Lift the cactus up and into the new pot while holding the base gently. The additional soil should then be spread out along the sidewalls. To prevent air pockets, make sure that everything is pushed all the way down the edges. Make sure the earth covers the sides completely.
How can you grow a Thanksgiving cactus? What kind of potting soil do you use?
Temperature & Light: The festive cacti thrive in bright shade. In the fall and winter, full sunshine is advantageous, but in the summer, intense sunlight can cause plants to seem pale and yellow. In the growing season from April to September, temperatures between 70 and 80 F are ideal for spring and summer growth. The Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti need on shorter (8 to 10 hour) days and cooler temperatures in the fall to develop their flower buds. Once the flower buds are set in the fall, do not allow the temperature to reach above 90 F. The loss of flower buds can be a result of persistently warm conditions. In the event that it gets below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, do not leave these cactus outside.
Temperature control and photoperiod (control of the duration of the day and night) control are key factors in successful flower bud formation in the fall. The plants require the following for the initiation of flower buds:
- dazzling light
- long evenings Before flower buds to set, there must be at least 14 hours per day of nonstop darkness. For a full bud set, long nights should begin around the middle of September and last for at least six weeks. Be aware that even two hours of intermittent lighting can prevent flower buds from setting. In 3 to 4 weeks, buds will often start to appear. Once the buds are set, the photoperiod has little impact on flowering.
- For optimal flower production, fall growth temperatures should be kept between 60 and 68 oF, ideally as close to 68 oF as feasible. Regardless of the length of the day, plants cultivated with night temperatures between 50 and 59 oF will produce flower buds, however growth will be slower and bud drop may happen at this temperature.
- Early in June, prune the stems to encourage branching and additional flower terminals.
- At the end of September, pinching—also known as leveling—is done to cut off any terminal phylloclades that are less than 1 cm (0.4 inch) and to roughly equalize the length of all stems. These young, immature stem segments won’t begin blossom buds until they are fully developed. A flower bud develops on the earlier, more developed stem segment following the removal of a brief phylloclade.
Fertilizer and Watering: Water the growing media until it feels completely dry to the touch. The spring and summer months can be dry and mildly underwatered for the holiday cacti. Avoid letting the soil become soggy, especially during the gloomy winter months, but also avoid letting it fully dry up. To avoid flower bud abscission, the growing medium must be kept consistently moist after bud set in the fall. In the saucer underneath the pot, never let water stand.
Use a half strength soluble fertilizer, such as a 20-10-20 or 20-20-20 with trace elements, to fertilize plants every month beginning when new growth begins in late winter or early spring and continuing through the summer. Compared to many plants, holiday cacti have a greater magnesium need. During the growing season, fertilize once a month with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) blended at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water, but avoid applying the fertilizer the same week. Stop fertilizing in the late summer to increase the formation of bloom buds in the fall.
The Christmas cacti flower best when kept fairly pot-bound, according to the growing medium. Repotting is best done in the spring and is only required about once every three years. These epiphytic cacti do not grow well in heavy, wet potting mixes, thus the potting medium needs to be well-drained and well-aerated. A excellent mixture can have 60–80% potting soil and 40–20% perlite. Pick a potting soil that is pH balanced and of good quality.
Thanksgiving cacti enjoy having their roots bound?
After your new plant blooms, think about switching out the plastic pot for a new one, preferably made of ceramic so that kids and dogs can’t easily knock it over. Cacti cannot grow in damp soil, so make sure the pot has adequate drainage holes. Select a cacti-specific potting soil blend. Sand or peat moss should be present to prevent moisture from collecting and decaying the roots.
Transplanting shouldn’t be necessary more frequently than every two to three years because Thanksgiving cacti prefer to be root-bound. Some people get big, especially those who are passed down down the generations. They can resemble a favorite fireworks display in that they can be two feet wide and a foot tall with parts shooting in all directions!
When ought a Christmas cactus to be potted again?
The best time to repot most plants is in the spring when they start to show new growth, but Christmas cacti should be potted after blooming is finished and the blooms have faded, which is in late winter or early spring. It is never a good idea to try to repot the plant when it is in full bloom.
Repotting Christmas cactus should be delayed because this tough succulent thrives when its roots are little congested. Frequently repotting a plant might harm it.
Repotting Christmas cactus is typically sufficient every three to four years, but you might wish to hold off until the plant starts to appear worn out or you see some roots poking through the drainage hole. A plant can frequently flourish happily in the same pot for years.
How often should a Thanksgiving cactus be watered?
I’ll address some of the most typical queries about Christmas cactus maintenance below. Ask in the comments box below if you can’t find the solution to your question here.
How long will my holiday cactus stay in bloom?
The amount of heat and sunlight that your Christmas cactus receives will greatly influence how long it will remain in bloom.
If kept it in a hot and sunny spot, the flowers may only last for a few weeks. However, those same plants can continue blooming for 4-6 weeks or more in cooler conditions and with less light.
How do I get my holiday cactus to bloom?
Give your holiday cactus a period of chilly temperatures and total darkness if you want it to bloom.
The ideal temperature is from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 10 degrees lower at night. Give them full darkness for at least 10 hours at night and 8 to 10 hours of indirect light during the day.
What are the different types of holiday cactus?
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter are the three different holiday cactus varieties. Each one bears the name of the season during which the blooms bloom.
Does holiday cactus need full sun?
Holiday cactus requires filtered or indirect sunshine, not full sun. The leaves can become burned by too much direct sunlight, which will stop the plant from blossoming.
How often do you water a holiday cactus?
Holiday cactus plants don’t require a lot of watering. Every 7 to 10 days, check on them, and only water when the soil feels dry. During the flowering season, they require a little bit more moisture than they do the rest of the year.
Your plant will be healthy and happy if you use these holiday cactus care and growing suggestions, and it should bloom each year just in time for all of those special occasions!
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Do Thanksgiving cacti enjoy misting?
The Thanksgiving Cactus enjoys occasional mistings of water. These plants don’t require weekly watering, although sporadic watering and more regular misting are both highly beneficial to them.
How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is overwatered?
Overwatered stems will appear mushy and limp. If the roots are getting dark and mushy, remove the plant from the ground and check them. If so, the plant is badly overwatered and has root rot.
Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?
A smart approach to prevent water from sitting on the stem and rotting is to water your plant from the bottom.
Pick a pot with lots of drainage holes if you want to do this. For 30 minutes, place the pot in a bowl of water. Remove any extra water, then reposition the plant.
Temperature problems
Holiday cacti may experience shock and lose their leaves in response to significant temperature swings. Always keep them inside during the winter and keep them away from drafts.
Is Epsom salt good for Christmas cactus?
Epsom salts give your plant magnesium, which Christmas cacti love. One teaspoon can be added to one gallon of water. Use without fertilizer To prevent fertilizer burn, only use one or the other at once.
Should I repot my Christmas cactus?
Your holiday cactus has to be repotted every year or two, just after the blooms have finished. Pick a pot that is 2 inches wider across!
Your plant might benefit from new nutrients in new soil rather than needing a bigger pot. Pull it out of the pot gently, remove as much soil as you can, and then repot it in the same pot with new soil.