How to Grow a Christmas Cactus? Detailed Guide to the Latest Care Methods

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is an ornamental plant in the cactus family. Its stems look very similar to those of a cactus, but its surface has no spines. It is a new type of plant introduced into China from Brazil, and it is cultivated all over the country. It was originally planted mostly in national parks and similar places, but changes in market demand have led to the appearance of many Christmas cactus growers, who specialize in growing Christmas cacti to make a profit. So how should a Christmas cactus be grown? Let's learn about its cultivation methods below.

1. Growing Environment

The Christmas cactus is suited to living in a warm, humid environment. It needs some light, but the light must not be too strong, so the planting site is generally in a semi-shaded area. The Christmas cactus is extremely intolerant of cold; its minimum growing temperature must not be lower than ten degrees, and the temperature suitable for its growth is generally between twenty and twenty-five degrees. The soil at the planting site should be rich in fertility, rich in organic matter, and have strong drainage and air permeability. Note that careful and meticulous cultivation is needed; an appropriate amount of peat, coarse sand and sufficient fully decomposed organic fertilizer should be spread into the soil and mixed evenly.

2. Propagation Methods

There are mainly two methods of propagating the Christmas cactus, namely cuttings and grafting. Grafting is best done from the end of March to the middle of June each year, or from the middle of September to the middle of October. The grafting time is generally chosen in the morning, and the grafting medium is best a cactus, in which case the survival rate is as high as about ninety-five percent. Cutting propagation is generally chosen in spring each year, so that the survival rate can be well guaranteed.

3. Care and Management

The care and management of the Christmas cactus are very critical. Care and management mainly include watering, fertilizing, weeding, light and temperature, and so on. Chemical fertilizers must not be used on the Christmas cactus, so later topdressing can only use organic fertilizer or farmyard manure. The amount of fertilizer should not be too large, as too much will cause the plant to die. After planting, we must not water immediately; we can only water after the graft union has healed. The field humidity should be kept between fifty and sixty percent. Water must not be excessive, otherwise it will cause root rot. Generally, the water demand is greatest only during the flowering period, and at that time the water supply can be appropriately increased. Fertilizing needs to be decided according to the growth condition of the Christmas cactus. If the Christmas cactus is rather thin and weak and malnourished, then topdressing fertilizer is needed.

4. Building Supports

When the Christmas cactus grows to a certain height, a support frame needs to be built to support its growth, because its stem cannot carry such a heavy weight. Without the support of a frame, it will break or fall over, affecting its economic value and ornamental value. Moreover, building a support frame can also enhance the air permeability in the field, which is conducive to bud formation and flowering, so we generally wait until the Christmas cactus grows to about thirty centimeters, and then we can start building a support frame.

5. Pruning and Shaping

When flower farmers grow Christmas cacti, they prune them at the appropriate time, so that they can be pruned into shapes they find attractive. This can attract consumers' attention, thereby increasing purchasing power, and can also immediately raise its economic value. Secondly, pruning is also for the benefit of the Christmas cactus's growth. If pruning is not carried out, then nutrients cannot be supplied adequately, which will cause malnutrition, prevent flowering, and even lead to a gradual withering. So when farmers grow them, they often prune and trim in the flower field.

6. Pest and Disease Control

The most common diseases of the Christmas cactus include anthracnose, rot and wilt. Their main harm is to the leaves and stems of the Christmas cactus, and the peak period of disease onset is generally during the high-temperature, rainy summer. In the early stage of disease onset, carbendazim can be used for control, but in severe cases the diseased plants need to be pulled up and burned, and the planting site must be disinfected and sterilized so as not to affect the growth of other healthy plants. The most serious pest is the scale insect. In the early stage of infestation, the parts damaged by scale insects can simply be cut off, but in severe cases, imidophos emulsifiable concentrate is needed for spraying and killing. Finally, there are also pests such as red spider mites and moth larvae, which can be controlled with omethoate.

At present, the Christmas cactus is also a relatively common flower crop on the market, and it is also a planting project that many flower farmers are quite enthusiastic about. However, many people still encounter many problems when growing Christmas cacti, and most of the reasons are that care and management and later-stage management have not been done properly. So everyone needs to pay more attention when growing them in the future. That's all for today's sharing; I hope it can be helpful to everyone.