Cultivation methods and precautions of Christmas cactus

Growth habits of Christmas cactus

Schlumbergera, also known as Christmas claw lotus, fairy finger flower, crab orchid, Christmas cactus, and elderberry, is a plant of the Cactaceae family and the genus Schlumbergera. It is an ideal indoor potted flower. The high-hanging umbrella-shaped Schlumbergera is beautiful.

How to grow Christmas cactus

Christmas cactus likes warm and humid environment, is not cold-resistant, and the suitable growth temperature is about 25℃. It is best to move it indoors in winter. The minimum temperature cannot be lower than 10℃, and cannot exceed 30℃ in summer. It likes loose, organic-rich, well-drained and breathable substrate.

Watering method

Christmas cactus cannot tolerate waterlogging environment, so drainage measures need to be taken in the rainy season. In summer, water can be sprayed around the plant to increase air humidity and lower temperature. The soil should be kept moist during the growth period to avoid being too dry or too wet.

Fertilization method

Christmas cactus can be fertilized with fully decomposed thin liquid fertilizer, do not use chemical fertilizer. From autumn to flowering, you can increase the amount of water and fertilizer appropriately. During the high temperature in summer, the plant will enter a dormant period, then stop fertilizing. Try to use less fertilizer in the low temperature in winter.

Pruning methods

After the flowering period of Christmas cactus, it is necessary to trim the withered flowers in time, and at the same time thin out some old stems and overly dense stem nodes. In the early growth stage, it can be pinched and topped in time to promote the growth of branches. In addition, it is also necessary to thin out dense and crossed branches and leaves to increase ventilation and light transmittance.

Things to note when growing Christmas cactus

Christmas cactus will suffer from diseases and pests in high temperature, high humidity and poor ventilation. Common diseases are anthracnose, rot and leaf blight. The diseased plants need to be pruned and burned in a concentrated area. They can also be sprayed with carbendazim wettable powder. When scale insects cause serious damage, they can be scraped off with bamboo strips if the number is small. In severe cases, they can be sprayed with phosmet emulsifiable concentrate. Red spider mites can be sprayed with omethoate solution.