CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to grow crab claw flowers_How to grow and what to pay attention to when growing Christmas cactus

The crab claw flower grows its stems in April and May, and the yellow-white flowers are like small tubes, which are called iron-colored arrows. When cultivating this kind of plant, a good method is needed. The following is the cultivation method of the crab claw flower compiled by me, I hope it will be helpful to everyone.

Cultivation method and lighting conditions of crab claw flower

Crab claw flower is a short-day plant, prefers half shade and half sun scattered light, and avoids direct sunlight. When caring for it, pay attention to shade, keep good ventilation, and spray water on the stem surface frequently to prevent the leaves from turning yellow. When it is damaged by red spider mites, the stem leaves will turn yellow.

Insufficient nutrients, cold currents and too dry soil in the pot will cause buds and flowers to fall off, so during the maintenance of the crab claw flower, you should pay attention to reasonable watering and fertilization. When winter comes, you should pay attention to avoid cold currents. Generally, it should be moved indoors for maintenance in October every year.

If you want the crab claw flower to bloom luxuriantly, you must ensure that it is given a continuous dark environment for more than 12 hours a day during the 40 to 70 days before flowering, which is conducive to the formation of flower buds. Even if you move it indoors, you must avoid excessive light exposure and pay attention to shading.

Fertilizer and water supply

When the crab claw flower 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 bud thinning of the crab claw flower. The buds usually begin to form in mid-to-late October. There are often 2 to 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.

Pest and disease control

Anthracnose, rot and leaf blight often harm the leaf stems of Claw orchid, especially under high temperature and high humidity conditions, the disease is serious. Plants with serious diseases should be pulled out and burned. In the early stage of the disease, use 500 times diluted 50% carbendazim wettable powder, spray once every ten days, and spray 3 times in total. When scale insects are seriously harmful, the surface of the leaf stems is covered with white scales, which makes the plant grow weak and the affected part is yellow-white. If the affected plants are light, they can be scraped off with bamboo strips. In serious cases, 25% phosmet emulsifiable concentrate is sprayed with 800 times diluted solution.

Dormant period

During the crab claw flower's one-year growth process, there are two short dormancy periods (one in the hottest summer, and one after flowering in early spring), and two periods of vigorous growth (one in mid-to-late May, and one in early to mid-October).

Growth period

During the autumn growing season, you should place the potted crab claw flower in a sunny window to allow it to fully receive sunlight. It is best to build a plastic film shed in a windproof and sunny corner of the balcony. When the sun shines on the plastic shed, a microclimate is formed inside the shed, which can ensure sufficient air humidity and is conducive to the growth of crab claw flowers. 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 old cotton mats or blankets in the evening and uncover them 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.

Pharmacological effects of crab claw flower 1. Anti-cancer and anti-viral effects: The pseudolycorine contained in it has anti-cancer and anti-viral effects. It has an inhibitory effect on rat W256 carcinosarcoma and human cervical cancer (Hela) cells; it has an inhibitory effect on mouse lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, encephalomyocarditis virus and Japanese encephalitis virus.

2. Other effects: Lycorine contained in it can excite the uterus and small intestinal smooth muscle of animals. Galanthus amine contained in it has anticholinesterase and certain analgesic effects. The fluid extract of this product has an emetic effect on dogs and pigeons, and the emetic effect has a reflex effect and a central effect. When 0.1g (raw drug)/kg is administered intragastrically to rabbits, it increases respiratory secretion and has a significant expectorant effect.

3. Toxicity: The median lethal dose of mice by oral administration is 26.42g (raw drug)/kg/. [Nature and flavor] Spicy; sweet; slightly cold; toxic.

Maintenance precautions for crab claw flower 1. Christmas cactus is a plant with strong phototropism. If its phototropism position is changed during its growth, its growth will be affected, especially during the bud formation period. Changing its phototropism position may cause bud muteness and bud drop. Therefore, during the maintenance of Christmas cactus, do not frequently change its phototropism position.

2. Schlumbergera likes slightly acidic soil, and its adapted soil pH value is 6.5-6.8. Too high or too low will affect its growth and the brightness and color of the flowers. Generally speaking, tap water is neutral or above neutral, so if you use tap water to water flowers for a long time, the soil will inevitably become alkaline. Therefore, ferrous sulfate should be used to adjust the soil every half an hour.

The method is: use 2-3g of ferrous sulfate, add 200-300ml of clean water, shake well to make it fully dissolved, and pour it into the flowers when they need watering. If you have pH test paper, you can use 200-300ml of clean water, add an appropriate amount of ferrous sulfate, adjust to 6.5, and pour it in when there is a lack of water.

3. To make the Christmas cactus bloom luxuriantly and brightly, fertilizer should be added in time after the dormant period in midsummer. The soil can use a 1:1:1 compound fertilizer. The leaves can be sprayed with potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution.

4. For potted Christmas cactus, it is advisable to choose loose, fertile and well-drained acidic culture soil. Avoid water accumulation in the pot. From spring to summer, apply thin liquid fertilizer every 10 to 14 days. Stop fertilizing during the high temperature period in summer. From the beginning of autumn to flowering, fertilizer and water should be applied continuously. Generally, liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer should be applied once a week, and quick-acting phosphorus fertilizer should be applied 1 to 2 times before flowering. During this period, sufficient nutrients should be provided, which is conducive to the formation of flower buds and bright flower colors.

Christmas cactus likes partial shade. After being taken out of the house in spring, it should be placed in a sunny place sheltered from the wind. After summer, it should be moved to a ventilated and cool shade for maintenance. In midsummer, the growth of Christmas cactus is in a stagnant stage. At this time, less watering is required, but it needs to be sprayed 2 to 3 times a day. If too much water is given at this time, the roots are prone to rot. After autumn, it can be placed in a place with more sunlight to promote the differentiation of flower buds.

Christmas cactus is not cold-resistant. It should be moved indoors in autumn and placed in a sunny place. The room temperature should be maintained at about 15℃. During the bud formation period, water should be sprayed frequently to keep the modified stems and buds moist. The temperature during the flowering period is preferably 10-15℃. There is a short dormant period after flowering. At this time, water less, stop fertilizing, cut off all the remaining flowers, and trim the plant shape. After new buds grow on the stem nodes, normal water and fertilizer management can be carried out.

Related articles on the cultivation method of crab claw flower:

1. What is the cultivation method of crab claw orchid?

2. How to grow crab claw flower? How to grow crab claw flower

3. Crab farming methods