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Container Gardening

Need help with my Christmas cactus

8 years ago

I bought a pretty white christmas cactus in December. It bloomed. Dropped the dry flowers after they bloomed.I have been using natral light on it for about 1 hr a night. One day the light may have been too close and started to burn. I took the light away,watered and fertilized. I found out that I should not have fertilized this later in the year. The plant looks ok. It is dark green and has two buds. Will the buds bloom? Should I keep watering? If the buds do bloom and flower do I continue watering after the flowers fall or stop watering?

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Comments (4)

Dave
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Just put it in a windowsill where it can receive natural light.

Don't over water. It sounds like that's what you're tempted to do. Most people are. Most end up killing their plants because of this.

Water when the top of the soil feels dry. Don't let it completely dry though. Even though it's called a cactus, it's not really.

Dont wanter every x amount of days, water when it needs it.

Water so 10-15% comes out of the bottom drain holes. Discard the water that collects in the saucer. Never let the pot sit in standing water.

Dont fertailize again till its actively growing, not flowering.

I'm confused by your one hour of natural light statement. Do you only give it one hour of light per day? What's the light source? It can't be natural as it wouldn't burn in a windowsill.

I have one that's in a southern windowsill and its actively growing. I don't care if it flowers as that's usually stress induced.
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Suzy11
Original Author
8 years ago
Ok Thanks for the info. I almost like it better without flowers. Just want to do the right thing. I am glad that you mentioned about watering and the drainage hole. I thought that with house plants water was not aloud to come out of the hole. Can water come out the hole with other house plants? As for the light. The plant is sitting about 7 feet directly across from a window. Because of the cloudy days sometimes at night I give that and my amarilus bulb light. I have a virilux natrual light desk lap. Do you continue to water after the flowers have bloomed? How do you know when it is doormet?
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Jo, I don't know these species very well, but the one that flowers in spring earned the name Easter Cactus (Hatiora gaertneri?), while the one that blooms in the fall has been called Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, and now the politically correct and inert "Holiday Cactus"... and there may be more than one species involved here as well as numerous hybrids. One species flowers in response to longer days (Easter), while the other one flowers as days get shorter (Thanksgiving and Christmas). The fall/winter bloomer initiates flower buds in the fall in response to shorter days, drier conditions, and cooler temperatures, so if you protect it from all these stimuli it probably won't flower. It may require a long dark period, or no lights at night. Commercial growers quit watering them for about a month around Sept/Oct (they start to look like they are dying as they shrivel up) and also expose them to cooler night temps perhaps in the 50's F. After the dry period they resume normal watering. I don't think much fertilizer would be required at this stage. Buds should start to appear soon thereafter. Forget about cactus soil for these types of cactus. Treat them like a tropical foliage plant during the growing season, and yes the Miracle Gro 20-20-20 is fine, and do not let them stay too dry. I would also recommend using the Miracle Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix for this type of cactus. It's an excellent soil mix and zygocactus/schlumbergera/hatiora should do well in it. BTW you are right about being careful with an old plant like yours. Most plants, like most people, adapt to changes easier when they are younger. I would wait for springtime and better growing conditions before repotting it. Hope this helps! Peyton
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Dave
8 years ago
Id put it closer to the window. At 7 feet away, that's not much light at all.

You want to water all plants so water comes out the drain holes. This flushes the soil of salt build ups from tap water. Just make sure you dump out the water that collects in the saucer below. Don't let it sit in that.
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jane__ny
8 years ago
Agree with Dave!

7 feet is too far away from the window. Move it closer as well as your bulb. One hour of artificial light is not enough. Strive for at least 6 hrs.

Only water when the soil feels almost dry. The pots need drainage holes. The roots will rot if sitting in water.

Jane
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