Search results
Dec 6, 2023 · Put them too close to heat sources and it can have an adverse effect on your foliage's health. 'Christmas cacti do best when temperatures are between 55 and 70 degrees,' says Senior Horticulturist at ScottsMiracle-Gro, Amy Enfield. 'Place them in a spot away from heat vents, fireplaces, space heaters, AC vents, and drafty doors or windows ...
1 day ago · Christmas cactus flowers may be red, yellow, pink, white, or bicolor. You can identify Christmas cactus by examining the edges and tips of its stem segments. The two to three-notches or scallops tend to be more rounded than on a Thanksgiving cactus but pointier than an Easter cactus, without bristles.
- The Specific Steps to Take with A Christmas Cactus Not Blooming
- 3 Common Problems That Prevent A Christmas Cactus from Flowering
- Final Thoughts
1 – The Daily Dormancy a Christmas Cactus Needs and Why
For a Christmas Cactus to produce flowering buds, it needs plenty of rest beforehand. The part you need to do is mimic the plant’s native growing conditions: Jungle-like conditions, low to the ground, where it’s cool, dark and sheltered from wet. When you’re growing these indoors, the main problem is lighting. Artificial light can prevent a Christmas Cactus from going into dormancy. The optimal lighting condition you’re aiming to replicate is 8-12 hours of indirect sunlight daily. For 12-16 h...
2 – The Temperatures Your Plant Needs Daily and Nightly
Despite the name Christmas Cactus, when not blooming the foliage is still a lush green color and it’s a trailing variety making it ideal to use in a hanging basket outdoorsin the summer months. For optimal protection from winter frosts, hanging plants of Christmas Cacti that you have outdoors should be brought in before temperaturesdrop below 50°F / 10°C. Indoors, the temperatures they need are moderately cool. They will need a consistent temperature during the day of around 70°F / 21°C. Most...
3 – How Much Water a Christmas Cactus Really Needs
Surprisingly, a Christmas Cactus needs less water to coax it into flowering. When you start forcing the plant into dormancy at the end of September, that’s the time to alter your watering frequency. At other times of the year, these can be watered weekly or at least when the topsoil is dryto the touch up to a half-inch deep. Don’t allow the soil to completely dry out as that will cause any buds the plant produces to drop from the leaf ends. When you’re prepping a Christmas Cacti to bloom, let...
1 – Bud Drop
Bud drop is as it sounds – the plant produces the buds, but rather than them flowering, the buds drop off the end of the leaf. It is normal for the plant to drop some buds, but when it drops more than it keeps, that’s a problem you need to address. The cause is usually related to a watering problem. Too much or too little. Either that or humidity. Change your watering frequency to only when the plant needs it and if you aren’t using a humidity tray to nourish the roots, try doing that so that...
2 – Root and Stem Rot
Root and stem rot are a fungi infection that affects the plant’s root system. The cause is too much water and it can happen if the soil stops draining as it should, or if you use the wrong potting mix. To make sure this doesn’t become a problem, when watering the plant, look at the very base of stem. If that’s browning, it is a sign that the soil isn’t properly draining. It will need the soil amended to improve drainage, or re-potted to a more suitable container that allows the water to drain...
3 – Discolored Leafs
The most common color variations of the types you don’t want are yellowing and red leaves. The foliage on a Christmas Cactus should always be green. When it fades to a more yellow shade, or worse, starts to turn red, that’s a symptom of sunburn, something that only happens when the plant gets direct sunlight. Lighting should always be indirect. If the leaves on your Christmas Cactus start to yellowor redden, move it to a more shaded area.
The most important thing a Christmas Cactus not blooming needs is darkness for more than 12-hours each night. Light should begin to be restricted at the end of September. Maintain moderately cool temperatures during the day and night, ensuring the plant never gets direct sunlight and adequate watering with fertilizer restricted to only from spring ...
- It’s not really a cactus. Despite its name, the Christmas cactus is not a cactus. While it is a succulent and does store moisture in its leaves, members of the Schlumbergera family are not considered a true cactus.
- It’s an epiphyte. Christmas cacti are epiphytes. An epiphyte is a plant that grows on the surface of another plant. Not to be mistaken for a parasite, epiphytes do not feed off of or harm the plant they grow from.
- Your Christmas cactus most likely isn’t a Christmas cactus. One of the biggest complaints about Christmas cactuses is that they never bloom at Christmas.
- You may not need to repot your cactus. While most plants will need to be repotted once every year or two, Schlumbergera actually does better when they’re a bit root-bound.
- Excessive sunlight. Too much sun can make your Christmas cactus leaves turn red, so you’ll want to be sure it’s not getting too much direct light. Sunlight exposure is a key factor in keeping your Christmas cactus healthy and vibrant.
- Insufficient water. Not giving your Christmas cactus enough water can lead to its leaves turning red. It can also lead to its leaves drooping or wilting.
- Temperature stress. Too much or too little heat can put your cactus under temperature stress, so it’s important to keep an eye on the temperature of its environment.
- Root infections. Root infections can occur in Christmas cacti if not properly cared for. Overwatering, poor drainage, and root rot can all cause infection in the roots of a Christmas cactus and lead to its leaves turning red.
Oct 19, 2023 · Temperatures. If your Christmas cactus is kept below 50F for a long time, the plant will begin to turn yellow and die. Christmas cactus prefer consistent temperatures and the ideal temperature is around 70F. If temperatures fall below 50F for extended periods, the plant will show signs of distress.
People also ask
Do Christmas cactus have red leaves?
Are Christmas cactus tropical plants?
What color should a Christmas cactus be?
How do you know if a cactus is Christmas or Thanksgiving?
Are Christmas cactus drought tolerant?
Why are my Christmas cactus leaves yellow?
Nov 7, 2023 · The shapes of the leaves are one of the easiest ways to tell them apart. A Thanksgiving cactus has serrated leaves with pointy appendages that slightly resemble crab claws. A Christmas cactus has more rounded leaves with scalloped edges. Thanksgiving cactus. The Spruce / Adrienne Legault.
