how to care for a christmas cactus uk

Too much direct sunlight might burn the leaves so opt for a room with. Place the cactus in an east-facing window for moderate light and some direct sun.

How To Grow And Care For Christmas Cactus Lovethegarden

Christmas cactus moisture is important as well.

. Allow the cutting to dry out indoors for a day or two. Give your plant bright indirect light. A potting soil with pH value of 55 to 60 is ideal.

Hold off on watering again until the soil is dry. Push the bottom of the cuttings into the. Use a good quality general fertiliser every couple of weeks following the instructions on the packet.

How to care for a Christmas cactus. Place the plant near a window but stay away from direct sunlight. Care for Christmas cacti changes from season to season.

April to September is the main growing season for Christmas cacti so move the plant back into a warmer position with a temperature around 18-20C 65-68F increase watering and feed monthly with a liquid houseplant feed. How to Care for Easter Cactus These plants perform best in bright light but not direct sunlight. Apply a high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks once buds form.

To help the plant bush-up remove the tips and with congested plants remove a few of the oldest and most damaged stems. During the growing season its best to maintain a temperature of 64468F 18-20C. Follow these pointers to keep your Christmas cactus healthy.

Stop watering your plant for 6 weeks after flowering finishes in January. However it is a succulent plant and can store a reasonable quantity of water in the leaves. Feed your plant during the growing season which in the UK is between March and October.

Water your Christmas cactus when the top inch of its soil feels dry to the touch. You should also keep the plants cooler at around 12-15C 55-60F. Place the cactus in an east-facing window for moderate light and some direct sun.

Christmas cacti dont like a dry atmosphere so place the pot on a tray of pebbles or hydroleca and keep this moist. Shriveling stems can occur when the plant is too hot or is down to incorrect watering whether too much or too little. Water thoroughly when the top half of the soil in the pot feels dry to the touch.

Remove the plant from a humid environment like a bathroom with a shower to bring down the humidity levels. Always remove whole segments of the leaf-like stems. Repeated fluctuations in temperature can result in them dropping off before they reach their full potential.

Insert the cuttings into a 5050 mix of seed or cutting compost and sharp sand. They prefer a semi-shade situation as oppose to a full sun aspect of desert-dwelling cacti. They come in a huge range of shapes colours and forms some covered in spines others smooth or furry some gently rounded others angular and sculptural.

Make sure soil is loose and water permeable. Water your Christmas cactus when the top inch of its soil feels dry to the touch. Do not allow it to dry completely in between waterings.

You can soak its soil until the water runs through the drainage holes of its container. If the Christmas cactus doesnt get enough water it will drop its flower buds before they even open. Allow Christmas cactus moisture levels to drop and dry out some between watering intervals but never completely and never let the plant sit in water as this will lead to root and stem rot.

It is important to keep the soil of your Christmas cactus moist but not overwatered. If the flat stems get soft and mushy youre overwatering. The Christmas cactus tends to develop long stems which droop rather than being upright.

Keep the plant in a warm spot to avoid this occurring. Avoid standing it in water as it will succumb to root rot. Cacti and succulents are easily recognisable by their fleshy leaves or stems in which they store water.

In May remove parts of the stem that has two or three leaf sections. The RHS said. Create a drainage layer.

After flowering has finished let the plant rest so stop feeding and reduce the watering so that the compost does not completely dry out. Mix in sand if necessary to increase permeability and prevent waterlogging 1 part sand to 3 parts soil. 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.

If the stems look shriveled youre probably under-watering. Spreading up to 45 cm 18 inches in diameter Christmas cacti do best in a wide pot rather than one which is too deep since this stops them falling over. 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.

So water whenever the soil feel dry really drench it with water then let the excess completely drain. An ideal situation would be well-lit yet out of direct sunlight with a humid atmosphere. Adjust the light and amount.

The plant requires frequent and thorough watering during its active growth in spring and summer keeping the soil slightly moist. The Christmas cactus is a tropical type cactus and is not quite as drought tolerant as the name infers. Christmas cactus holiday cactus crab cactus.

How to propagate a Christmas cactus. Discard the excess water then do not water again until the top. Do not allow it to dry completely in between waterings.

Unlike desert cacti they need cooler temperatures even during the day and will bloom for months in nighttime temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees F. Improve humidity by using gravel-filled saucers to place your plants upon and keep this moist. Water only when the surface feels dry to the touch.

It flowers abundantly at the end of each stem. When the plant is in bloom water it more often. April to September is the main growing season for Christmas cacti so move the plant back into a warmer position with a temperature around 18-20C 65-68F increase watering and feed monthly with a liquid houseplant feed.

Feed your plant during the growing season which in the UK is between March and October. Dont overwater because Christmas cactus is a succulent that absolutely cant tolerate soggy feet.

How To Care For A Christmas Cactus Bbc Gardeners World Magazine