How to make christmas cactuses bloom
Christmas Cactus Bloom Cycle - Tips On Getting Christmas Cactus Plants To Bloom
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Christmas Cactus
By: Nikki Tilley, Author of The Bulb-o-licious Garden
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Figuring out how to make a Christmas cactus bloom can be tricky for some. However, by following the proper watering guidelines and ensuring that just the right light and temperature conditions are given, learning to force a Christmas cactus to bloom can actually be quite easy.
How to Make Christmas Cactus Bloom
When you want to force a Christmas cactus to bloom, you need to understand the Christmas cactus bloom cycle: little water, dormancy, light, and temperature.
Begin by limiting the amount of water the plant receives. This generally takes place sometime during fall, usually around October or the first part of November (in most places).
Cut down on watering just enough to allow the soil to remain slightly moist. Water only when the topmost, about 1 inch (2.5 cm.), layer of soil is dry to the touch. This will enable the plant to enter dormancy. Dormancy is critical for getting a Christmas cactus to bloom.
In order to further force a Christmas cactus to bloom, you’ll need to move the plant where it will receive about 12 to 14 hours of darkness. Bright, indirect light during the day is fine, however, Christmas cactus requires at least 12 hours of darkness at night in order to encourage bud development.
Your Christmas cactus, dark conditions aside, will also need cool temperatures. This should average out to about 50 to 55 degrees F. (10-13 C.). Therefore, make sure the location will accommodate both light and temperature requirements.
Care of Flowers on Christmas Cacti
Christmas cactus plants should continue receiving dark, cool treatment for at least six to eight weeks, or until buds begin forming. Once buds have formed, it usually takes up to 12 weeks (or less) for blooms to appear.
The plant should also be relocated at this time.
Move the Christmas cactus to a sunny, draft-free area. However, keep it away from direct sunlight, as this may cause the plant to become droopy looking. Also, drafty areas can cause the buds to drop before blooming has occurred. Giving the plant more bright, indirect sunlight will produce more blooming. Christmas cactus also bloom better as pot-bound plants.
While watering may be increased during blooming, the amount will vary according to the plant’s current light conditions, temperatures, and humidity levels.
When you force a Christmas cactus to bloom by giving it the proper care in the right place, receiving the right light and temperature conditions, the plant will not only bloom but may also surprise you by continually producing blooms several times throughout the year.
Knowing how to make a Christmas cactus bloom will help you to enjoy the lovely flowers on this popular plant.
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Whether you want to make your Christmas cactus bloom in time for the festive season, or simply want to know how to make it bloom if it seems to have stopped producing flowers entirely, we have expert advice below.
Usually, Christmas cactus, also known as Thanksgiving cactus or holiday cactus, blooms from November to January, but if you know how to grow a Christmas cactus, you will also know that getting it to bloom again will depend on getting both room temperature and light levels right. Plus, can you 'force' the plant to bloom again?
We've rounded up top tips on watering, lighting and the perfect temperature below so you can enjoy your Christmas cactus' blooms again.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
How to make a Christmas cactus bloom
The Christmas cactus can be made to bloom again if is subjected to:
The right light conditions – a week's worth of short days and long nights.
A typical northern hemisphere winter will give you approximately 8 hours of daylight and 16 hours of darkness. Put it on a windowsill in a room that's rarely used, since even artificial lights will confuse it.
The right room temperature – Christmas cactus likes cool temperatures, no higher than 60ºF.
Keira Kay, Bloom & Wild plant expert, explains how to make a Christmas cactus bloom: 'For a second flowering, you will need to reduce the amount of light it's subject to each day, ensuring it’s in the dark 12-14hrs, and stored in a cool room, with a temperature around 50-54ºF (10-12ºC).
Rachel Martin, of Patch Plants , adds: 'Christmas cactus likes quite a cool temperature and will produce more flowers if kept below about 68ºF (20°C), so keep her well clear of radiators.'
The right level of watering – 'You would also need to cut back on watering, being careful to only water the top inch, and only watering again when it's dry to the touch, this change in conditions will force the plant into a dormancy period – which is vital for new spring flowers.
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The right fertilization approach – knowing when to fertilize Christmas cactus is important: the quick answer is to do so in growing season, from spring to fall.
If you do all this you should make your Christmas cactus bloom again.
When does the Christmas cactus usually bloom?
The Christmas cactus is a winter-bloomer and comes into flower from November through January.
How many times a year will a Christmas cactus bloom?
The Christmas cactus will bloom typically once, however, you can prompt your plant into flowering again in spring with the correct conditions, for example by ensuring it has a short-day, long-night environment and cool room temperatures.
How long will it take a Christmas cactus to bloom again?
'It’ll take six to eight weeks for buds to appear, and a further eight to 12 to come into full bloom,' says that Keira Kay, Bloom & Wild plant expert.
'Each flower should last from five to seven days, whereas the flowering period of the plant itself can last for three to six weeks.
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Why does my Christmas cactus bloom but not bud?
The reasons that cause Christmas cactuses to bloom but not bud include: rooms that are too hot, too cold or drafty; overwatering; and too many buds.
If a Christmas cactus is sitting in wet soil, it may begin to suffer root rot. Ideally, you can allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again – and ensure the pot's drainage is good. Otherwise you may want to consider repotting the Christmas cactus to a more suitable container.
As for room temperature, second budding requires a cooler room than first budding – 50-54ºF (10-12ºC) for second budding; between 60-70ºF (15-21ºC) for the first budding.
And if the plant is too full, consider pruning it – remove older stems at the base. You can propagate a Christmas cactus, so this is a good opportunity to do so.
Why does my Christmas cactus not flower?
It is likely that you Christmas cactus isn't flowering because it is getting too much daylight or too little water, or being kept in a room that's too warm for it.
Eight hours of daylight a day then darkness is a must. Bear in mind that the Christmas cactus is a forest cactus so while they don't like their roots in boggy soil, they don't like to dry out, nor do they like very dry, overheated spaces. It's unlikely that you need to repot a Christmas cactus since they don't mind being a little root-bound.
Why are my Christmas cactus blooms falling off?
Christmas cactus' blooms fall off because the plant is either over- or under-watered or because the room is too hot or too dry. Ideally, only water when the first inch or so of soil is wet and keep in a cool room that has a little humidity, too.
Ruth Doherty is an experienced digital writer and editor specializing in interiors, travel and lifestyle. With 20 years of writing for national sites under her belt, she’s worked for the likes of Livingetc.com, Standard, Ideal Home, Stylist and Marie Claire as well as Homes & Gardens.
How to make the Decembrist bloom?
A plant with the unusual name of Schlumberger, known to many as “Christmas”, “Decembrist” or “Varvarina Spit”, lives up to 100 years and does not like to be touched during the flowering period.
Anna Zalesskaya
Schlumbergera belongs to the Cactus family. The plant comes from the shady humid forests of Brazil, where the peak of flowering occurs in the summer corresponding to our calendar winter. Flowering in December-February is natural for the plant. With proper care, it can live for several decades, the main thing is to know some features. nine0003
Decembrist flowers can be not only bright pink. There are dark red, purple, pale pink and white varieties.
How to plant and propagate the Decembrist?
The first time the Schlumberger should not be transplanted, it is better to leave it in the same planter. If you still decide to transplant, then the pot should be chosen a little larger than the previous one (for example, 2 cm larger in diameter). If you transplant a flower immediately into a large pot, it will grow roots for a long time and there will be no flowers.
Transplantation is best done no more than once every two years. Like any plant, the Decembrist needs good drainage, so make sure the pot has drainage holes. The flower is good because it can be propagated by cuttings, so it is enough to ask a friend for a couple of branches. This should be done in early spring. At this time, the flowers are cut to form a lush and symmetrical crown. nine0003
When the branches become too long and begin to sag because the plant cannot support its own weight, they can be plucked at the junction of two branches, dried, and then planted in moist soil. In a few weeks, the plant will take root, but you need to make sure that the soil does not dry out, and that the pot with the plant is in the bright sun. Some owners of the Decembrists believe that it is impossible to cut plant segments with a knife, they need to be broken off or unscrewed.
How to care for a Christmas cactus?
In winter, the Decembrist cannot be illuminated, the guarantee of lush flowering is a short daylight hours.
The Decembrist loves light, but direct sunlight should not fall on him. At the time of flowering, he needs to provide diffused lighting (the window can be curtained with a curtain). Also, the plant loves moisture very much, so every two or three days the Schlumberger needs to be sprayed with a spray gun or keep a pan with water next to the plant.
Basal watering should not be heavy, but foliar spraying is important. It is better to use settled water, because. from frequent spraying, white stains may appear on the Decembrist. Another option: put the Decembrist on a tray with pebbles and moisten as needed or rinse the plant under a warm shower (but not during the flowering period). nine0003
Decembrist or poinsettia, which is more beautiful?
What should I do to make the Decembrist bloom?
Short daylight hours are the main condition for Decembrist flowering. In order for the buds to start, 5-6 weeks before flowering, the Christmas cactus needs to be in the dark for 12-14 hours, so it is better not to highlight it with artificial light.
Also, the plant does not like temperature differences, the optimum temperature for a flower should be no lower than 18 and no higher than 25 degrees.
From March to August, the plant is actively growing.
Schlumbergera does not like to be touched, from the moment the buds are formed until the end of flowering, the plant cannot be moved to a new place and it is advisable not to even turn the pot. Due to movement, the plant may drop flowers. The Decembrists usually feed with fertilizers for cacti or diluted 1: 2 with a balanced fertilizer for indoor plants, but this should be done only in spring and summer.
Pests and diseases to watch out for: soil midges and root rot.
How to make the Decembrist cactus bloom at home
The home flower, known as the Decembrist or Christmas tree (Schlumbergera), is popular for its unpretentiousness and decorative effect, it will perfectly fit into any interior.
The Decembrist is a cactus outwardly unusual, it has no thorns. The plant is beautiful when it blooms, and usually it blooms in winter, but it can bloom more than once a year.
Contents
- How to care for the Decembrist so that it blooms
- Dormant period at the flower
- Reasons why the Christmas tree did not bloom
- Diseases and pests that affect flowering
How to care for the Decembrist so that it blooms
A small plant or a large Christmas tree can grow - a lot depends on the variety and age of the flower. During flowering, multi-tiered flowers are formed on apical stems. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, they have different colors of petals, delight flower growers with a variety. Its life expectancy can last up to 20 years. nine0003
Caring for the zygocactus is simple, but it has some features, the knowledge of which allows you to enjoy a flowering plant all the time. What conditions are required for the Decembrist to bloom? It will tolerate a slight drought, poor lighting, but may refuse to bloom.
Taking into account the growth cycle of the plant, you can get its bright flowering.
To prevent direct sunlight from falling on the stems, the flower is placed on the east or west window sill, or placed in the back of the room, avoiding the southern window sills. The scorching sun's rays will burn the stems, the plant will start to get sick and will not be able to bloom. nine0003
Please note! Stems turn yellow from sunburn, dry up and fall off.
Drafts will also undermine the condition of the flower. The air around the plant should be stagnant. From drafts and a change of place, Christmas flowers will fall off.
The normal temperature for active growth and flowering is from 20 C to 25 C. For a dormant period, a room temperature of about 13-15 C is recommended. devices. It is an epiphyte that, in its habitat, in the tropics of southeastern Brazil, grows on the trunks and aerial roots of other plants.
The root system of epiphytes is poorly developed, but a network of aerial roots is well developed, which capture moisture from the air when soil moisture is insufficient. This distinctive feature allows them to survive. Dense stems of zygocactus have a supply of food and water. nine0003 Zygocactus does not bloom
Flower moisture can be maintained by regular watering and spraying with warm, soft water. The plant feels good outdoors, so in the summer it is better to take it out to the garden or to the balcony, choosing a place in the shade, protected from the wind.
Features of watering and fertilizing
Although the Decembrist is a moisture-loving plant, it is watered in much the same way as deciduous indoor flowers. Prolonged lack of moisture, combined with dry air, will damage the root system. A slightly dried up clod of earth is a signal that it is time to generously water the Christmas cactus. nine0003
Useful information! In early autumn, before bud formation, reduce watering to encourage flowering.
With the appearance of the first flowers, watering increases again. But they don’t flood the cactus, but always keep the soil moist in the pot until the end of flowering.
Christmas tree can grow in poor soil without nutrients, but this will not promote its development and bright flowering. Zygocacti are fertilized throughout the growing season with liquid mineral fertilizer containing potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Every two weeks, top dressing is added to the water for irrigation. Foliar top dressing is also carried out, adding fertilizers to the water for spraying. You can buy food for zygocactus in a specialized store. nine0003 Top dressing of zygocactus
Stop feeding the plant a month before flowering. Excess fertilizer can even harm him. During the dormant period, the Decembrist can completely do without them. Resume top dressing only at the end of spring.
Useful information! Zygocacti are very sensitive to large doses of fertilizers, so you should not overfeed them, especially during the dormant period.
Features of repotting
Mature plants are replanted after four or five years, at the end of February, after it has faded. During this period, the plant will adapt to the new pot, and use the time of active growth (these are the summer months) to good use. nine0003 Decembrist transplant
Choosing a cactus pot: the material doesn't matter, but the shape is important. A suitable container is wide, but not too deep. The roots of an epiphytic plant do not develop in depth, but in width.
Special potting mix can be purchased from the shop. Be sure to pour a drainage layer on a third of the volume of the pot. Culture transplantation is not a complicated procedure. After transplantation, the root system and stems are strengthened, as a result of which the Christmas tree will bloom more abundantly. nine0003
Looking after the cactus after flowering
After flowering is over, form the crown of the bush. Sanitary pruning can be carried out at any time of the year.
This simple event will help rejuvenate the plant and make it more attractive - ugly and affected stems are removed.
The cactus cannot be cut! Stem parts are easily separated by twisting. They cannot be torn off with force so as not to injure the plant. This procedure will not only improve the appearance of the plant, but will also promote growth and flowering. nine0003
Flower rest period
Having used all its strength to bloom in winter, the Christmas cactus should rest until April. To do this, you need to provide him with special conditions. The main thing is cool air not higher than 15 degrees and minimal watering.
Decembrist's dormant periodThe transition to the growth stage will begin at the end of March. The cactus will grow young shoots, on which buds will tie. By alternating periods of rest and flowering, a plant can be made to bloom repeatedly.
Reasons why the Christmas tree did not bloom
The Christmas cactus did not bud in November, and there will be no flowers for the holiday? Mistakes in caring.
- The flower did not have time to rest during the rest period after the previous flowering. The room temperature was higher than necessary, watering was plentiful and he did not have enough strength to form flower stalks. This pause must be maintained from September to October. At this time, the air temperature drops to 15-18 degrees, watering is reduced until buds form. With the advent of the first bud, the flowerpot is moved to a warm place, increasing watering. nine0052
- Frequent rearrangement of the pot from place to place. When a flower forms buds and blooms, it is not recommended to rearrange it or rotate the pot, the plant may drop buds.
- Lack of nutrients in the soil. By feeding the zygocactus, and it will be able to bloom.
Poor lighting and poor soil often cause them not to bloom. - Christmas tree does not respond well to dry and hot air from heating batteries: sluggish, wrinkled stems will report this problem. nine0052
- Stems turn yellow due to low humidity.
To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to water the flower in time and increase the humidity in the room.
Diseases and pests that affect flowering
Zygocactus is a perennial plant, so pests and diseases can affect it during its life. The plant should be inspected regularly. Having found pests, it is worth trying folk remedies: wash with soap and water, rinse with vodka, etc., and only then apply chemicals. nine0003
The most common cause of fungal diseases is waterlogging of the earthen clod and poor drainage. Fungal diseases are treated with fungicides, without waiting for the death of the plant.
Thanks to its branchy, drooping stems, the Decembrist can be cultivated as an ampelous plant in hanging pots. Having created suitable conditions for the plant, close to natural, it will delight with its flowering not only in winter, but also in summer. If there is a need for repeated flowering during the year, then after flowering the plant is transferred to a cool place to rest.
