How to Grow a Christmas Cactus? Care Methods and Precautions
The Christmas cactus is also called crab claw lotus or crab claw orchid. Its flowers are very beautiful and its flowering period is long, from October to February of the following year, making it an ornamental plant. So, how do you grow a Christmas cactus?
1. Soil
The potting soil should be loose, fertile, well-draining, and slightly acidic. First place a layer of fine sand at the bottom of the pot to help with drainage.
2. Temperature
The suitable growing temperature for the Christmas cactus is around 20-25°C. Above 30°C, it enters a semi-dormant state. In winter, keep the room temperature at around 15°C. Below 10°C, sudden temperature changes and large temperature differences can cause flowers and buds to drop. During the flowering period, a temperature of 10-15°C is best, and the plant should be moved to a spot with indirect light to prolong the viewing period.
3. Light
The Christmas cactus is a short-day plant. Under conditions of 8-10 hours of sunlight per day, it can bloom in 2-3 months. The flowering period can be adjusted by controlling light.
4. Water
Follow the principle of “do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when you do.” Water sparingly and avoid rain exposure to prevent root rot. You can spray water on the plant and the ground near it to increase air humidity and lower the temperature.
5. Repotting
The Christmas cactus is generally repotted once every other year in March-April. When repotting, thin out weak and overcrowded branches, and cut them back moderately to encourage the growth of vigorous new shoots and abundant flowering.
6. Pruning
After the flowers fade in spring, promptly cut back to 3-4 stem segments below the spent flowers. At the same time, thin out some old stems and overly dense stem segments to improve ventilation and make home care easier. During cultivation of the Christmas cactus, sometimes 4-5 new shoots grow from the top of a single segment, and 1-2 should be removed promptly. If too many small weak flower buds grow on the stem segments, some should also be picked off to help the flowers be uniform in size and bloom vigorously. For plants that have been grown for 3-5 years, 3-4 thick galvanized wires can be used as supports, inserted into the soil along the pot wall, with the upper part tied into 2-3 layers of circular supports. Tie the stem branches to the rings to avoid stem segments overlapping and becoming messy. At the same time, remove some uneven stem segments so the plant takes on an umbrella shape. This is beneficial for photosynthesis and for display and viewing.
Because the Christmas cactus has overly long stem segments and a trailing form, it is also often made into a hanging plant for decoration. Its flowering coincides with Christmas and New Year's Day. With its trailing form, it is suitable for decorating windowsills, entranceways, and exhibition halls.