How to Make a Succulent Crab Claw Orchid and Tips for Caring for a Small Crab Claw Orchid
Let me talk about how to grow the succulent Crab Claw Orchid (Schlumbergera truncata), because this kind of plant can also be made by yourself. Its flower meaning is "fortune arrives, fate turns around," and it seems to represent that people can have good luck, so giving it to your own relatives and elders is also very meaningful, especially since its flower meaning is "turning one's luck around," so it can bring much good fortune to the person receiving it.
Having said so much, actually, the Crab Claw Orchid itself is also very beautiful. It belongs to the cactus family, and its origin is in Western Christian countries. It blooms at Christmas time in Christianity, so it is also called the Christmas Cactus. And why is it called this name? As the name suggests, the shape where its leaves connect is just like a crab's claw, so it is called Crab Claw Orchid. Now that you have some understanding of it, next let me talk about how to grow this kind of plant.
For the growing method of this kind of plant, actually, it is the same as for many succulents in many respects. First, we should start with its soil. Its soil requirement is that it should be highly breathable, with particularly strong water retention and drainage, and especially the soil pH must be between 5.5 and 6.5. As for soil breathability, how should we achieve it? For the soil, choose a relatively ordinary, somewhat fertile soil, mix in some vermiculite, or peat, or coarse sand, and mix it with the soil, and then it can have sufficient breathability, water retention and drainage. This can keep the plant's roots from rotting easily and can be very beneficial to its growth.
Next, let me talk about its growing environment. As for the growing environment, this kind of plant likes semi-shaded and semi-humid places, especially in summer, because the sun is closest to the earth in summer, so the ultraviolet radiation in summer is also the strongest. So if it is exposed to sunlight for a long time in summer, the ultraviolet rays will sunburn its branches, which will also cause the plant to decline. Therefore, in summer, avoid direct sunlight. Also, summer rainstorms are very strong. Summer rainstorms come in bursts, some like heavy downpours, and their force is also very strong. If it is exposed to heavy rainstorms, it will harm its branches and stems and also make the plant unfavorable for growth. Especially in winter, it needs a warm environment and sufficient sunlight, because in winter the sun is very far from the earth, so the ultraviolet intensity of sunlight is not particularly strong either. Therefore, in winter, we must both ensure a warm environment and ensure sufficient sunlight.
The most suitable temperature environment for its growing period is between 18 and 23 degrees, and the flowering temperature is also best between 10 and 15 degrees. The winter temperature should preferably not be lower than 10 degrees, because if it is too low, since it belongs to the cactus family, it has certain temperature requirements. If it is lower than this temperature, it will be unfavorable for its growth and may even enter a dormant period. Moreover, plants like the Crab Claw Orchid belong to short-day plants, so when we are at work, it is best not to put it outside the window, because our work takes a whole day. If we take it out in the morning and bring it back in the evening, then it receives too much sunlight. So only when we rest, when we are resting, take it out, take it out in the morning and bring it back at noon, and that is fine. Or in winter, place it beside the window so that part of it receives sunlight, and that is also fine.
Actually, for plant growing, watering is also a skill, because if you water too much, it will cause its roots to rot and may even cause the plant to die directly. So watering is also a particularly important topic. So as for the Crab Claw Orchid, if it is in a state of water shortage, it will not die so easily, but in a state of water accumulation, it is very easy for it to die. Therefore, when watering the Crab Claw Orchid, it is essential to prefer going without rather than overdoing it. Do not, just because you especially like it and want it to grow quickly, water it desperately; that would instead be like pulling up seedlings to help them grow.
Whether you are watering the Crab Claw Orchid or watering other succulents, because most succulents belong to the cactus family, their demand for water is not very great. So when we grow this kind of plant, we can follow this rule: prefer going without rather than overdoing it. Do not water it too much; even if it is a little dry, it will not die easily.