What should you do when a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) won't grow flower buds, drops its buds, and is slow to bloom?
Why isn't the Christmas cactus kept at home growing flower buds? Looking at the Christmas cactuses other gardening friends keep at home, they have lots of flower buds. After finally growing some, the Christmas cactus drops its buds and is slow to bloom - what should you do? Let's take a look below at the reasons affecting the Christmas cactus's failure to grow flower buds and the ways to save it.
What should you do if the Christmas cactus won't grow flower buds
1. Unreasonable lighting
The Christmas cactus is a short-day plant. Generally, under conditions of 8-10 hours of sunlight per day, it can bloom in 2-3 months. As for the Christmas cactus's light requirements, generally when the Christmas cactus is in its blooming period, you must ensure eight hours of light per day. If the light is too weak, the Christmas cactus will not grow flower buds
During the Christmas cactus's blooming period, it absolutely must not be too shaded. It is recommended to move the Christmas cactus to a place with good light. Generally, only the intense light of summer, from noon to just after two in the afternoon, needs to be avoided; in the other seasons it can be placed outside to receive full-day sunlight.
2. Lack of nutrients
When flower buds open, a lot of nutrients are needed to support them, so sometimes the nutrients in the soil are not enough. The nutrients they draw from the soil are insufficient for blooming, so some fertilizer needs to be applied. At this time, if no fertilizer is added, it can also lead to a failure to bloom.
Apply an appropriate amount of fertilizer containing high amounts of the K element and P element to solve the problem of insufficient nutrient supply.
3. Unreasonable temperature
This plant, the Christmas cactus, likes to be relatively warm. When we grow it, if the temperature is too low, it is very hard for it to produce flower buds. At the same time, the temperature must not be too high either, otherwise it is unfavorable for the plant to grow flower buds. What should you do
Keep the temperature between 15 and 25 degrees; at the very most it must not exceed 30 degrees, and at the lowest it must not be below ten degrees.
The Christmas cactus drops its flower buds and is slow to bloom - what should you do?
1. Keep the room temperature at a minimum of 18 degrees
The room temperature must be kept above 18 degrees. If the temperature is too low, the Christmas cactus will not bloom easily, and being frozen will cause it to drop flower buds.
2. Remove the weaker flower buds
If the Christmas cactus has grown flower buds but does not bloom, it may be because there are too many flower buds and the nutrient supply is insufficient. It should be pruned appropriately, cutting off the weaker-growing flower buds; keeping one flower bud per flowering branch is enough.
3. Fertilizing
Replenish the Christmas cactus's nutrients in time. During the bud stage, you can spray an appropriate amount of potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, spraying once every 7 days to promote blooming. After it blooms, do not spray any more.
4. Fix the position
Do not frequently move its placement position. Putting it on the balcony or in the living room is fine.