This is how to care for a mail-order Christmas cactus so it actually thrives
Yesterday a fellow plant lover left Chengcheng a message asking how to care for a Christmas cactus bought online. Chengcheng's answer: after a mail-order Christmas cactus arrives in your hands, there are a few things you need to pay attentionto!
One,Don't rush to pot it up! For Christmas cacti bought online, sellers usually ship them with soil around the roots to keep the roots from drying out. Once you receive it, don't touch that soil. First place it in a cool, airy spot with bright indirect light, and wait two or three days until its leaves perk up before potting it up!
Two,In the soil for planting a Christmas cactus, granular material should make up more than half, so as to ensure loose, airy soil to the greatest extent and lay a good foundation for later care!
You can use 50% coir and mix it with 50% coarse river sand. Mixed this way, the coir is very airy and also holds some nutrients, while the coarse river sand ensures very good drainage. With this soil mix for growing a Christmas cactus, you could grow it for 10 years without any root rot problems!
Three,Once the seedling has settled in and the soil is mixed, next comes potting it up! When potting, to minimize damage to its roots, it's best not to remove the original soil around them. Only add new soil; don't remove the old soil!
Because removing the soil wrapped around its roots will inevitably cause more or less damage to the root system. A newly bought Christmas cactus already has rather weak roots, and if the roots are damaged at this stage, it's very hard for them to recover!
In addition, line the bottom of the pot with some foam or bricks to prevent water from collecting there later. After planting, press the soil down firmly with your hands so the roots and soil make closer contact, which will help it root better!
A newly bought Christmas cactus cared for this way will settle into its pot quickly and then grow especially fast!
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