Do these 3 things for your Christmas cactus and it will bloom abundantly and brilliantly
Christmas cactus usually starts to show buds around mid-October. But if you want your Christmas cactus to bud and bloom, you need to master the right methods. Here we introduce the methods for you!
(1) Adjust light and temperature
Christmas cactus is a short-day plant and needs at least 8 hours of light per day, with the temperature kept at around 20°C. Maintain this light and temperature, and the plant will show buds in just over 20 days. From September onward, it needs to be kept on a balcony or windowsill with plenty of light, while also taking care to control the temperature appropriately. When moved indoors for winter, it should also be placed in a spot with plenty of light, keeping the temperature at around 20°C and no lower than 15°C, as this is what favors bud formation.
If you want the flowering period to come earlier, in time for National Day, carry out shading treatment at the end of July and the beginning of August, blocking out light from 4 pm each day until 8 am the next morning. To delay the flowering period, you can place a Christmas cactus whose buds have already shown color in an environment of around 5°C; it will enter a semi-dormant state, slowing the opening of the buds and extending the Christmas cactus flowering period by about 15 days.
(2) Strengthen fertilizer and water management
Flowering requires nutrients and water, so increase fertilization and keep up sufficient moisture. When watering, keep the potting soil slightly moist, and water after the surface soil looks dry. You can alternate light and heavy waterings; do not keep watering heavily. Let the soil dry out and then water thoroughly 2 to 3 times a month. In clear, warm weather, increase misting appropriately to create a humid environment.
For fertilization, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. You can use fully rotted chicken manure and pigeon manure and other fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium, applying light fertilizer frequently, once every 3 to 5 days when watering. Be sure not to apply concentrated fertilizer.
(3) Prune new stem segments in time
During the bud-forming period of the Christmas cactus, if you find new stem segments growing, you need to pinch them off in time, and pinch off the small young stem segments as well, to avoid consuming nutrients and to keep nutrients available for the buds; otherwise, bud formation will be delayed and the number of flowers will be affected.