How to care for Christmas cactus in autumn? 4 tips to make buds explode

The blooming period of the Christmas cactus is from October to February of the following year. From now on, you need to master the care techniques for the Christmas cactus so the plant can bloom all over the pot. Below are 4 tips for caring for the Christmas cactus in autumn!

(1). Moderate light and temperature:

The Christmas cactus likes a warm and well-ventilated environment, so in the early part of autumn it needs plenty of light, but strong light must also be avoided to prevent sunburn. After Frost's Descent, the temperature will drop, so it needs to be moved indoors promptly for care, which can prevent the plant from freezing. The temperature must be controlled well; generally, when the temperature is below 6°C or above 20°C, it will affect the plant's growth and blooming. Therefore, the proper temperature needs to be controlled so the plant can bloom all over the pot.

(2). Reasonable fertilizing:

The Christmas cactus needs reasonable fertilizing for the plant to bloom, especially during the blooming period, when fertilizing must be controlled well. September to October before blooming is the key period for flower bud differentiation in the Christmas cactus, so at this time fertilizing should focus on phosphorus fertilizer while nitrogen fertilizer should be controlled. A 20% cake fertilizer solution can be used, with a top dressing once every week; fertilizing in this way promotes flower bud formation.

During the bud-setting period of the Christmas cactus, ensure sufficient water, with fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and reduce or omit nitrogen fertilizer. Apply once a thin fertilizer solution such as fully decomposed chicken manure and bone meal. Combine with watering so the plant fully absorbs nutrients.

After the blooming period, a diluted liquid fertilizer can be applied once every 10 days, which can ensure continuous blooming.

(3). Proper watering:

The Christmas cactus likes a moist environment. Watering should be based on how dry the potting soil is; water again only when the potting soil is found to be dry. After autumn, when the temperature is still on the high side, water once a day. In other situations, water once every 2~3 days to keep the potting soil moist. After the Christmas cactus sets buds, keep watering to maintain moisture, and never use too much or too little water, as this will affect blooming and cause bud drop.

(4). Proper bud thinning:

In mid-to-late October, buds generally begin to form. If there are 2~3 buds at the tip of a stem segment, bud thinning can be done by removing the excess buds and keeping the largest one; the young stem at the tip should also be removed promptly to prevent the buds from wilting due to insufficient nutrients.