Very soon, the Christmas cactus will delight homes with its white, pink, orange, red or even yellow flowers. But what if it doesn’t bloom? Here are some tips to help make this beautiful flower bloom this winter.
The head of the greenhouse at the National Botanical Garden gives advice Full woman.
Provide a period of rest
For a cactus to bloom beautifully, it needs a period of rest. For the Christmas cactus, it lasts about a month – from mid-October to mid-November. At this time, the plant requires a bright and cool place (15–18 °C). Fertilizers are not applied, and watering is minimal. As soon as small buds appear, this is a signal that the cactus has “awakened” after rest.
After a period of rest, watering begins to gradually increase, using warm, soft water. Also begin to gradually apply fertilizers for succulents with low nitrogen content.
Proper watering
In fact, this cactus is an epiphyte that in nature grows in crevices of trees or stones, where its roots always receive air and water drains without lingering in “puddles.” At home, it is important to create similar conditions: water the cactus when the soil is dry, and drain excess water from the pan an hour after watering.
The Christmas cactus does not tolerate “wet feet.”
What cactus do you have at home?
Visually, three types of cacti are distinguished, but there are as many of their hybrids as there is great demand for them. Upon closer inspection, you will notice differences in leaf shape, flower appearance, and flowering time.
The earliest flowering cactus begins to bloom in October–November. It is often called the Thanksgiving cactus, although the name may differ in countries where this holiday is not celebrated. This cactus has the scientific name Schlumbergera truncata and its leaves are very sharp with jagged edges.
The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) has leaves without sharp protrusions and blooms in December–January.
The Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertnerri), although similar in appearance, belongs to a different plant family. It blooms in March–April and has leaves with several small rounded projections. Its flowers are not tubular, but star-shaped.
Pay attention!
– Epiphytes do not like their root ball being disturbed, so when replanting the plant you just need to move it into a slightly larger pot without disassembling the roots.
– If you provide rest and suitable conditions, the cactus can bloom again.
– If the leaves of a cactus look wilted, it is most likely flooded, not overdried.
Source: www.gorod.lv
