How to grow Christmas cactus in summer?

Christmas cactus is an epiphytic flower of the cactus family. Its stems are thick, like crab claws, and its flowers are bright and colorful. It has a high ornamental value and is therefore very suitable for home potted planting. So how to grow Christmas cactus in summer? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Shade treatment

When the temperature is high in summer, the Christmas cactus should be moved to a place with scattered light or a shade net should be used to avoid direct sunlight to prevent leaf burns.

2. Reduce watering

Under the high temperatures of summer, Christmas cactus enters semi-dormancy, its vital activities weaken, it requires very little water, and watering should be reduced accordingly. Generally, you can wait until the soil in the pot is completely dry and becomes very light before watering. Usually, it is enough to water once every 15-30 days, and water thoroughly when you water. In addition, spray some water mist on the soil surface and around the flower pot every day to increase the air humidity and have a cooling effect.

3. Improve ventilation

The climate is hot and humid in summer, so be sure to place the Christmas cactus in a well-ventilated environment. If the ventilation conditions are poor, you can place it indoors, such as in an environment where a fan is often turned on, or in an environment where air conditioning is often turned on.

4. Proper pruning

Christmas cactus is basically in a dormant state in the summer. If you want it to spend the summer safely, you can prune its branches appropriately before the dormant period. When pruning, you can trim the branches and leaves on the old stump, basically leaving 7 leaves. This can effectively reduce the consumption of nutrients and allow it to grow better.

5. Stop fertilizing

It is normal for Christmas cactus to slow down its growth in summer, and fertilizing should be temporarily stopped during its dormant period. Excessive fertilization at this time will not only fail to help its growth, but will easily cause fertilizer damage, which is very detrimental to the growth of the plant. It is recommended to wait until the weather gradually cools down and apply some dilute fertilizer water when the plant enters the growth period from dormancy.

6. Pest and disease control

As the temperature rises in summer, Christmas cactus gradually enters a dormant period and its own resistance weakens. Therefore, many diseases and pests can easily take advantage of the situation to invade, such as black rot and scale insects. The health of the plants should be checked in time, and then the corresponding treatment can be done.

In general, Christmas cactus will enter a dormant state to protect itself during the high temperature period in summer, and it should not be maintained with large amounts of water and fertilizer at this time. It should be shaded, fertilized, and the soil in the pot should be kept slightly moist. At the same time, pay attention to proper pruning and disease and insect prevention, so that the Christmas cactus can safely survive the summer.