Thanks to its flowering in the course of the holidays, this plant is rightly known as the “Christmas cactus”, in distinction to the very comparable, “Easter cactus” Latin identify Hatiora gaertneri, which blooms on the finish of winter and in spring.
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergia truncata, Epiphyllum truncatum) is a species that originates from tropical rainforests the place it lives as an epiphyte, i.e. a plant that doesn’t lengthen its roots within the floor, however lives on tree branches.
It clings to the bark of timber with its roots or grows on the forks of branches. It will get the vitamins it wants for its progress from humus, which is created by the decomposition of natural substances. Along the stem, which consists of flat articles 3-5 centimeters lengthy, it creates aerial roots that draw moisture from the air.
As it grows within the shade of timber in its pure setting, it also needs to be supplied with average to gentle shade below house cultivation circumstances, particularly in summer time when the articles develop into white or reddish as a result of an excessive amount of solar. In summer time, you’ll be able to take it open air.
Flowers in numerous colours
Christmas cactus flowers are available in quite a lot of colours, from white, crimson, pink, orange and golden yellow.
In order to bloom profusely in winter, between September and November it’s good to undergo a dormant interval. Then we virtually utterly cease watering and fertilizing, and the marginally decrease temperature of the room will assist flowering. About 15 levels C is right.
Like the poinsettia, the Christmas cactus is a short-day plant, so it’s going to kind flower buds in periods wherein it’s uncovered to darkness for greater than 12 hours a day. That’s why synthetic lighting can disrupt that cycle, so this plant is right for adorning rooms which are hardly ever used, i.e. the place little synthetic lighting is used. It is the best sort for beautifying workplace areas.
After you discover the looks of flower buds on the guidelines of the articles, which is able to get greater day-after-day, begin watering and fertilizing.
It could be very best to water the plant with rainwater or not less than standing water. When selecting a fertilizer, select one with a better potassium content material to encourage flowering. When transplanting the plant, use a substrate with an acidic response. A mix of peat, loam and sand is right.
Easy propagation
Propagating Christmas cactus is simple. In the spring, break off a couple of stems and depart them to air dry for a couple of days. After that, plant them in a permeable substrate and maintain them at a temperature of 15-20 levels C. With common sprinkling with drained water, the cuttings will develop roots in a couple of weeks, after which the crops are cared for as described.
In the primary 12 months, the plant will most likely not bloom, however you’ll be able to anticipate the primary flowers the next 12 months after it has developed nicely.
Why is my cactus dropping flower buds?
It is commonly the case that from a bought plant that was stuffed with buds, after bringing them into the condo, all of them fall off or just dry up. Since the Christmas cactus is a species that doesn’t prefer to be “disturbed” throughout flowering, any motion will fairly often consequence on this phenomenon.
Even in case you transfer the plant throughout flowering from a everlasting place in your house to at least one the place the plant will likely be extra noticeable, however the place the rising circumstances aren’t very best.
But don’t discard the plant, as a result of subsequent 12 months, after good acclimatization in your house, it ought to bloom profusely.