Christmas cacti are beautiful and pop houseplants that can lighten up your abode during the vacation season . To assure that your Christmas cactus thrives and efflorescence year after year , it ’s authoritative to allow the good upkeep and surroundings . Here are some essential tips on how to take care of your Christmas cactus :
1. Choosing the Right Soil
For successful outgrowth indoors , it ’s crucial to choose a well - drain pot land that contains perlite . This will help forestall waterlogged origin , which can head to ascendant rot . Ensure that the container has upright drain holes to allow excess pee to escape .
2. Watering Appropriately
Christmas cacti are sensitive to overwatering , so it ’s important to avoid keep back the soil too soggy . Allow the top inch of the soil to dry out before watering your plant life . When watering , make certain to souse the soil thoroughly but reserve any excess weewee to debilitate off .
3. Providing Adequate Light
Christmas cacti favour burnished , indirect light . invest your plant near a window where it can receive good deal of natural light without being break to direct sunlight , especially during the red-hot summertime calendar month . Insufficient illumination can result in pitiful blooming .
4. Maintaining Optimal Temperature
Christmas cacti thrive in temperature between 60 - 70 ° F ( 15 - 21 ° hundred ) during the day and somewhat cool temperature at night . forfend place your plant near drafts , heater , or air travel conditioning vent , as sudden temperature fluctuations can stress the plant .
5. Fertilizing Sparingly
During the grow season in spring and summertime , you’re able to fertilize your Christmas cactus with a balanced houseplant plant food diluted to half strong point . feed sparingly to avoid nutrient buildup in the soil , which can harm your flora .
6. Providing Humidity
Christmas cacti take account a more or less humid environment . To increase humidity around your plant , you may mist it occasionally or place a tray of H2O make full with pebbles beneath the plant ’s green goddess . Avoid misting the blossom forthwith to prevent botrytis or fungous proceeds .
7. Pruning When Needed
If your Christmas cactus becomes leggy or overgrown , you’re able to cut back it back after flowering to encourage unexampled growth and a more thick shape . Use light , piercing scissors to remove the excess stems , and propagate any cuttings to make Modern plants .
8. Encouraging Blooms
To advance abundant flowering , your Christmas cactus needs a geological period of darkness and cooler temperature in the downslope . Around previous September to early November , reduce the amount of light your plant get to advance bud formation . Ensure that the plant receives 12 - 14 hr of darkness each night .
9. Dealing with Pests
Keep an heart out for coarse houseplant pests such as mealybug and wanderer tinge , which can pretend your Christmas cactus . If you notice any pestis , softly wipe the leaves with a damp material or treat the plant with insecticidal goop following the manufacturer ’s operating instructions .
10. Repotting When Necessary
Christmas cacti prefer slightly crowd together root conditions , so they do n’t need to be repotted frequently . However , if your flora has outgrown its container or the ground has become compact , consider repotting it in the bound after the blooming geological period .
11. Enjoying the Blooms
Once your Christmas cactus bloom , enjoy the beautiful and vivacious flowers that can last for several weeks . allow for consistent maintenance to ensure the wellness and seniority of your plant life , and it will reward you with stunning bloom year after year .
12. Sharing the Joy
Spread the joy of Christmas cacti by circulate your plant through radical clipping . Share the stunner and unequalled charm of these plants with friends and crime syndicate , and give on your knowledge of caring for these lovely houseplants .
Caroline Bates
