What is the best base fertilizer for Christmas cactus? Analysis of the latest fertilizer selection methods

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is a flowering plant that quite likes fertilizer; after all, it stays evergreen all year round, and as long as the growing environment is suitable, it will keep growing, so it will keep consuming nutrients. But at the same time, it is also a succulent plant, so it has the characteristic of not tolerating heavy fertilization.

For a Christmas cactus grown as a potted plant, it generally needs to be repotted once every 1-2 years, and it is best to repot it regularly. This is mainly to solve the problems of insufficient nutrients in the pot and compacted potting soil that affect the penetration of water and fertilizer.

For flowering plants, there are many fertilizers that can be used as base fertilizer, including both special fertilizers and homemade fertilizers. But different flowering plants do not have exactly the same requirements for base fertilizer. For an evergreen plant like the Christmas cactus, since it likes fertilizer but does not tolerate it, the choice of fertilizer needs to be targeted, and the amount used also needs to be controlled.

When potting up the Christmas cactus, in addition to preparing loose and fertile potting soil for it, it is recommended to also apply enough base fertilizer in the pot, so that the nutrients in the pot will be more sufficient. After the plant successfully recovers from transplanting and becomes established, it can absorb the nutrients needed for growth from the soil.

If applying base fertilizer to the Christmas cactus, it is generally best to use organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizer not only has a mild effect, but its fertility is also long-lasting, and it can also improve the soil quality, making the potting soil looser and more breathable. But when applying organic fertilizer, it must be fully fermented and decomposed before use.

Using decomposed organic fertilizer as base fertilizer is safer for a succulent plant like the Christmas cactus. This is because decomposed organic fertilizer will not continue to ferment in the pot and release a large amount of heat, so it can prevent the plant's roots from being burned.

Of course, we can also apply bone meal or superphosphate, or use a little all-element compound fertilizer, mainly with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium elements, with other nutrient elements as a supplement. But when using this kind of fertilizer, the amount must be well controlled; generally, mixing in just over 10 granules into the soil is enough. Applying base fertilizer this way is often both effective and relatively safe.