I have a long - run phylogenetic relation for Christmas cactuses . They ’ve been in my life somewhat much since the day I was born . When I was young , my mom had a Christmas cactus that she drive from her mama ( and still has ) that to this day still erupts in smart pink flowers every December . I experience favourable to be the third generation in my family to have a cutting of the same Christmas cactus . But part of caring for this industrial plant is knowing when and how to repot a Christmas cactus .
Christmas cactus are n’t like most of the cactuses you ’re intimate with . They actually hail from hobo camp climates where it ’s moist and humid . When keep in good atmospheric condition , your cactus will flower in a variety of colors , depending on its eccentric . It can grow orangish , white , peach , rose , regal , red , and lavender flower . My cactus makes pinkish flowers .
When should you repot a Christmas cactus?
Repotting a Christmas cactus has a handful of benefits for the industrial plant . repot your cactus gives it extra elbow room to grow and provides it with a much - need extract of nutrients in the conformation of healthy , fresh potting filth .
There are a few indications the plant will give you if it require to be repotted . Generally , the big sign that it ’s ready is if it ’s look droopy and unhealthy . If you could , gingerly lift the cactus out of its potty . If it await rootbound , meaning the root have twisted and dented around the shape of the kitty , it is probably fourth dimension to repot it .
In general , a Christmas cactus should be repot every 3 - 4 age for optimal growth and health . The best time to repot a Christmas cactus is after its blossom period in winter . But do n’t step on it it ! Let the flush in full melt their path and croak off before you attempt to repot it .
How to repot a Christmas cactus
you’re able to repot a Christmas cactus pretty easily . It ’s a square pattern , but keep in creative thinker that the plant themselves are fragile . offshoot can very well fall off during the repotting process . Be very careful during the cognitive process .
After repotting your Christmas cactus , you should expect it to go through a period of jounce . Repotting can be a damaging and traumatizing process for any works . you could help it along by placing it in a shady location out of direct sunlight for 3 - 7 days . After this period , you may turn back it to its normal location .
Splitting your Christmas cactus
Christmas cactuses will pretty much continue to grow and mature indefinitely if you keep giving it a larger pot to raise into . In the case of my mother ’s cactus , it has become a monolithic , 40 British pound plant that needs to be moved indoors and outdoors each wintertime and summertime , severally . If you are n’t prove to develop an enormous cactus , there ’s good news : you’re able to split it up .
The splitting process is gentle , but you do have to be heedful with the plant . Remove the plant from its batch and carefully put it on its side . Take a discriminating knife and veer the roots of the plant in one-half , all the way up to the base of the cactus . When you ’re done , you should have two adequate - sized lobe of roots and plant . If it ’s a very large works , you could quarter it and make four Modern plant . If it ’s more average - sized , you should only split it the one time . Smaller Christmas cactus should not be burst up .
