Do these two things for your Christmas cactus in autumn, and its leaves will be lush green and it will burst into bloom
Christmas cactus blooms are bright and colorful, with abundant flowers, very beautiful. But some flower growers say that in early autumn and late summer, the leaves of the Christmas cactus turn yellow, and some become soft and grow rather spindly,When growing a Christmas cactus, do these two things well, and the leaves will grow much greener, and it will burst into bloom!
When Christmas cactus leaves turn yellow, there must be some reasons. From summer all the way to the current autumn, the temperature is relatively high. The Christmas cactus belongs to the Cactaceae family as an epiphytic succulent plant, and it prefers a cool environment. In summer the sunlight is intense, so it needs to be placed in a shaded spot, otherwise the scorching sun will cause the leaves to turn yellow. Placed under a shade canopy, or next to other larger flowers and plants, in a semi-shaded spot, its leaf color will also be more emerald green, plump and attractive.
Summer is the dormant period for the Christmas cactus. At this time do not fertilize, as fertilizing will cause fertilizer damage, leading to root burn and yellowing leaves. Under high summer temperatures, just water the Christmas cactus lightly, keeping the soil slightly moist. If there is too much water, the leaves will turn yellow. Check whether the soil is very compacted and lacking nutrients, and improve the soil's aeration and drainage. Now that it is autumn, you can repot the Christmas cactus, using a mix of leaf mold, peat soil, and vermiculite, which is better.
When autumn arrives and the temperature drops, it enters the growing period. At this time you can also fertilize the Christmas cactus. You can use decomposed cake fertilizer, soybean residue fertilizer, or chicken manure fertilizer, diluted with water and poured on. At the same time keep the water adequate, as too little water will also cause the leaves to turn yellow. Only with sufficient water and fertilizer will the Christmas cactus grow more new leaves, and only later will it bloom more.
A lack of fertilizer or a lack of a certain element can also cause leaves to turn yellow. So when fertilizing, nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer, and potassium fertilizer all need to be taken into account. You can pour on some nutrient solution, but do not use chemical fertilizers, as they easily burn the roots. If the Christmas cactus has pests or diseases, it will also easily have yellow leaves, and you can spray some carbendazim or similar. In autumn, promptly pinch the tips of the Christmas cactus to encourage more branches to grow. This way it will also bloom especially abundantly, with vivid colors, bursting into bloom, very beautiful!