The Christmas cactus is actually quite easy to care for. Nevertheless, there are a few things you should consider so that you can enjoy your cactus for a long time.
Christmas cacti, also known as Schlumbergera, originally come from the rainforests of Brazil. The cactus plant, which can have red, white or orange flowers, grows up to 40 centimeters high and almost as wide. The flowering usually takes place for six weeks from November to December, so that the cactus helps to celebrate the holidays. Since the tree cactus is fairly easy to care for and proves to be a long-lasting companion, it is particularly popular as a houseplant with some enthusiasts. But what is the best way to care for your Christmas companion? Which location does the plant need - and what else needs to be considered?
Many facets for decorative uses
The Christmas cactus is not only known for its pretty flowers during Christmas and winter, but also for its biodiversity. The Schlumbergera Orssichiana is known for producing flame-like, red flowers, which are very rare to find. The Schlumbergera Truncata, on the other hand, is very easy to care for and is now widespread because enthusiasts buy it as a houseplant because of the pink, orange or red and white flowers. By the way, the Christmas cactus orients itself according to the sun, so it doesn't like it when it's constantly being adjusted or turned over.
Benefits of Christmas Cactus
✔ blooms for about six weeks
✔ Blooms from November to December during the winter period
✔ Is usually easy to care for
✔ Flowers can be red, white, orange or pink
✔ There are many types of Christmas cacti, including rare
✔ Lovely houseplants that is also impressive because of its limbs
Disadvantages of the Christmas Cactus
✘ Sheds its buds if it is moved or rearranged too often as it has to face the sun again
✘ some varieties are very rare and therefore hardly available
✘ no flowering outside of winter, so you have to wait for them all year roundgot to
Which location is the best?
First of all, the Christmas cactus is not kept in the garden or on the balcony. Because this is a houseplant, which incidentally depends on a slightly sunny, but also partly shady location. The plant from the rainforest is very happy about the early sun in the morning or evening, which is why owners should preferably look for such a location. Heat from the midday sun, on the other hand, should be avoided if you want to find a perfect location for the Christmas cactus. It should therefore be possible to achieve a certain distance from the window if a better location cannot be found. If you want to store the cactus outdoors at appropriate temperatures, they should not fall below 10 degrees Celsius, even at night. Then the cactus is welcome to linger in a shady spot. However, it is important to get it used to outside temperatures beforehand, for example by leaving it outside every hour. If the cactus stays indoors, it can be kept over a heater, because warm roots are good for the plant.
What kind of soil does the Christmas cactus need?
At best, cactus soil is used for the Christmas cactus, because this must be as permeable as possible - the Christmas cactus does not tolerate waterlogging very well. A small amount of sand or clay may well be included in the soil. Potting soil is less suitable, however, as it is often not permeable enough and said waterlogging forms. If you can add some clay granules to the cactus soil, the Christmas cactus will benefit.
Does the Christmas cactus need to be repotted?
Because a Christmas cactus quickly grows up to 40cm high and almost as wide, it may be necessary from time to time to give it a larger living space, i.e. a larger flower pot. Otherwise the roots of the plant would have no more space, so that it not only stops growing, but also only blooms poorly. In general, you should only repot after the flowering period, paying special attention to the roots so that they are not damaged. When repotting, the new pot should also be filled with fresh soil instead of old soil so that the cactus also receives fresh nutrients. In general, the flower pot for Christmas cacti should be smaller than the plant bundle is wide above the ground. This is because the root system of the Christmas cactus grows very quickly, but is usually compactly rooted, so that it is significantly smaller than thePlant yourself. That means that just because the plant grows beyond the edge of the pot, the pot is by no means too small for it.
Do you have to fertilize the Christmas cactus - or is watering enough?
When it comes to caring for a Christmas cactus, watering is of course part of it. There are a few things to note here, such as:
➣ the water itself must not be calcareous, so boiled water or rainwater from the garden is better - the Christmas cactus does not tolerate calcareous water under any circumstances
➣ at higher temperatures in spring and summer and late summer, watering should be very regular so that the substrate can soak up water
➣ if water collects in the saucer, it must always be removed immediately to avoid waterlogging
➣ aquarium water is also suitable for watering, as this contains nutrients, but this should not be done too often
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Pruning the Christmas cactus - do you even have to cut it?
Pruning the popular Christmas cactus is actually only necessary if you want to propagate it from cuttings. These can then be planted at least three centimeters deep in cactus soil in a flower pot in order to grow into an independent plant after being kept constantly moist. Again, watering too often should be avoided because of waterlogging. Otherwise, dried flowers can be cut off the Christmas cactus after the flowering period, provided they do not fall off by themselves. Dried links can also be cut off if necessary, otherwise no pruning is necessary.
Conclusion
As you can see, the Christmas cactus is a very handsome, but also easy to care for cactus. Although you wait all year for the pretty flower, it lasts quite a long time in winter and offers a beautifulVariety to other plants in the winter time. Even the watering requirements of the plant are so low that even laypeople can keep it well - it also saves a lot of work, since hardly any pruning is necessary and the plant does not need large pots and little fertilizer. So it's definitely worth thinking about buying the Christmas cacti.