How should I water the newly planted Christmas cactus?

Many friends have Christmas cactus potted plants at home. The cutting process of Christmas cactus is relatively easy, and it can quickly develop a healthy root system, thereby promoting the growth of leaves. However, many friends don’t know how to water the newly planted Christmas cactus?

How should I water the newly planted Christmas cactus?

Cutting Christmas cactus is a simple operation, but care must be taken to avoid exposing the plant to rain, especially in summer. The low temperature of the rain may cause damage to the leaves, causing them to fall off or even root rot. Therefore, whether in the early stage of cuttings or the growth stage, the potting soil should be kept properly moist to avoid direct rain.

When choosing leaves for cuttings, you should pick leaves that are moderately hard and have old leaves. After cutting the leaves, they need to be dried in the sun for 2 to 3 days to allow the cuts to heal before cuttings can be made. The soil used for cuttings should have good air permeability. For beginners, you can add half of coal slag or river sand to the soil, and use nutrient-rich peat soil or leaf mold for the other half. Water should be applied immediately after cuttings, and rooting solution or naphthaleneacetic acid may be added to promote rooting.

After cuttings, Christmas cactus should be placed in a place with sufficient diffuse light and good ventilation. When the soil surface is dry to a depth of 1 to 2 cm, water it thoroughly in time and the Christmas cactus will take root quickly. Under suitable temperatures, the roots will grow out in about a week, the leaves will gradually become full, and new small leaves will begin to grow on the top. At this time, the plant should be moved to an environment with sufficient light for maintenance.

How to grow Christmas cactus

Christmas cactus needs fertile, loose, breathable acidic soil. You can add river sand to the potting soil to enhance air permeability. When it comes to watering, avoid excessive watering, because Christmas cactus is not tolerant to waterlogging, and slightly dry soil is more conducive to its growth. When the air is dry in summer and autumn, you can spray water on the leaves regularly, which can not only keep the leaves clean and reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests, but also maintain the air humidity. Christmas cactus should be placed in a well-ventilated and shaded place, and avoid frequent moving.

In order to promote more flowering of Christmas cactus, pruning should be carried out after the flowers wither in spring, and the dense branches should be removed to facilitate ventilation and maintenance. Among the newly grown branches, half should be pinched off appropriately to remove weak flower buds to promote larger and more vigorous flowers. After flowering, you should continue to pinch off some young leaves to facilitate the dormancy and recovery of the plant.

Cuttings are an effective method of propagating Christmas cactus. Select leaves with 4 to 5 nodes for cuttings. They will usually bloom in the second year, and the number of flowers will increase as time goes by.

In terms of fertilization, Christmas cactus should not be fertilized with concentrated fertilizers or chemical fertilizers. It is best to use homemade dilute organic fertilizer water . Especially before autumn, appropriately increasing water and fertilizer will help promote flowering. Two months before Christmas cactus buds form, you can start pinching off new leaves and water it with fermented rice water every ten days. This way, the flowers will be more lush when they bloom.

When caring for Christmas cactus at home, especially in summer, avoid rain. The focus of maintenance in summer is to keep the potting soil slightly moist and well ventilated, and avoid fertilizing to ensure that the plant safely spends the summer. In autumn and other seasons, you can resume normal watering and fertilizing. Christmas cactus will be able to grow rapidly and bloom in time under suitable conditions.