The Christmas cactus, also known as Schlumbergera, is an easy-care plant that cannot tolerate temperatures below 10 °C or drafts. Find out how to get your Christmas cactus to bloom in winter with the advice of Laurent Genton, florist in Paris.
The Christmas cactus is a succulent that can bloom every year if you know how. Here are some tips to help you.
How do you get a Christmas cactus to bloom?
Although the plant is easy to care for, flowering a Christmas cactus is not an easy task. It is necessary to know the steps and the good gestures for them to flourish properly.
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Learn how to get a Christmas cactus to bloom
This winter cactus blooms only once a year when exposed to a temporary lack of water for about three weeks. From the end of October, watering must be reduced to allow the stems to form shoots. The stems will wilt and the plant will turn red . When the buds appear, you can water the plant as usual. In a second step, the plant must be fed with a liquid fertilizer once a month, from February to September. In addition, it is necessary to repot the Christmas cactus every three years in a light soil other than that of the garden.
How do you propagate a Christmas cactus?
To take cuttings from a Christmas cactus, remove 4 inches of the branch and root it in water or moist sand. Be sure to cut the stem into two equal sections. The Schlumbergia cutting produces roots every three weeks. To transplant them into pots, wait until spring comes before you can put them in a single pot. It is important to cut off the branch that has no buds. Otherwise they must be removed and taken out of the water.
How often should you water your Christmas cactus?
During the growth phase, the plant needs to be watered every week to maintain fresh substrate. In addition, it must be dry before fertilizer can be added again. Don’t hesitate to opt for a liquid fertilizer rich in potassium once a month. Consider watering the plant every 10 days after flowering . You can also place wet clay pebbles under the pot.
How to repot the Christmas cactus?
It is recommended to repot the Christmas cactus every three to four years in the spring. It is necessary to choose a suitable soil, that is, a substrate for epiphytic cacti, consisting of sand and fibrous heather. It is not recommended to move this plant, which blooms in contact with light , regularly without exposing it to direct sunlight.
When should you prune your Christmas cactus?
It is absolutely not necessary to prune this plant. If you wish, you can cut the stems right after flowering. To enhance your Christmas cactus, choose a pot with a contrasting color . Choose a turquoise blue to better show off the fuchsia of its flowers.
Also Read: In Cold Weather, Gardeners Use This Trick to Achieve Spectacular Hydrangea Bloom in Spring
What to do if Christmas cactus leaves are soft?
If you notice the plant’s leaves becoming softer, it is probably due to a lack of watering. Just because it’s a cactus doesn’t mean it doesn’t need water. In fact, like many houseplants, the Christmas cactus blooms in cool soil . Therefore, irrigation is necessary when the soil surface is dry. Instead, avoid water stagnation, which could lead to root rot.
If you know what to do, you can ensure that your Christmas cactus blooms well. So remember to water, prune and care for it properly.
Also Read: Here’s what happens when a cactus grows in your house