Winter means shorter days, although in our homes the lights will often be on during the evening which can confuse your Christmas cactus. I have been an ardent horticulturalist most of my life. Schlumbergera Species: opuntioides Characteristics: ähnlich einer kleinen Opuntia, purpurrosa Blüte Care hint special: Click here to read General Care hint: Click here to read Cold wintering: no Flower color: purple-rose 109732 You may have to start over and repot into fresh mix and a clean container.​, Scale – If you see a waxy substance on the leaves, you’ve probably got a case of scale. All Right Reserved. It has leafless green stems, made up of distinct segments, which act as photosynthetic organs. Le cactus de Noël ou Schlumbergera est une plante d'intérieur facile à entretenir. Christmas cactus is one that prefers to be rooted in moist vermiculite or cactus mix. If the reader needs to repot the plant, how would they do it?​, Pruning after blooms have gone will encourage branching out of the stems. However, they can cause damage in large numbers. Bring the little beauties inside if your outdoor temps go to the extremes.​, Unlike their desert cousins, the Schlumbergera are not fond of too much direct sunlight. You can move your Christmas cactus back to its usual spot once you see some good bud formation. Usually the too dry/over-watering conundrum requires a very well aerated coarse quickly draining compost where the water runs straight through which you frequently water and the plant also being kept in a humid atmosphere like orchids. They might drop their buds or flowers when disturbed too much! Botrytis Blight – Unfortunately, much as our Christmas tropical succulent appreciates a little humidity, so does this fungus. Here is how to care for your Christmas Cactus and keep it blooming and pretty for years. Not surprising: like the classic Christmas cactus, this plant has long been a Christmastime favorite. Christmas cacti are quite undemanding when it comes to soil, though the ideal mixture is said to be a bit acidic (many use peat moss for this, though there is still a lot of discussion about its sustainability) and holds water relatively well while some added perlite helps ensure proper drainage. If you got one this past December, you might be wondering how to care for Christmas cactus. These flowers are born at the terminal end of their leaves or sections, and cover almost the entire plant. Make insecticidal soap your ally and avoid soggy soil. As you get to know your plant’s blooming pattern, skip the fertilizer a month before buds make their presence known.​, Often when an ornamental plant is purchased, it comes in a small pot and may outgrow the pot. Find help & information on Schlumbergera opuntioides from the RHS Where are Plant Finder & Plant Selector? | Houseplant Central, How to propagate a cactus | Houseplant Central, Euphorbia pulcherrima | Poinsettia plant care & info | Houseplant Central, 7 amazing indoor plants with flowers | Houseplant Central, How to propagate Christmas cactus – Houseplant Central, Chinese money plant care & info | Pilea peperomioides. We're always looking to improve our articles to help you become an even better gardener. Summary of Schlumbergera facts Name – Schlumbergera Smart tip about schlumbergera If the leaves of your Schlumbergera are falling off, this may be because it was moved to another place, drafty air, or an issue with the watering. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be … Make sure to control your thrip population as well.​, Basal Stem Rot – Just as it sounds, you’ll see a brown stain at the soil line, the sign of dying tissues. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about how to care for Christmas cactus and growing this succulent in your own home. That beautiful time of year when everyone starts thinking about pine trees, poinsettias, and cacti, candy canes and…. Don’t go crazy and move the plant from an apartment-sized container to a mansion-sized container; though you may like thousands of square feet to wiggle your toes in, they prefer tighter living spaces.​, If the above suggestions didn’t help with wilting issues, there may be a pest or disease involved. As if you needed an excuse to add another plant to your collection, right?​, A fantastic shot of blooming christmas cactus from Timothy over at Kicking Designs. Winter also means lower temperatures, although it never really gets too chilly in the plant’s jungle habitat. Bright, indirect light will do just fine for the best blooms, though they will tolerate low amounts of light as well.​. Schlumbergera is a small genus of cacti with six species found in the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Dusty Miller Plant: Care, Types, and Growing Tips, Bring on the Sizzle This Summer 8 New Hot Peppers for 2018. Lastly, there is also the Easter cactus, which is another segmented succulent that looks pretty similar to Schlumbergera cacti. My first love has always been Schlumbergera cacti, but I still keep Mammillaria cacti, especially the hairy types and grow some from seed.My main goals with Schlumbergera are to develop more colour varieties in the S. x buckleyi type and to develop smaller, more compact cultivars that require less growing space. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. Just twist off a segment containing a few leaves, let it dry for a few days and stick it into a new pot (or the old pot if your aim is to give your plant a “fuller” look). Schlumbergera Species: opuntioides Characteristics: ähnlich einer kleinen Opuntia, purpurrosa Blüte Care hint special: Click here to read General Care hint: Click here to read Cold wintering: no Flower color: purple-rose 109732 A humidity tray or some extra misting are probably appreciated, though not necessary in most cases. Actually, there is a decent chance you’ll see some flowers pop up during wintertime even if you don’t follow the darkness + lower temperatures + reduced watering rules to the letter. Some sources recommend using a balanced, regular houseplant fertilizer while others mention a fertilizer with higher potassium content works better. What to do with those cut pieces? Keep in mind that these cacti don’t like to be moved around during the blooming period. In a few weeks you should be able to enjoy those gorgeous colorful flowers. Spider mites are probably to blame. Schlumbergera opuntioides, although it looks like a sickly, floppy Opuntia, it isn't! Schlumbergera opuntioides flower After maturation, if you have taken good care of the schlumbergera; In winter, this plant will generate incredible pink bell-shaped flowers. Are you looking for a different gift for friends, family, and coworkers to go with that bottle of wine you bring to the party? Check for drainage backup as well.​, Another solution may include repotting into a slightly larger container or even just a fresh batch of soil. Christmas cacti don’t have to be repotted often and should still flower just fine even when when root bound as long as the soil is refreshed every few years. In 1858 Charles Lemaire created the genus Schlumber-gera , named after the French cactus collector Frédéric Schlumberger with the only species Schlumbergera epiphylloides , today’s S . Though it does store a small amount of moisture in its leaves, it’s best to water when the first surface inch of soil is dry. These cacti can have the occasional issue like any other plant. Care of cultivars When grown as house plants, Schlumbergera cultivars are said to be relatively easy to care for. in the southernmost part of the tropics. The stems are composed of strongly flattened segments, which have a small number of notches along their edges.