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!
How do you repot a Christmas cactus? What kind of soil?
The best soil for a Christmas cactus should have plenty of organic matter and sufficient drainage. Four parts well-rotted compost, one part bark, one part horticulture sand, one part fine grit, and one part pumice are the recommended ratios.
Will my Thanksgiving cactus need trimming?
Thanksgiving The Cactaceae family includes cacti. Numerous hybrid Schlumbergeras are descended from Schlumbergera truncata. This epiphytic rain forest cactus lives on trees in its natural environment.
To enjoy this Christmas cactus’ bright flowers up close, suspend it from a branch.
What You Should Know About Schlumbergeras
There are a few myths about how to grow tropical cacti. Don’t treat this festive blooming the same way you would a desert plant. Think about Schlumbergera’s natural environment, which is a tree branch in the South American rainforest, shaded by large trees and vines, and damp.
You’ll enjoy your plant for many years if you give it what it wants. Some individuals claim to have owned Schlumbergera truncata over several decades.
This cactus is related to the Christmas Cactus, which enjoys similar tropical conditions. It can be distinguished from its Christmas relative by its later bloom time and smooth, scalloped stems.
The long, narrow, toothed stem segments of Thanksgiving cacti are joined by a midrib. Its second common name, Crab Cactus, refers to how its deeply indented stems resemble crab claws.
Thanksgiving Cactus Varieties
This tropical cactus blooms in the late fall with enormous, exquisite flowers that can be red, pink, peach, orange, white, or bicolored.
There are numerous cultivars from which to choose. Nearly as enticing as their magnificent blossoms are the names. Here are a few examples…
Peach and orange blooms can be found in “Peach Parfait” and “Twilight Tangerine,” respectively.
Dark crimson is the color of “Red Radiance,” while purple is “Majestic.”
Caring for Thanksgiving Cactus Year-Round
Trim it. Pruning will result in a fuller plant. In the spring, pruning it back will encourage the plant to grow new stems where the old ones were cut. You’ll get more blooms this way since flowers pop out of the ends of the stems. When it starts actively growing again in the spring, it is the ideal time to cut it back. Keep those cuttings; multiply them to create more plants.
Pruning Tip:
In between the pieces, where a midrib holds them together, cut the stem off. To avoid ripping the stems, use clean, sharp pruning scissors.
obtaining the blossoms. For 8–10 weeks, shorter, cooler days cause flowering. The best time to move your cactus outside is in the early fall. Make sure it is in a shaded area. Prior to the first freeze, bring it inside once more. Don’t move the plant after the buds have formed. If the plant is moved or rapidly exposed to temperature changes, flower buds are prone to fall off. Do not be concerned if this occurs. Next year, it will bloom magnificently.
tardy to develop? Greenhouse growers bloom Thanksgiving cactus plants to sell them before the holiday. You may count on your plant to blossom abundantly every year, but beyond the first year, don’t be startled if it doesn’t bloom when you want it to. Flowers could start to bloom a little later than they did when you bought the plant.
When the pot’s roots are full, repot in the early summer. Wait until the plant has completed blooming before repotting it. Use a pot that is only 1-2 inches bigger. Why? Overly large pots can hold an excessive amount of water. To prevent damp potting material, which can cause root rot, use a container with drainage holes. A stylish container without drainage holes is what you need. As a cachepot, use it. Put a simple nursery pot inside the cachepot to conceal it. Small boulders in the bottom of the cachepot are an excellent idea to keep the inner pot above drainage water.
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.
When it blooms, should I water my Thanksgiving cactus?
A well-liked indoor plant with stunning, protracted-flowering winter blooms is Schlumbergera truncata.
The plant is simple to maintain and take care of. Discover some growing advice for the Thanksgiving cactus by reading on.
Sunlight and temperature needs for schlumbergera truncata:
Summertime light shade is ideal for Thanksgiving cactus growth. When it is blooming in the winter, you can give it extra sunlight.
In the summer, excessive sun can cause the leaves to seem pale and yellow. The leaves may turn scarlet with too much sun.
Ideal room temperatures range from 60 to 65 F. While the plant has buds on it, you should take extra precautions when it’s hotter outside.
I keep my Thanksgiving cactus outside in the shade during the summer and indoors in a South facing window in the winter months.
Humidity and watering requirements for Thanksgiving cactus:
Watering is by far the most crucial part of Thanksgiving cactus maintenance. These tropical plants shouldn’t be allowed to dry out, but you also shouldn’t want them to accumulate too much water at the roots.
Because it is an epiphyte, the plant occasionally has exposed roots and draws hydration from the air’s humidity.
A Thanksgiving cactus can be watered effectively using the “soak and drain method.” Bring the plant to the sink and water it thoroughly, letting the water run out of the drain hole at the pot’s bottom.
Before you water again, let the top layer of soil completely dry out between applications.
Water the plant only as much as necessary to prevent shriveling when it is not in bloom. Keep in mind that plants can die from excessive watering.
This winter cactus shouldn’t be treated like a desert cactus! If at all feasible, plant Schlumbergera truncata in an environment with moderate to high relative humidity (above 50%).
Growing the plant in a tray with water underneath some pebbles and frequently misting it with a plant mister both help to increase the humidity.
Soil needs for Thanksgiving cactus:
When selecting soil for your Thanksgiving cactus, keep in mind their natural habitat. The plant prefers an acid soil because it typically thrives in tree fissures with decomposing debris nearby.
Rich, porous soil with lots of organic matter is what Schlumbergera truncata prefers.