Each house ought to have a Schlumbergera Christmas cactus spilling over the aspect of a dangling basket or sitting prettily on a shelf – they’re really easy to look after and their brilliant flowers brighten up the vacation months!
And as soon as considered one of these succulents has develop into a everlasting resident of your private home, you’ll finally begin to marvel when and tips on how to repot your Christmas cactus.
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This text will give you step-by-step steerage for transplanting these succulents, and the identical recommendation applies to Easter and Thanksgiving cactuses as effectively!
Right here’s a sneak peek on the steps concerned:
Earlier than we get began, for those who’d wish to assessment normal care necessities for these succulents, be sure you learn or bookmark our full information to rising Christmas cacti.
When to Repot a Christmas Cactus
As epiphytes, these succulent crops don’t have giant root techniques and subsequently don’t require frequent transplanting.
The primary clue that your vacation cactus must be repotted is likely to be that it’s drying out extra rapidly than typical between waterings.
If there are roots rising from the drainage holes or the highest of the rising medium, the specimen is probably going root certain, and it’s time to transplant it to a bigger container.
Specimens that aren’t outgrowing their pots can nonetheless profit from a change of potting medium each three to 4 years, however can continue to grow in the identical container.
Undecided how lengthy it’s been because you final repotted?
Why not begin holding observe of this and different houseplant care duties in a gardening journal? Learn our article to be taught extra.
Nevertheless you’ll wish to wait till the time is true to repot for the very best outcomes.
Precisely when the time is true will range, and it is dependent upon the season, the period of time because the final repotting, the scale of the foundation ball throughout the pot, and whether or not the plant is blooming or not.
That final level could also be an important – don’t repot your plant whereas it’s in bloom, since all its vitality is at the moment targeted on flowering. As an alternative wait till blooming has completed.
In case your Schlumbergera shouldn’t be at the moment blooming, it might be a superb time to repot!
Did yours fail to bloom this yr? Learn our information to discover ways to encourage a Christmas cactus bloom.
Let’s now contemplate the following issue: season.
When attainable, it’s finest to attend till springtime to transplant your Christmas cactus. Late winter and early summer season are additionally acceptable instances.
It is because ideally the plant needs to be in a stage of lively development, in order that the foundation system has the chance develop into established within the new container.
After flowering, between late winter and early summer season is the best repotting window.
There are some conditions the place you might want to modify containers and rising medium regardless of season, root development, or the time elapsed because you final repotted.
In case your Christmas cactus was planted within the improper sort of rising medium it’s finest to go forward and repot instantly. If the specimen appears wholesome and is blooming, I’d nonetheless suggest ready till it’s completed flowering.
These succulents require soil with extra moisture retention than arid habitat cacti family reminiscent of prickly pears and astrophytums, however additionally they want good drainage.
In reality, poor drainage is likely one of the the explanation why vacation cacti can flip yellow.
Talking of turning yellow, do you believe you studied that your vacation cactus has been overwatered by some overeager members of your family, maybe?
If that’s the case, you might want to vary out the rising medium to put it aside.
Learn our article about saving overwatered vacation cacti for extra steerage.
Let’s contemplate another reason that will compel you to transplant considered one of these succulents no matter different elements – a plant that’s rising in an outsized pot or in a vessel that has no drainage holes.
A container that lacks drainage holes or is simply too massive could cause the rising medium to remain soggy and waterlogged, resulting in root rot.
How are you aware if the container is simply too massive?
If there’s greater than an inch between the sting of the foundation ball and the aspect of the pot, it’s doubtless too giant.
So in case your succulent is at the moment rising in a pot that doesn’t drain, a pot that’s too giant, or the improper sort of rising medium, go forward and repot as quickly as attainable!
Collect the Repotting Provides
Once you’re able to transplant your Christmas cactus, you’ll want a few provides: rising medium and a brand new pot – for those who aren’t simply altering out the potting soil.
When selecting a mixture, be sure that it accommodates substances that may retain moisture in addition to present good drainage – simply what an epiphytic jungle cactus wants!
Industrial potting mixes for succulents range tremendously – most of them are literally too moisture retentive for crops like echeverias, however not moisture retaining sufficient for vacation cacti!
That’s why I wish to make my very own succulent potting mixes relying on what I’m planting.
For vacation cacti, 75 p.c natural supplies, reminiscent of coconut coir and compost, and 25 p.c mineral substances, together with pumice and sand, is an effective aim to shoot for – although this doesn’t must be precise.
I like to make use of a mix of 1 half houseplant potting combine and one half cactus and succulent combine for these jungle cacti – one has nice texture, and the opposite is kind of chunky. This will get me a outcome near that very best 75 p.c natural and 25 p.c mineral ratio.
Study extra concerning the excellent Christmas cactus rising medium in our information.
After attempting lots of the business cactus and succulent mixes on the market, considered one of my favorites is Rosy Soil’s Cactus and Succulent Combine, accessible for buy in four-quart luggage by way of Walmart.
Rosy Soil Cactus and Succulent Soil
And for the houseplant potting combine, I’m an enormous fan of De La Tank’s Home Plant Combine, accessible in a choice of bag sizes by way of Arbico Organics.
De La Tank’s Home Plant Combine
In case your plant has outgrown its present pot, select a alternative container that is only one measurement bigger – about an inch wider on both aspect.
Are you questioning for those who can reuse nursery pots or ornamental containers? Sure!
First, whether or not the alternative pot is model new or beforehand used, be sure that it has drainage holes – ideally multiple.
Subsequent, in case you are reusing a container, wash it, then wipe it down with hydrogen peroxide to sanitize.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for some ornamental choices, try our information to 25 of the very best hanging planters.
Along with potting medium and a brand new planter, you might also wish to discover one thing to make use of to include the small mess you’ll inevitably make in the course of the repotting course of!
Relying on the scale of your plant, a big plate or a small plastic bin would possibly work.
It doesn’t should be sufficiently big to include the entire plant, simply the foundation ball, the brand new container, and a few rising medium.
Repot the Christmas Cactus
When you have got your provides and the time is true, you possibly can transplant.
First take away the hanger from the pot if there may be one.
Subsequent put together the brand new pot by including a shallow layer of rising medium within the backside of the container, about an inch deep or so.
Then take away the plant from its outdated pot.
If the specimen is extraordinarily root certain, attempt to gently loosen up the roots.
You are able to do this by rubbing the palm of your hand in opposition to the foundation ball, or teasing the sides free with a fork or chopstick.
In case you are freshening up the rising medium however returning the plant to the identical pot, take away the plant, empty out any free potting medium from the pot, and loosen the sides of the foundation ball.
Situate the loosened root ball into the brand new container, and test the extent.
Make sure that there’s a few half an inch to an inch of room between the highest of the foundation ball and the rim of the pot, so alter the quantity of rising medium beneath the foundation ball if essential.
Then fill in with extra rising medium alongside the edges of the foundation ball.
Tamp down gently, and fill in a bit extra if wanted to create a degree floor.
After repotting the Christmas cactus, water it in, then place it in a spot with decrease mild than it’s used to for a couple of days to provide it a delicate restoration earlier than returning the plant to its common location.
Repotted and Replenished
Now that you know the way to correctly repot a Christmas cactus, will probably be even simpler to maintain considered one of these epiphytic succulents rising in your house for a few years to come back.
Do you have got any remaining questions on this course of? Are you continue to uncertain whether or not to repot or not?
Drop your questions within the remark part beneath and we’ll do our greatest to provide you some steerage!
Need to hold rising your data about Christmas cacti? We’ve extra studying for you proper right here: