How to Repot a Christmas Cactus? Detailed Methods and Steps
The Christmas cactus is a sun-loving, drought-tolerant potted plant. It is an epiphytic succulent plant of the genus Schlumbergera in the cactus family (Cactaceae). It is not as delicate as other flowers and plants, and is relatively easy to grow. However, during the cultivation of the Christmas cactus, if the original flower pot is too small to meet the growth needs of the Christmas cactus and the potting soil has become poor, it is time to consider repotting. Let us take a look below at how to repot a Christmas cactus!
When to Repot a Christmas Cactus
Christmas cacti are divided according to how early or late they bloom into early-blooming, mid-blooming and late-blooming varieties, with the flowering period running from September to April of the following year. Repotting should be chosen after the Christmas cactus has finished blooming, because the Christmas cactus is especially sensitive during its flowering period and should not be moved, watered or fertilized easily. It is best to do it from April to October after the flowering period, when repotting will not affect the flowering period.
How to Repot a Christmas Cactus?
1. Pot selection: Before repotting a Christmas cactus, you need to first observe the plant's growth condition to determine the right pot to choose. The pot can be a clay pot, plastic pot, porcelain pot or ceramic pot, but a clay pot is preferable. A pot with a diameter about 2/3 of the plant's crown diameter is suitable for cultivation.
2. Apply sufficient base fertilizer: When repotting a Christmas cactus, first add sandy loam soil to the new flower pot and apply base fertilizer well. Fermented organic fertilizer, bone meal or superphosphate can be used as base fertilizer, and mixing in a small amount of plant ash can make the PH value neutral.
3. Repotting method: Use a soil-loosening tool to move the Christmas cactus from the original flower pot into the new flower pot. After repotting, only a small amount of water is needed. Once it grows new leaves, gradually increase the amount of watering, and at the same time move it to a place with light and good ventilation.
How to Grow a Christmas Cactus?
1. Soil mix: The Christmas cactus likes fertile, loose soil. At home you can use 3 parts garden soil, 4 parts leaf mold, 3 parts sand, or 4 parts peat soil, 2 parts leaf mold, 2 parts sand, 2 parts perlite (or volcanic rock). After mixing the soil, it is best to sterilize it at high temperature before use, or you can expose it to the sun to sterilize it.
2. Reasonable watering: The Christmas cactus is an epiphytic type of cactus. In its natural environment it often grows epiphytically on trees or in moist valleys, so the cultivation environment requires semi-shade and moisture, but the potting soil must not be too wet. Follow the principle of “water thoroughly when dry”. In hot seasons, water once every 2 to 3 days, and avoid watering at noon. In winter, when the temperature is lower, water once a week, and avoid watering in the evening.
3. Timely fertilizing: The Christmas cactus likes fertilizer. When fertilizer is sufficient, there are more branches and more flowers. Start topdressing after the leaf buds sprout. During the growing season, apply once every 15 to 20 days a topdressing of thoroughly decomposed 10-times liquid fertilizer mixed with an equal amount of 1000-times potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution or 1000-times “Huaduoduo” general-purpose fertilizer. In late autumn, the number of fertilizations should be reduced, and fertilizing should stop when the temperature is below 10°C. Do not fertilize when the summer temperature is high or the winter temperature is low.
4. Light control: The Christmas cactus fears hot, high temperatures and should avoid exposure to the sun and rain, so in summer it should be placed in a ventilated indoor spot or on a balcony facing away from the sun. After the Start of Autumn, the Christmas cactus gradually recovers its growth, and should be placed in a spot that receives 50% light, such as a shade shed or a sunny window, to receive light and promote flower bud differentiation. As the weather turns cooler, gradually increase the light, and from late autumn to winter it should be given sufficient light.
5. Flowering regulation: The Christmas cactus is a short-day plant, and the purpose of controlling the flowering period can be achieved by regulating the light duration. To force flowering, begin short-day treatment 60 to 70 days before the desired flowering time, with 8 hours of natural light per day and shading treatment for the rest of the time. The shading must be continuous and must not be interrupted. Generally, flower buds can be seen after 20 days.