K 20-20-20 fertilizer, but stop about a month before the buds come out (this usually means stopping at the end of October)
Part 2 of 4: Water the Cactus
Step 1. Water the Cactus carefully
Caring for this plant can be a little tricky, as you have to be careful not to soak it too much or over-dry it:
- The Christmas cactus is a tropical cactus, not a desert one. Unlike most desert ones, this variety does not adapt to completely dry soil. In fact, if it dries out too much, the flower buds fall off and the plant withers. Feel the soil with your fingers: if it's dry you need to water.
- Too much water causes white rot spots on the leaves, possibly causing them to fall off. The soil should be evenly moist to ensure the plant grows better. The general rule, however, is: less water is better than too much.
- When watering, be sure to do a thorough job. Before wetting the plant again, make sure the top of the soil is completely dry. Spray the leaves with a nebulizer in addition to wetting the earth.
Step 2. Adjust the amount and method of watering according to the season
Water the Cactus according to the specific environment and the time of year. A good method of watering it is the one given below:
- Dry climate, plant outdoors: every two or three days when it is hot and sunny.
- Wet and cold weather or plant indoors: every week.
- During the fall and winter months, you need to water less frequently to facilitate flowering.
Step 3. Stop watering around October
In this month your commitment to wet the Cactus ends. You can resume watering it lightly with caution in November. If the environment you live in is dry, feel free to place the vase on a tray of damp pebbles. This is all you need to do to allow flowering around Christmas.
The only other time you need to stop watering is when the plant is blooming. At this stage you have to stop for about 6 weeks, to allow the plant to rest. The Cactus will return to bloom when you resume irrigation
Step 4. Pay attention to the buds falling out
One of the most frustrating things that can happen is when newly sprouting flower buds fall off the plant. This can be due to several conditions. Generally the main cause is excess water, but it can also be a lack of humidity or insufficient light.
If you notice that the buds are starting to fall, reduce the water and add a little fertilizer to the pot. Move it to an area away from hot radiators or air conditioners and look for a new spot where it can get a little more sunlight
Part 3 of 4: Achieving Timely Bloom
Step 1. Make the Cactus bloom during the holiday season by reducing the temperature
The key to making it bloom during the holidays is to expose it to the right light, to the correct temperatures and to wet it to a limited extent. If you are able to change these conditions, it is possible for it to bloom just when you want it.
- Since this plant is photo and thermo-periodic, it forms buds when the day lasts about as long as the night and when the temperature drops to 10-15.5 ° C for several weeks. If the temperature drops further, the plant will not flower.
- From September to October, the Christmas Cactus should be kept in a cool place, where temperatures are around 10-12 ° C, with a margin of a couple of degrees. Do not expose the plant to freezing temperatures. It can bloom during the holiday season if you start the cold treatment in early November.
Step 2. Keep the plant in a dark room overnight
During the autumn months, the Cactus must be placed in a point where it receives a bright but indirect light during the day, but total darkness during the night; in fact it needs uninterrupted phases of darkness for 12 hours or more.
- Start following this dark treatment around mid-October to have the plant in full bloom during the holidays. Place it in a dark area for about 12 hours or more every night for 6-8 weeks or until you notice buds starting to form. An unused closet or bathroom is the ideal place.
- Be especially careful with water during this time. Reduce watering slightly. Do not wet the soil after a dry period; only moisten the surface a few inches, as buds, flowers and even leaves can fall off if the roots suddenly become saturated with water.
Step 3. When you notice that buds are forming, increase the light and humidity
The "dark" period ends when the plant begins to bloom. At this point, you need to increase the humidity, the light, the water (not too much, of course) and the temperature. In other words, continue to treat her as in the previous months.
If the buds form too early, you can lower the temperature to stop their growth. As Christmas approaches, raise the temperature and you will see that the flowers start to grow again
Part 4 of 4: Caring for the Cactus After Flowering
Step 1. Prune the plant about one month after flowering
This encourages her to expand, especially after the "rest" period she has been given. It won't look very pretty once the flowers have faded. Some people wait to prune it until March when new growth begins.
As mentioned before, stop watering the plant for 30 days after flowering. When you notice new bud growth, you can resume
Step 2. Propagate the Christmas Cactus by cutting short Y-shaped stem sections
Each section must consist of two or three joined segments. Let each section dry for a few hours before burying it in a 7.5cm pot containing the same type of soil as the mother plant. Half bury the first segment of the 'Y' and wet it moderately to prevent rot.
Treat the cuttings as if they were mature plants. In about four to six weeks, they will be well rooted and start showing new growth. These cuttings grow rapidly and should take no more than two to three weeks. You can fertilize them when you see a new segment forming
Step 3. Repot every 2-3 years
The Cactus lives well for a couple of years, unless the root system becomes ill or damaged. In any case, a new pot is needed when the roots have filled it completely or when the soil has become depleted of nutrients. Most people repot in the spring.
- When replanting or repotting the Cactus use new, fresh soil. It is worth spending a few more euros, as it will probably stay in that land for a long time. The plant is a living being like you, so it deserves the best.
- The best time for repotting is between February and April and should be done about once every three years. The important thing is to be sure not to put the plant in a pot that is too large; flowers are more beautiful when placed in a small vase.
Advice
- To encourage the growth of the plant, turn the pot at regular intervals. Otherwise the buds will only grow on one side.
- The Cactus grows only by the size of the pot in which it is located. If you want it to grow more, put it in a larger pot.
- The Christmas Cactus is a beautiful plant that can bloom year after year. Keep it with you even after Christmas, you can leave it to the next generations.
- A cold-weather Christmas is essential for good winter flowering. If you live in the southern hemisphere, it may be difficult to find this plant during the Christmas holidays, and additional measures may be necessary to encourage it to bloom during the holidays. You would probably have a better chance of making it bloom in the cold months of the year.
Warnings
- The ASPCA (poison control center for animals) places the Christmas Cactus among the non-toxic plants for dogs and cats.
- Any sudden change in temperature, lighting and watering harms the Christmas Cactus. Drafts and extreme temperatures can cause the buds to fall off before they have a chance to bloom. Introduce each change gradually.
- This plant should never be near a door that leads to the outside. Similarly, keep it away from heaters, the fireplace or areas with drafts.
