description
The Christmas cactus forms long, slightly overhanging, fleshy shoots. These consist of several leaf members, on the edge of which short bristles grow out of small areoles. The pretty, scale-shaped inflorescences in white, pink, pink or red are at the tip of the shoots.
also read
- Christmas cactus and Easter cactus - the same plant?
- Christmas cactus: care and varieties
- Schlumbergera truncata (Christmas cactus) - tips on care
The optimal location
Of the Christmas cactus is one of the short-day plants. It only starts to bloom when the days get shorter and the temperature falls permanently below 23 degrees.
- Give the houseplant a bright place without the midday sun.
- Place a little colder from October and make sure that the plant receives a maximum of nine hours of daylight. For example, the unheated bedroom or a cool stairwell are ideal.
- As soon as the buds start to form, make the succulent plant a little warmer and lighter again.
- After that, the pot should not be moved if possible, otherwise the plant will shed the buds.
- During the summer months you can also place the Christmas cactus in a partially shaded place on the terrace or balcony.
The right substrate
If the roots of the Christmas cactus completely fill the planter, it is time to repot the plant. With succulents in particular, the substrate in which you cultivate them plays a major role.
Since these plants are prone to root rot, use a good quality one Potting soil with high permeability. Mix this with something Cactus soil and ensure that the flower pot drains well.
Water and fertilize
Succulents are quite frugal. Even during the flowering period, it is usually sufficient to water the Christmas cactus twice a week. Always water when the surface of the substrate has dried, because the root ball should never dry out completely.
Always use lime-free water for watering, as too much lime can lead to the plant dying off. For this reason, let the tap water stand for a while or use soft rainwater.
The Christmas cactus is fertilized every two to three weeks from the time of new shoots and during flower formation with a commercially available liquid fertilizer for cacti that you add to the irrigation water.
Cut back
The Christmas cactus does not have to be cut back. However, if the plant has grown too big, you can cut off individual limbs.
Tips
The Christmas cactus can easily be propagated by yourself. To do this, put the severed limbs in pots with permeable soil. In a bright location without the midday sun, new roots form quickly.