Did you know? We in the succulent world also have representative Christmas mascots, just like we keep a pot of daffodils indoors during the Spring Festival, and the fresh fragrance fills the house. In Western countries, people will choose to plant a pot of Christmas cactus with eye-catching flowers. The Christmas cactus, a beautiful holiday plant (botanically known as the cactus), usually blooms at Christmas and sometimes around Easter if properly cared for. The following cultivation method of succulent Christmas cactus will teach you how to raise Christmas cactus.
Method/Steps
1Christmas cactus is a light-loving plant, but avoid direct sunlight. Place the plant in a well-lit location (such as near a window), away from direct sunlight (which can stunt growth and sunburn the leaves), heaters, heat vents, fireplaces, or other sources of hot air. In the summer, move indoor plants outdoors to a shady location. It is best to keep it within a normal indoor temperature range (18.3-26.7℃). 
2If you are in a dry environment, use a humidification device. Place a pan of water next to the plants to provide moisture through evaporation of the water. Alternatively, you can create a humidification tray and place the plant pot on a waterproof dish filled half with gravel and half with water. 
3Carefully water your Christmas cactus. Watering this plant can be tricky as you need to be careful not to over-water nor under-water: - Be sure not to lack water, because the Christmas fairyThe cactus is a tropical cactus, not a desert cactus. Unlike most desert cacti, this variety cannot tolerate completely dry soil. If the soil is too dry, the flower buds will wilt and the plant will wilt. Feel the soil with your fingers and if it feels dry, its time to water.
- Excessive watering will cause white rot spots to appear on the leaves, and the leaves may fall off. Evenly moist soil should be the best growing environment. The rule of thumb is to err on the side of a little less than too much.
- When watering, water the entire plant. Before trying to water the plant again, first check that the top few inches of soil have dried completely. Spray the leaves and water the soil.
- How often you water your cactus depends on your environment and the season. Here is a good method for watering for reference:
- Dry climate, outdoors: Water every two to three days, choose a warm and sunny time.
- Damp, cool or indoors: water once a week.
- In autumn and winter, plants should be watered less frequently to encourage flower buds to bloom.
- Do not water the tops of plants. Find a container with many small holes in the bottom. Some cheap nursery pots will work well, or an orchid pot, or a plastic basket. Pair this growing vessel with a vessel that holds water and holds the basket. Place several medium-sized stones at the bottom so that the vessel that will hold the basket is about an inch above them. The medium consists of three parts potting soil and one part sand. Finally, pour about two inches of room-temperature water into the outer container, and place a vessel large enough to hold the basket inside. After about twelve hours, pour out the remaining water. Repeat this step each time the plant needs water, which will vary based on your specific situation. Use instruments to monitor its water demand and make adjustments accordingly.
4Fertilize to help plants grow. For actively growing plants, an indoor flowering plant type fertilizer should be added. Follow label instructions for the amount and frequency of fertilizer application. Fertilizer is important to keep your plant in good condition; if a plant is not in good health, its joints will be weak and can break easily. Generally speaking, you should fertilize 2-4 times a year, using a 20-20-20 type feed, but you should stop fertilizing about a month before buds appear (this usually means stopping at the end of October). 
5< b class="wb">Let it bloom during the holidays.The key to getting Christmas cactus flowers during the holidays is proper light, the right temperature and regular watering.- Since this plant is thermophotoperiodic, it will germinate during the few weeks when day and night are close to equinox and the temperature drops to 10-15.5°C.
- Please leave it in a dark bathroom overnight. During the autumn months, the Christmas cactus should be placed in a place where it receives indirect, bright indoor light during the day and complete darkness at night (especially with absolutely no artificial lighting). Christmas cactus requires a long, uninterrupted period of darkness, about 12 hours or more each night. Begin dark treatments around mid-October to allow plants to bloom during the holiday season. Place the plant in a dark area for about 12 hours or more each night for 6-8 weeks until you see buds forming. A closet or an unused bathroom is an ideal place for a dark treatment.
- From September to October, the Christmas cactus should be placed in a cool place indoors, where the temperature will remain around 10°C, which can fluctuate a few degrees up or down. Do not expose plants to freezing temperatures. If the cold treatment is started in early November, the plants should be able to bloom during the holiday season.
- Be especially careful with watering during this period. Reduce watering slightly. After a dry period, don't soak the soil, just moisten the top few inches, as the plants buds, flowers and even leaves can appear to fall off if the roots are suddenly saturated with moisture.
6Prune your Christmas cactus about a month after it blooms. This will encourage plant branching, especially after a period of time recognized as "resting." When the flowers fade, the cactus doesn't look very nice. So some people wait until around March, when they are in the new growth period, to start pruning the cactus. 
7Cut off some flower stems to propagate Christmas cactus. Each section must be composed of two to three Made up of segments. After drying each segment for a few hours, bury them in a 3-inch pot filled with soil from the parent plant. Plant half of the first segment first. Take cuttings like a mature plant. About four By six weeks, the cuttings should have taken root and will be entering a new growth phase. They will grow quickly in about two or three weeks. You can start fertilizing after it has grown its first new segments.
Tips
- The most frustrating thing about caring for a Christmas cactus is when the buds fall off in full bloom. Bud drop can be caused by a variety of reasons. This is usually due to overwatering, insufficient humidity or insufficient light. And when you fail to provide adequate sunlight, the cactus may die from lack of sunlight exposure.
- Be sure to turn plants regularly to encourage new growth. Otherwise, the plant will have fully bloomed buds on one side and bare buds on the other side.
- The Christmas cactus is a beautiful plant that blooms year after year. You'll want to keep it after the holidays. You can even pass it down from generation to generation.
- Cacti will only grow within the circumference of the pot. If you want a larger plant, you'll need to put it in a larger pot.
- Use new, good soil when replanting or repotting. Its worth spending a little extra money on this as it will survive in this soil for a long time. Your plant is a living thing, just like you, and it deserves the best possible care.
- The above suggestions for bud blooms are suitable for areas having a cold Christmas. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you may find it difficult to get this plant to bloom during the Christmas period, which requires more controlled conditions to achieve blooming during the holidays. It may be easier to let them bloom during the coldest months of the year.
- The best time to repot is between February and April, about once every three years. Make sure not to pot it too big, as the Christmas cactus blooms best when it fits snugly into the pot. Provide a well-drained, well-aerated soil environment (for example, one part potting soil, two parts peat moss or compost, plus one part sharp sand or perlite).
Notes
- Research from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center shows that Christmas cactus is non-toxic to dogs and cats.
- Any sudden change in temperature, light, or moisture can cause damage to your Christmas cactus. Dryness and extreme temperatures can cause the plants buds to fall off before they have a chance to bloom. It is recommended to try "incremental changes".
- Christmas cactus should never be placed near open doors or close to the outdoors. Likewise, keep it away from heating ducts or fireplaces and air vents.
Extended reading:
1. How to raise Cao Yulu. Two breeding methods of Cao Yulu
2. Breeding and breeding methods of Pangpengxiang
3. Breeding and propagation methods of the succulent plant Baixueji
4. Cultivation and propagation methods of the succulent plant Lovevine
5. How to breed the succulent plant Gypsy alba. How to propagate Gypsy alba
