Christmas cactus leaves going soft after the start of autumn? Know these 2 points and it will grow like crazy

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is an epiphytic succulent of the Cactaceae family, shrub-like, with hanging stems, many branches and no spines, and flowers borne singly at the tips of the branches. It has high ornamental value and is deeply loved by many flower growers.

After the start of autumn, as the weather turns cooler, the Christmas cactus also slowly resumes growth, but some flower growers report that their Christmas cactus has had badly soft and weak leaves ever since autumn began. What is going on? You need to know these 2 points well, and it will grow like crazy, standing straight and upright!

Point 1: soft leaves caused by lack of water. Point 2: soft leaves caused by root rot, which in severe cases leads directly to death. So you must first determine which cause is making your Christmas cactus's leaves soft and weak.

For plants that were already somewhat soft in summer and simply became more severely soft in autumn, this situation is fairly easy to solve. It is caused by lack of water, and the plant only needs to absorb enough water to resume growth. But remember, do not pour water directly on the crown and let it take in too much water all at once; water slowly so it can recover gradually, then place it in a well-ventilated spot and mist the stems and leaves 1-2 times a day to increase humidity. This will make its leaves straight and upright, emerald green and glossy.

For soft and weak leaves caused by rotted roots, in most cases this is caused by overwatering or excess fertilizer. You must immediately repot the Christmas cactus, cut away the rotted roots, and also trim the stems and leaves appropriately, so it can root faster. After pruning, soak it in carbendazim for about 10 minutes, then place it in a cool, shady spot to dry before potting it up.

And if you want the Christmas cactus to root quickly and its leaves to recover, you should water it with "Pulse water". The "Pulse water" mentioned here is an aspirin solution. Aspirin contains salicylic acid and other substances that can promote root growth and sprouting in the Christmas cactus, help it recover quickly, and quickly form buds and bloom. Aspirin also has the function of protecting the root system.

Specific steps: dissolve one aspirin tablet in 1L of clean water, crush it into powder and stir it thoroughly with the clean water, then pour it into the potting soil. Water with it about once every 7 days, and 2-3 consecutive waterings are enough.

That is all for the care of the Christmas cactus. If you have anything else to add, feel free to share it with everyone in the comments section below. To learn more about growing flowers, you can follow Huajianke!