How to grow potted Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) in the latest guide?

Christmas cactus is also known as Christmas cactus, "Jinshang Tianhua" (adding beauty to beauty), crab orchid, etc. It is an epiphytic succulent plant of the Cactaceae family and the genus Schlumbergera. It is commonly cultivated in parks and flower nurseries across our country, and is often grafted onto Hylocereus undatus or other rootstocks to obtain vigorous plants. Potted cultivation is suitable for decorating windowsills, entranceways and exhibition halls. Now let us take a look at how to grow potted Christmas cactus!

Growth habits of Christmas cactus

Christmas cactus is native to Brazil in South America, and is commonly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It likes a cool, warm environment, is relatively drought-tolerant, fears the high heat of summer, and is relatively shade-tolerant. The optimum growth temperature is 20-25°C, and the temperature during the dormant period is around 15°C. It likes a loose substrate rich in organic matter with good drainage and aeration. Christmas cactus is a short-day plant. Under conditions of 8-10 hours of sunlight per day, it can bloom in 2-3 months, and the flowering period can be regulated by controlling light.

Propagation methods of Christmas cactus

1. Cuttings: Select healthy, plump stem segments, cut off 1-2 segments, place them in a cool place for 2-3 days, and after the cut surface is slightly dry, insert them into a sand bed. The substrate is peat and sand at a ratio of 4:1, and the bed temperature is 15-20°C. The humidity of the bed should not be too high, so as to avoid the cut surface becoming too wet and rotting. Roots begin to form 2-3 weeks after insertion, and they can be potted after 4 weeks.

2. Grafting: Often carried out in May-June and September-October. The rootstocks used are Hylocereus undatus and Pereskia. For those requiring large-pot cultivation, Opuntia ficus-indica is chosen. The scions should be selected from healthy stem segments of the current year. Generally, one rootstock can take 3 scions. After grafting, place in a semi-shaded area for care and maintain relatively high air humidity. If the scions remain fresh and firm within 10 days after grafting, they have healed and survived, and careful care is needed. After 1 month, the successfully grafted plants can be transferred to normal management.

3. Sowing: Christmas cactus needs artificial pollination before it can set fruit. Indoor pot sowing is often used. The optimum germination temperature is 22-24°C. The sowing substrate is a mixed soil of peat, leaf mold and coarse sand, and high-temperature disinfection is required before sowing. After sowing the Christmas cactus seeds, cover the pot opening with glass to maintain the moisture of the potting soil. They germinate 5-9 days after sowing. The seedlings grow slowly and should be managed carefully.

How to grow potted Christmas cactus?

1. Potting: When potting small seedlings, first place 1-2 cm thick broken tiles or clay pebbles at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, then sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as base fertilizer, about 1-2 cm thick. Then cover with a layer of soil, which can be a relatively fertile mixed soil of leaf mold, peat and coarse sand. The pH should be maintained between pH 5.5 and 6.5. Then place the plant in, keeping the fertilizer separate from the root system to avoid burning the roots. After potting, water once thoroughly and place in a slightly shaded environment for one week of care.

2. Watering: Watering should vary with the seasons. Although winter is the growing season, due to low temperatures, watering should not be excessive; just keep the potting soil moist, generally watering once every 4-5 days. In summer, temperatures are high. Although shaded, the potting soil still dries easily, so water generally once every 1-2 days. In summer, you can often spray water on the leaves, which can both prevent heat and lower temperature and help the plant grow well. In spring and autumn, water once every 2-3 days.

3. Fertilizing: Fertilizing is mainly carried out in September-October before flowering and April-June after flowering, applying decomposed human waste and cake fertilizer water once every 10 days. Spring fertilizing is to promote more branches and leaves, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer. Fertilizing is not suitable in summer, otherwise it easily causes rot. Autumn fertilizing is mainly with phosphorus fertilizer, which can promote flower bud differentiation. Stop watering before fertilizing to make the potting soil dry, for better effect. Never use strong chemical fertilizers.

4. Temperature: The optimum growth temperature for Christmas cactus is 15-25°C. In summer, it needs shade and shelter from rain, and is best placed on a well-ventilated windowsill or under the eaves of a corridor. After autumn, it can be moved indoors to a sunny place for cultivation. In winter, maintaining the temperature at 15°C is better. Below 5°C, growth is poor and it may even suffer freezing damage. On clear days, let it receive sunlight. On severely cold nights, a large plastic bag can be used to cover the plant to prevent freezing damage.

5. Light: Christmas cactus likes light and is also quite shade-tolerant. It does not have high light requirements, and indoor light can maintain its normal growth. In summer, be sure to prevent direct sunlight, otherwise it will cause great damage. In other seasons, as long as it is placed in a bright place such as near a window, it can grow very well. After flowering, place it in a cool place to prolong the viewing period of the flowers.

6. Pruning: Christmas cactus grows relatively quickly. Generally, after 3-5 years of cultivation, its crown width can reach more than 50 cm. In order to control the plant shape, usually in spring, attention should be paid to cutting back the stem segments, and at the same time removing weak or overly dense stem segments. After thinning and cutting back, the new stems that grow out will be greener and more robust.

6. Pests and diseases: Usually pay attention to ventilation and light transmission, create a relatively dry micro-environment, and when necessary use chemicals for control, such as thiophanate-methyl 800 times solution or copper hydroxide 1000 times solution, spraying once every 7-10 days. If scale insects are found, spray fenvalerate 4000-5000 times solution once about every 7 days.

Precautions for Christmas cactus

1. Christmas cactus has a dormant period after flowering. At this time, keep the potting soil slightly dry. After dormancy, when new buds grow at the tips of the stem segments, normal watering management can resume.

2. Christmas cactus avoids scorching sun exposure, because direct scorching sun will burn the plant, causing the stems and leaves to yellow and fall off or even die. Therefore, shading is necessary in summer.

3. Christmas cactus likes semi-shade. In spring, it is suitable to place it indoors in a sunny spot or on a balcony for cultivation, and pay attention to proper ventilation.