how to care for a christmas cactus uk

However keep it away from direct sunlight. When the Christmas cactus flower buds start to form increase the light exposure and the temperature around 20 C.

How To Grow And Care For Holiday Cactus Christmas Cactus

Dont overwater because Christmas cactus is a succulent that absolutely cant tolerate soggy feet.

. Avoid Too Much Sun. Give your plant bright indirect light. How To Care for a Christmas Cactus After It Blooms.

Keep the plant in a warm spot to avoid this occurring. Have it sit near a humidifier for a bit. Be careful of sudden changes in light.

Now a houseplant expert has shared the ideal location to position your. Cacti live in the desert so you may be tempted to set yours in direct sunlight. Reduce light to a maximum of 9 hours per day avoid any extra light outside of this.

Repeated fluctuations in temperature can result in them dropping off before they reach their full potential. Also keep the Christmas cactus away from drafty areas and avoid sudden changes in moisture temperature or sunlight. When the plant is in bloom water it more often.

Feed your plant during the growing season which in the UK is between March and October. It grows in tropical forests shaded by the canopy of the. Known as the Christmas cactus because it puts on such a wonderful eye-catching floral display over the Christmas period and makes a great Christmas gift.

Keep the soil evenly moist while your plant is blooming misting it frequently. Using a clean sharp knife or pair of scissors simply take a Y-shaped cutting from the end of a stem near the lower sections of the plant. The plant goes into active growth once it has finished blooming.

Dropping buds If you tend to be in and out of the house often in wintertime turning your heating on and off often this can sometimes affect the flower buds on a Christmas cactus. Reduce the temperature to about 15 C to encourage flowering. Avoid standing it in water as it will succumb to root rot.

The other thing to remember is that Christmas cacti like humidity in the air. Heres how its done. You should relocate the plant to a sunny and warmer spot when the buds appear.

Christmas cactus Schlumbergera Schlumbergera truncata and S. Increase the water amount and frequency gradually. THE CHRISTMAS cactus is the perfect plant to add a touch of festivity to your home even if youre not a fan of Christmas.

So water whenever the soil feel dry really drench it with water then let the excess completely drain. The Christmas cactus flowers about 4-12 weeks after the buds appear. The Christmas cactus is a forest cactus.

When the plant is in bloom water it more often. Place the cactus in an east-facing window. Follow these pointers to keep your Christmas cactus healthy.

Taking Christmas cactus cuttings. Either way you want to increase the moisture that this plant gets. When the Christmas cactus flower buds start to form increase the light exposure and the temperature around 20 C.

Avoid standing it in water as it will succumb to root rot. Stop watering your plant for 6 weeks after flowering finishes in January. These conditions can then be maintained until summer.

Simply cut back the watering and make sure the plant receives 12-14 hours of darkness and average temperatures around 50-55 F. If the flat stems get soft and mushy youre overwatering. Unlike other cacti Christmas cactus is native to humid areas like the jungle.

Buckleyi are the two species of epiphytic cacti that are both commonly known as Christmas cactusSo called because they flower from late November to late January they give a. The cutting should take between 1-3 months to root and can then be potted on. If the stems look shriveled youre probably under-watering.

Beware of intense light which may bleach the leaves. If your house is dry try misting it or positioning. Place the plant on a tray of pebbles to increase the humidity levels.

Allow the end of the cutting to dry out for approximately a day to avoid stem rot then plant it into well. When growing a Christmas cactus Schlumbergera bridgesii mist the area around the cactus in between waterings to increase humidity. Place the pot somewhere warm but out of direct sunlight and water sparingly just enough to stop the compost drying out completely.

A location in light shade or early morning sun is best for growing Christmas cactus outdoors in warmer climates although a sunnier location is suitable in fall and winter. If your house is dry try misting it or positioning it in a dish with water filled with pebbles. Here are some tips below to consider to give it more water.

How To Care For Your Christmas Cactus Suttons Gardening Grow How 21-27 C are ideal during the growing season. Christmas Cactus And Care Advice. Temperatures between 70 and 80 F.

Move the plant to a cooler room ideally around 12-15C55-59F. The plant needs time to rest and recover after flowering. 21-27 C are ideal during the growing season.

The best time to take cuttings is in late spring when the plant is growing. Keep the soil evenly moist while your plant is blooming misting it frequently. Put the plant in a warm spot with plenty of light but not direct sunlight.

Use a good quality general fertiliser every couple of weeks following the instructions on the packet. When the flowering season ends reduce the amount of watering and give it just enough to keep the compost slightly moist. Taking Christmas cactus cuttings is easy to do.

The pebbles will keep the plant from getting soggy while the. Water only when the surface feels dry to the touch. Put the plant in a room with a shower.

Remove a section of stem containing 2-3 leaf segments. Maintain an optimal climate of 65 degrees. The other thing to remember is that Christmas cacti like humidity in the air.

Fill a small pot with a 5050 mix of seed compost and sharp sand and push the base of the cutting about 1cm 12in deep into the soil.

How To Care For A Christmas Cactus Bbc Gardeners World Magazine