This time of yr, the Christmas cactus is a pure selection for houseplant lovers. It is identified for brightening up the winter with its signature vibrant pink blooms from November to January, therefore its title.
With correct care, you’ll be able to guarantee these beloved blooms will return yr after yr. Even when your Christmas cactus appears completely content material, there’s an usually missed but important care step you should not be neglecting if you wish to preserve the well being of your plant.
Find out how and when to correctly fertilize a Christmas cactus, with ideas immediately from a gardening professional.
Meet the Skilled
Jennifer Cassels is president of The Blissful Place luxurious out of doors function retailer.
Do You Must Fertilize Christmas Cactus?
After we consider fundamental houseplant care, watering and pruning are sometimes essentially the most top-of-mind duties. Over time, houseplants deplete the vitamins of their soil, which may go away them wanting drab or unhealthy. Even a repotting session might not be sufficient to replenish an absence of important vitamins present in soil like magnesium, phosphorus, or nitrogen. Fortunately, this is a matter that may simply be mounted by common fertilization.
Although Christmas cactus can develop with out common fertilization, offering vitamins throughout their energetic rising phases is essential for more healthy development and sustaining these vibrant annual blooms we love.
“For the Christmas cactus to flower and develop vigorously, it’s essential to fertilize the crops often,” says Jennifer Cassels, president of The Blissful Place luxurious out of doors function retailer. “Though they don’t require fixed vitamin, fertilization does assist their nutrient wants, particularly throughout energetic rising and blooming phases.”
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How and When to Fertilize Christmas Cactus
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Cassels suggests utilizing a balanced, 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer particularly for houseplants, however diluting it to 50% energy to keep away from burning the plant.
To make use of a water-soluble fertilizer, fill a watering can in keeping with the label’s directions, however solely combine in half of the really helpful quantity of fertilizer. Pour the diluted answer onto the soil across the base of your cactus, making certain the soil is evenly moistened, simply as you’ll for a routine watering.
So far as timing, Cassels recommends fertilizing month-to-month from spring to late summer time when the cactus is actively rising. Whereas it might appear counterintuitive, halt feeding after late summer time to encourage flower bud growth as fall approaches; energetic fertilization outdoors of the rising section can really be detrimental to the plant.
Different Tricks to Hold Your Christmas Cactus Thriving
Although it is a desert plant, vibrant, oblique daylight and a heat setting (70–80°F) is greatest for Christmas cacti for many of the yr. Cassels emphasizes that darkness is definitely equally as necessary as sufficient gentle relating to bud formation in your Christmas cactus.
To assist with setting buds, she advises shifting the plant to a cooler room (round 50–55°F) and inserting it in a spot the place it’ll get 12–14 hours of uninterrupted darkness at evening for six–8 weeks. After buds start to type, you’ll be able to then return it to regular lighting and temperatures. As soon as buds do type, you need to improve humidity by inserting it on a pebble tray or setting a humidifier close by.