CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to protect Christmas cactus?

1. How to protect Christmas cactus?

Christmas cactus likes shade, ventilation and humid environment. It is afraid of heat and cold. It will be damaged by direct sunlight or rain. If the air is dry, hot and stuffy, it will not only grow poorly, but also fail to bloom, and will attract red spider mites. Fertile, loose, humus-rich slightly acidic soil is preferred for potting. The following are the key points for management in four seasons:

Spring management: After the flowers wither in winter, cut off the 3-4 stem nodes under the remaining flowers in time, and remove some old stems and overcrowded stem nodes, and spray new lipid film to prevent bacteria from infecting from the wounds. After flowering in March, there is a short dormant period. Stop fertilizer and control water until new buds emerge from the stem nodes, and then carry out normal water and fertilizer management. The number of watering should be increased as the temperature rises, and the pot soil should not be watered unless it is dry, and it is better to keep it moist.

Summer maintenance and management: Christmas cactus can grow slowly at 15 degrees; it grows faster at around 25 degrees and when the air is relatively humid; when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees, even in a shaded environment, the growth rate gradually decreases and enters a semi-dormant state. At this time, Christmas cactus should be placed in a cool place under the balcony shade, or hung in a ventilated place indoors to avoid the scorching sun and rain. Spray water frequently to increase humidity and lower the temperature. If the plant is slightly exposed to the sun or in a hot and stuffy place, it will be burned, causing the stem nodes to wilt, fall off and die.

Autumn and winter maintenance and management: The temperature in early autumn is still high, so spraying leaves and watering the environment should continue. Starting from September, the climate conditions gradually become suitable for the growth of Christmas cactus. In mid-to-late September, as the temperature drops, sunlight can be seen in the morning and evening. In mid-to-late October, it should be exposed to full sunlight, and sprayed with Flower King No. 3 to promote flower bud differentiation and more flower buds. In early and mid-November, the temperature turns cold, and Christmas cactus should be brought indoors for wintering, and be placed in a sunny place. Spray the flower bud strengthener in time during the bud stage, but avoid direct sunlight during the flowering stage to extend the flowering period. It promotes strong buds, enlarged petals, bright colors, rich fragrance, and extended flowering period. The temperature is low in winter, and the evaporation of Christmas cactus is also reduced, so the growth slows down and less water is required. Be careful not to water too much. Excessive watering in winter will cause root rot and death.

2. How to care for Christmas cactus after transplantation

It is better to place it in a bright place indoors. Water it when the soil is completely dry. Don't water it if the soil is not dry. It doesn't matter if the soil is a little dry. I am afraid of waterlogging.

3. How to grow Christmas cactus

Christmas cactus is suitable for indoor potted plants. It is advisable to choose loose, fertile, well-drained slightly acidic soil, and put some cooked cake fertilizer, chicken manure, etc. as base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot. Christmas cactus is a short-day plant, prefers scattered light, avoids scorching sun; likes humidity, but is afraid of waterlogging. Normally, apply thin fertilizer once every 10 days or half a month, and stop fertilizing during the high temperature period in summer. From the beginning of autumn to before flowering, fertilizer and water should be applied continuously. Apply 1-2 times of quick-acting phosphorus fertilizer before flowering to facilitate bud formation. After flowering and in the high temperature season in summer, Christmas cactus enters a dormant period, and watering should be controlled, but it should be sprayed with water every day. Christmas cactus is not cold-resistant, so it should be moved indoors for maintenance in autumn.

The reasons for bud and flower drop are mostly due to insufficient nutrients, cold currents, and too dry or too wet soil. Therefore, during the maintenance of Christmas cactus, you should pay attention to reasonable watering and fertilization, and avoid the cold when winter comes. Generally, it should be moved indoors for maintenance in October.

The main pest of Christmas cactus is red spider mites. If the air is dry and hot, and the ventilation is poor, it is easy to be harmed by red spider mites, causing the stems of Christmas cactus to turn yellow, wither, or even die. When red spider mites are found, they should be immediately sprayed with 1000-1500 times omethoate solution to kill them.

4. How to grow Christmas cactus

Schlumbergera is a cactus plant native to the Brazilian rainforest. Since it grows on tree trunks or in dark and moist rock crevices in its native habitat, it needs shade and humidity to grow and develop. It is a short-day plant that requires 8 to 10 hours of sunlight per day.
During the growth of Christmas cactus, there are two short dormancy periods (one in the hottest summer, one after flowering in early spring), and two vigorous growth periods (one in mid-to-late May, one in early to mid-October). In the autumn growing season, you should pay attention to placing the potted Christmas cactus in a sunny window so that it can fully receive sunlight. It is best to build a plastic film shed in the corner of the balcony that is sheltered from the wind and facing the sun. When the sun shines on the plastic shed, a microclimate is formed in the shed, which can ensure sufficient air humidity and is conducive to the growth of Christmas cactus. On the other hand, the film shed can increase the temperature and keep warm. Generally, it is about 5℃ higher than the room at night. If there is sunshine, the temperature should be 5-10℃ higher than the outdoor temperature. In the cold winter, you can cover the plastic shed with waste cotton mats or blankets in the evening and uncover it at sunrise the next day. In this way, the daytime temperature can be maintained at around 15-20℃, and the night temperature is not lower than 5-8℃, which is conducive to its growth.
When Christmas cactus enters the budding stage, the fertilizer and water supply should be sufficient, especially phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be added, and nitrogen fertilizers should be applied less or not, mainly to prevent excessive growth and affect the formation of flower buds. Generally, fully decomposed chicken manure, fish water, bone meal and other dilute fertilizers should be applied once a week. Watering should not be too frequent, and it is better to water when the pot soil is dry.
In addition, pay attention to the thinning of the buds of Christmas cactus. The buds usually begin to form in mid-to-late October. There are often 2-3 buds at the top of the stem node at the same time. At this time, the buds should be thinned out, keeping the largest one and removing the rest. Sometimes, a young stem and a bud will grow at the top of the stem node at the same time. The young stem should be removed in time to prevent the buds at the top node from wilting due to lack of nutrients.