How do you grow a Christmas cactus so its leaves are glossy green and it blooms profusely?
The shape where the stem segments of the Christmas cactus join is just like a crab's pincers, and because the stem segments are often too long, they take on a trailing form, so it is often used as a hanging plant decoration; the Christmas cactus blooms right during the Christmas and New Year period, making it a holiday flower very well suited to indoor care, and it is one of the main indoor potted flowers in winter.
The Christmas cactus's blooming period is concentrated from September to April of the following year, but its blooming period is affected by many factors, such as variety, region, environment, care and so on. It also needs plenty of attention in everyday care; only with proper care can the Christmas cactus produce more beautiful flowers.
1. Fertilizing
The Christmas cactus rather likes fertilizer. Before the blooming period, apply a decomposed liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer once every two weeks, and during the bud stage apply more 0.2% monopotassium phosphate solution; this can supplement the Christmas cactus with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and promote blooming. When fertilizing, be careful not to splash it onto the leaves, as this easily scorches them.
2. Light
The Christmas cactus should be placed in an indoor environment with plenty of scattered light. If the light is insufficient, the Christmas cactus will produce fewer flowers and fewer new branches. In autumn, give the Christmas cactus 8 hours of light, and the rest of the time do not let it see light; it is best to place it in a dark environment, as this can promote flower bud differentiation and bud formation.
3. Bud thinning
Generally, it is enough to keep one flower bud per stem segment on a Christmas cactus. If two appear, it is best to remove one, as this ensures balanced nutrients for the flower buds at each terminal segment and makes the Christmas cactus's flowers fuller and more beautiful.
4. Pruning
After the Christmas cactus has finished blooming, promptly prune off the spent flowers; if they are left on, they will just waste nutrients for nothing. Count three or four stem segments down from the flowering point and cut there, and that is enough; this lets it keep its nutrients to produce the next round of blooms.