How to grow Christmas cactus to make it bloom?

Christmas cactus is a plant that is suitable for indoor planting and has great ornamental value. It has unique leaf shapes, large and bright flowers in various colors. Christmas cactus does not require much light and can grow well even if there is insufficient indoor light. It is a representative of lazy plants and is easy to maintain. So how do you grow Christmas cactus to make it bloom?

1. Soil

When caring for Christmas cactus, you should choose loose, breathable, and well-drained soil to avoid the soil being too compact and affecting root growth. Christmas cactus does not like direct sunlight and prefers a semi-shaded environment. Therefore, it can be placed in a place with scattered light all year round, which makes its maintenance very worry-free.

2. Temperature

The ideal temperature range for Christmas cactus growth is 15 to 25 degrees, not lower than 10 degrees. Within this temperature range, Christmas cactus can grow healthily and the flowers will be more luxuriant when blooming. If the temperature is below 5 degrees in winter, it should be moved indoors to avoid frostbite. In summer, avoid direct sunlight and provide appropriate shade.

3. Lighting conditions

Light is essential for Christmas cactus to bloom. Christmas cactus is a short-day plant and requires 4 to 8 hours of light per day. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight or too dark a place to avoid affecting its flowering. By providing proper shading and simulating short-day conditions, Christmas cactus will gradually form flower buds after about a month.

4. Reasonable fertilization

While carrying out short-day treatment, reasonable fertilization is also the key to promoting the flowering of Christmas cactus. Fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium should be selected because phosphorus fertilizers help flower bud differentiation and promote flowering. Apply 2 to 3 times a month, pay attention to the diluted concentration. It can be sprayed on the leaves or applied through root irrigation.

In short, as long as you understand the growth habits of Christmas cactus, you can easily maintain it so that it can bloom lush and beautiful flowers every year.