How to care for a Christmas cactus to get lush flowering for the holidays: tips

The Christmas cactus, or Schlumbergera, is a wonderful flower that pleases with its bright bloom in winter. To ensure that the plant blooms during the festive period on Christmas Eve, it is important to provide proper care. This flower is native to the tropical forests of Brazil and was brought to Europe by collector Allan Cunningham in 1816. In the natural environment, Christmas cactuses grow on tree branches and have red, white, orange, purple, pink or lilac flowers located at the ends of hanging stems.

OBOZ.UA tells you how to care for a Christmas cactus so that the flowers start to open faster and bloom longer. Florists say that it is best to place the plant on the northeastern or western windowsills.

How to care for the Christmas cactus

The Christmas cactus loves bright, diffused light. Direct sunlight should be avoided so that the leaves do not get burned.

The optimum temperature during the dormant period (September-October) is 15-18°C. During bud formation, the temperature can be lowered to 16-14°C.

Christmas cactus loves high humidity. You need to regularly moisten the plant with warm water, especially during the heating season. The substrate should be slightly moist, but not waterlogged. During the dormant period, watering should be reduced. Tap water is not suitable because it contains chlorine and lime. It is better to infuse water regularly so that these residues precipitate.

As soon as you see that budding has begun, do not move the container, otherwise the plant may shed all the buds

It is recommended to transplant the Christmas cactus after flowering, approximately every 2-3 years.

The Christmas cactus should be fertilized from March to August once every 2 weeks with fertilizers for cacti and succulents.

How to make the Christmas cactus bloom

The first step is to choose the right pot. You may be surprised to know that in the wild, the Christmas cactus is a parasitic plant that grows by clinging to the bark of trees or to crevices in rocks. In a pot that is too large, the plant begins to actively develop its root system, which can delay the beginning of flowering. Florists advise using a simple rule: the ideal pot for a Christmas cactus is three times smaller than the length of the largest stems. 

It is worth remembering the dormant period. From September to November, you need to create the right conditions for the plant: reduce watering, lower the temperature and lighting.

From mid-November until the buds appear, the Christmas cactus will feel best if it has 12-14 hours of complete darkness every day. This is necessary to stimulate the laying of flower buds.

During the formation of buds, watering should be increased, but do not overmoisten the soil.

What mistakes are made in caring for a Christmas cactus

The most common mistakes are:

• stagnant water in the pot, which can lead to root rot;
• direct sunlight can cause leaf burns;
• in case of improper lighting, the Christmas cactus may not bloom or the flowering will be weak;
• the Christmas cactus does not like drafts and sudden changes in temperature.

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