Also known as Christmas cactus, schlumbergera can be used as decoration for the holiday season. Furthermore, this plant is easy to maintain, even for amateur gardeners. However, it is necessary to know how to put it in good conditions to allow it to flourish. In this article, we share some watering and maintenance tips.

The Christmas cactus is a plant whose beauty is particularly evident during the winter period. However, in order for it to flower abundantly, it is essential to know the right fertilization techniques. Here are some tips and tricks to achieve this.

How to maintain the Christmas cactus?

Originally from South America and Brazil in particular, the schlumbergera is like most tropical plants, sensitive to winter, despite being resistant to humidity. For this reason it is recommended to cultivate it at a temperature between 18 and 21°C in the hot season and 10° in winter.

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In addition, and to properly maintain the Christmas cactus, some precautions must be taken:

A shaded exposure   :   to favor the development of the schlumbergera,   it is   not recommended to   move it once    the first flowers have appeared . The best thing is to place it in a place where the lighting oscillates between shade and light in the warm season, i.e. from mid-May to September.

A light and well drained soil:   the favorable period for flowering of this plant is between March and December. The ideal would be   to administer a mixture of natural fertilizer and sand every 15 days, before and during its growth, taking care not to water it too much  . Try to space out your water supply as much as possible before flowering to allow the substrate to dry out. From flowering, the distance between two waterings should be a little longer. This doesn’t mean you have to wait until the soil is completely dry before watering it. After that, you can stop fertilizing until spring.

Apply the fertilizer gently:   Avoid splashing by lifting the stems of the Christmas cactus slightly. Fertilizer should in no way land directly on its leaves  . This can cause burns.

How to Fertilize Christmas Cactus Naturally?

Sprinkle with apple water   – it’s a great fertilizer. Boil   two liters of water then soak a whole apple previously cut into small pieces  . Two days later, you can water your Christmas cactus with this solution rich in iron, phosphorus, potassium and many other nutrients essential for its growth.

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Sprinkle with banana water:   Like the apple,   this fruit also provides important nutrients that will help the Christmas cactus grow better  . To do this, soak two banana peels in 1.5 liters of water for at least 24 hours before watering your plants with this mixture.

Sprinkle with water and wood ash:   In addition to stimulating growth,   this solution also helps protect the schlumbergera from pests and weeds  . In this case, mix 2 tablespoons of wood ash with 1 liter of water and let it sit for about 3 hours before watering. Thanks to this fertilizing solution, your Christmas cactus will receive everything it needs to flourish profusely, namely potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and many others.

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