Are your Christmas cactus leaves and flowers falling off? Find out the causes and solutions to keep your plant blooming through the holidays.
We all get salutary and bad in our dejeuner boxes ! If your genus Schlumbergera bloom nicely , that ’s great but if you notice that your Christmas cactus leaves and flowers falling off , then it ’s time to give proper maintenance to it ! Do n’t worry ! We are here to aid you out with this !
Causes and Solutions for Christmas cactus Leaves Fall Off
1. Watering Issues
First off , watering is critical for Christmas cactus care , and it ’s easy to get it wrong . Both underwatering and overwatering can head to problems . Overwatering , for representative , can get root rot . If the dirt stays too pixilated , the root ca n’t work properly , and this can lead to the parting and flower expend off . On the other helping hand , if your cactus is n’t getting enough water , it might start to look sagging and eventually throw its leaves and flowers as well .
So , how do you get it right ? A dim-witted rule is to water your Christmas cactus about once a week . Before you water , check out if the soil is wry by nonplus your finger an inch deep into it . If it feel dry , it ’s time to water . If not , hold off a few days and check again . A moisture metre can also facilitate you avoid overwatering . During fall and wintertime , when the plant is less dynamic , you should irrigate it even less frequently .
2. Soil Struggles
The good soil is crucial for the health of your Christmas cactus . If the ground is too impenetrable or squeeze , it wo n’t enfeeble in good order , which can lead to root decompose and cause the folio to drop . Similarly , soil that does n’t have enough nutrient can make the leaf swag and fall off , particularly when the plant is flower because all the food go to the flowers .
To keep your cactus felicitous , use a well - draining , porous soil mixing . A good mix could be one part potting soil , two percentage peat moss , and one part perlite . Fertilizing is also authoritative . you could use a succulent - specific fluid plant food , diluted according to the instructions , and apply it once a calendar month . But remember , in the summer when it ’s really hot and the cactus operate inactive , you do n’t require to feed .
3. Temperature Troubles
Christmas cactus is quite tender to utmost temperature . If it ’s exposed to very gamy or very small temperature , it can get strain and bug out dropping leaves and efflorescence . For instance , if your cactus is near a open fireplace or a heater , the gamey estrus can dry it out and cause leafage fall . Conversely , if it ’s unwrap to cold gulp or low temperatures for too long , it might also start lose leaves .
The good direction to manage this is by keeping the temperature consistent . In spring and summertime , aim for atemperature between 70 ℉ and 80 ℉ . In the fall , a slenderly cooler range of 60 ℉ to 70 ℉ is dependable , and in the winter , around 55 ℉ is idealistic . If your plant is outdoors and the weather condition is utmost , fetch it at heart or move it to a greenhouse to protect it .
forethought : Please avoid motivate your Christmas cactus around too much , especially when it ’s budding . change in the environs is in reality a big factor in dropping leaf and flowers !
4. Light Issues
Christmas cactus in good order develop in bright , collateral light . Too much direct sunlight , mainly in the summer , can induce the leaves to get sear and hang off . On the flip side , if it does n’t get enough illumination , it might not produce strong leaves , and they could start to drop .
To find the correct balance , place your cactus in a smear where it gets plenty of bright but indirect light . In the summertime , you might want to move it to a shaded area outside , like under a porch or terrace . In the winter , keep it near a window with permeate light .
5. Pot Problems
Never forget about the pot sizing ! Christmas cactus grows at a temperate rate and can outgrow its batch in a few years . When it becomes root - bound , it ca n’t get enough nutrients , and it starts dropping leave of absence and flowers . If your cactus has been in the same pot for a foresightful prison term , it might be time to repot it .
repot your Christmas cactus can give it a new lease on animation . you may prefer a slightly larger pot and fill it with fresh , nutrient - copious soil . Gently remove the plant from its old pot , shake up off as much sometime soil as you could , and place it in the new flock with impertinent grime . This will give your plant more elbow room to grow and access to new nutrients .
6. Humidity Hassles
Christmas cactilove a bit of humidness , which can be a problem in dry indoor environments , specially during winter . ironical air can try the plant life , causing it to discharge leaves and flowers .
To solve this , you may create a simple humidity tray . Place a shallow tray filled with pee and pebble under your cactus pot . Make trusted the pot sits on the pebbles and not direct in the water . This setup increases the humidity around the works . You could also use a humidifier to keep the air travel moist , mainly in the winter months .
7. Nutrient Needs
Christmas cacti areepiphytes in their raw habitatand they grow on trees and absorb nutrient from the air and rain but sometimes , lack of all important nutrient can also induce your Christmas cactus to overleap leaves and flowers . If your plant seems to be struggling , it might be time to feed it a little extra .
you’re able to use a balanced , pee - soluble plant food every two to four week during the growing time of year . And , ensure to dilute it to half the recommended enduringness to avoid over - fertilizing , which can also harm the flora .
Tip : Coffee groundscan be a great natural fertilizer for Christmas cacti . They bring nitrogen to the grunge , promoting healthy increase and anthesis .
Conclusion
Dealing with a Christmas cactus that ’s dropping leave-taking and flowers can be frustrating , but by sympathise these common issue and how to address them , you’re able to keep your plant salubrious and blooming . Regular watering , the right soil , stable temperature , proper lighting , and well-timed repotting are central to a happy Christmas cactus . With a short tending and attention , your plant will flourish and go forward to lighten your place through the holiday season .
