How to repot Christmas cactus and precautions (reasons of red leaves after repotting and maintenance tips)

The best time to repot after Christmas cactus flower

The best time to repot Christmas cactus is after the flowering period in spring. It is generally not suitable to repot during the flowering period and dormant period.

Therefore, if you buy a newly-bought Christmas cactus with flowers in this season, it is best to change the pot directly without removing the soil, or you can use the pot-covering method and put a nice flower pot on the outside of the seedling pot. This will not affect the viewing experience or the flowering period of this season.

Because Christmas cactus is a greenhouse flower, it needs an environmental transition period after it is acquired, which is what we often call the acclimatization period.

Root damage, temperature differences, sudden changes in cultivation habits, etc. caused by repotting at this stage can all lead to flower drop and bud disappearance, making the flowering period of this season unguaranteed.

It is precisely because of this consideration that many gardening stores now offer a variety of delivery options, such as: bare-root without soil, with seedling soil or original pots and soil, etc. In comparison, the survival rate of novice flower lovers who choose non-bare-root seedlings with soil will be more guaranteed.

Specific steps for repotting Christmas cactus

First, remove the original soil that retains the roots of the Christmas cactus completely.

First fill a flowerpot that is one size larger than the original pot with 1/3 of nutrient soil, then plant the Christmas cactus with soil in it, and finally fill the remaining space around it with nutrient soil.

This kind of repotting does not damage the root system, has almost no effect on the flowering quality of Christmas cactus this season, and is also more conducive to adapting to the new breeding environment.

After repotting, water the plant with a small amount of water to help it take root, and place it in an environment with scattered sunlight for maintenance.

The red leaves of Christmas cactus are generally due to the following reasons:

⑴Big temperature difference between morning and evening:

Christmas cactus is a succulent plant. In autumn, there is plenty of sunshine, the air is dry, and the temperature difference between morning and evening is large .

The leaves of Christmas cactus grown outdoors are prone to turning red. This is somewhat similar to the coloring of succulents and is the result of the deposition of pigment cells. It neither affects growth nor delays continued flowering. Apart from the reddish color of the leaves, there are no other adverse manifestations.

⑵ Low temperature frostbite:

Christmas cactus is not cold-resistant. When the ambient temperature is below 10℃, the leaves will slowly turn red, and as the ambient temperature continues to drop, the leaves will become soft and even turn purple-red.

Therefore, if the local ambient temperature is already below 10℃ in winter, the Christmas cactus should be moved to a warm environment with scattered sunlight for maintenance, and watering should be reduced appropriately and the soil in the pot should be kept dry to help it survive the winter smoothly.

(3) Too much sunshine:

Christmas cactus is a short-day plant and is more suitable for a scattered sunlight environment. If the local ambient temperature is relatively high in autumn and winter, long-term full-sun exposure will also cause its leaves to turn red, but the plant is in good condition and it basically does not affect its continued flowering.

If you feel that it affects the ornamental effect, you can provide appropriate shade and occasionally spray a little water on the leaves in the morning and evening. After 1-2 weeks, the leaves will turn green again.

⑷ Variety reasons:

The red color of Christmas cactus leaves is also related to the variety, especially in red flower varieties such as Red Sun and Red Heart, which may be related to the ratio of pigments in its own cells.

This is a natural phenomenon and you don't need to worry about it. It's not a large area that turns red, only the edges of the leaves and the young leaves are a little red. The growth and flowering are basically unaffected.