In this thread:
Christmas Cactus Blooms and Propagating Broken Branches
Posted November 30, 2021
Good morning everyone!
Here I am with my Christmas cacti.
And the second, slightly smaller pot.
Posted November 30, 2021
And here is a little branch that my cat broke off. I currently have it rooting.
Troubleshooting Limp and Shriveling Leaf Segments
Posted November 30, 2021
On 11/30/2021 at 9:16 AM, gala7496 said:
Good morning! Here I am with my Christmas cacti.
Good afternoon Galina! They are absolutely gorgeous! My plant of this exact variety is blooming heavily right now too, but the others haven’t started yet.
But it is so sad when some really interesting varieties just start dying off. The leaf segments get limp, lifeless, and just droop down. I can’t figure out the reason. I have already lost three varieties with really cool bloom colors this way. I am not overwatering them and they aren’t drying out in the soil. What could it possibly be?
Posted November 30, 2021
On 11/30/2021 at 1:11 PM, Lyudasik said:
I am not overwatering them and they aren’t drying out in the soil. What could it possibly be?
Lyud! Sorry to jump in. Plants are just like people. Every species requires its own specific nutrition and soil parameters (IMO). You need to actually STUDY the specific plant and give it exactly what it needs.
Posted November 30, 2021
Good afternoon!
Maybe try taking some cuttings and planting them separately in fresh potting soil. So much depends on the soil quality.
I couldn’t get a good picture of my main Christmas cactus because it is absolutely massive.
Choosing the Right Fertilizer: Is it a True Cactus?
Posted November 30, 2021
On 11/30/2021 at 1:17 PM, gala7496 said:
Maybe try taking some cuttings and planting them separately in fresh potting soil.
Trial and error is a pretty long path. It is not very efficient and can cost you a lot of time and money. It is much easier to just research the specific plant species, especially since science knows a lot about all these plant types nowadays.
Posted November 30, 2021
On 11/30/2021 at 1:16 PM, MADanilych said:
You need to actually STUDY the specific plant and give it exactly what it needs.
I completely agree with you from start to finish! A plant is a living organism! Everything needs to suit it perfectly.
I use a specialized commercial potting mix, so I don’t think I can blame the dirt. As for feeding, I use a liquid domestic cactus fertilizer (since the Christmas cactus is technically a “cactus” or at least from that family 😁). But now I am thinking I should change the feeding routine and get a formula for blooming plants since it does produce flowers.
I have separate fertilizers for my ficus and palms, a separate one for orchids, and this specific one for cacti (they are all from the Buysky brand *). I haven’t figured out the exact cause of the limp leaves yet, but I am looking into it 🤷♀️ Just trying to get to the bottom of this.
Posted November 30, 2021
Thinking back to cactus “theory” here. They are NOT demanding plants, especially the tree-like ones where feeding them is generally counterproductive. They produce their own nutrients as long as they have even a tiny amount of water, decent sun exposure, and relatively high temperatures… (just thinking out loud here).
Posted November 30, 2021
Lyudmila, I feed mine with Valagro fertilizer, which is highest in phosphorus and potassium to encourage blooming. The Christmas cactus responds to it incredibly well. I also used this fertilizer on my summer flowers to boost their blooms. Also, the Christmas cactus really loves being misted with water.
Posted November 30, 2021
Maybe the fertilizer really is the issue 🤦♀️ Maybe I am just overfeeding it. You always want to do what’s best, but it turns out like it always does 😞 Anyway, I will keep researching. Uncle Google is my best friend right now 😁
Thanks!
Indoor Humidity vs. Watering: Finding the Balance
Posted November 30, 2021
On 11/30/2021 at 1:17 PM, gala7496 said:
Maybe try taking some cuttings and planting them separately in fresh potting soil.
It’s useless, mine also start shriveling up like that. Maybe the air in the apartment is just too dry for them 🤷♀️
Posted November 30, 2021
On 11/30/2021 at 2:03 PM, Galiy said:
Maybe the air in the apartment is just too dry for them.
Well, they really don’t like being overwatered either. Usually, they prefer dry soil.
Posted November 30, 2021
On 11/30/2021 at 1:37 PM, MADanilych said:
Thinking back to cactus “theory” here. They are NOT demanding plants…
Andrei, the Christmas cactus is actually a cactus that grows in the humid tropics. I really love this flower too.
On 11/30/2021 at 2:04 PM, gala7496 said:
Well, they really don’t like being overwatered either.
Galya, I wasn’t talking about watering the soil, I meant the dry ambient air in the apartment.
👨🌾 Editor’s Notes:
- Jungle vs. Desert Cacti: A common mistake discussed in this thread is treating a Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) like a desert cactus. As Galiy correctly points out, these are epiphytic jungle cacti native to the humid coastal mountains of Brazil. When growers use heavy desert cactus fertilizers or let the soil dry out completely in a dry, heated winter apartment, the leaf segments will quickly become limp, shriveled, and drop off.
- Buysky Fertilizer (Buiskiye Udobreniya): A very common brand of domestic fertilizers in Russia, produced by the Buysky Chemical Plant. In North America, the equivalent would be using a specialized brand like Schultz Cactus Plus or Espoma Organic Cactus Mix.
