Vacation cacti are festive crops that bloom in the course of the winter months, and funky circumstances are required for his or her eye-catching, colourful blooms to type.
However since they aren’t chilly hardy, it’s necessary to know precisely what temperature vary they should thrive and promote blooming.
Whether or not you’ve simply obtained a Schlumbergera as a vacation reward, or have inherited considered one of these long-lived succulents from a good friend or relative, you could be questioning if it’s protected for this plant to spend time outside when the circumstances begin to cool.
Maybe you’re making an attempt to determine in case your Christmas cactus can stay outside all winter lengthy.
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That can rely upon simply how low the temperatures fall in your location in the course of the colder seasons.
And though they aren’t chilly hardy, it’d shock you to be taught that cool circumstances are literally required to assist these succulents flower!
On this article we’re going to clear up any confusion you might need about Christmas cactus chilly tolerance. Right here’s what we’ll cowl:
Chilly Tolerance of Christmas Cactus
Because you’re right here to be taught extra concerning the chilly tolerance of Schlumbergera, it is going to profit you to have a higher understanding of their total temperature preferences to provide you an entire view of their seasonal wants.
Earlier than we get began, should you’d wish to dip again into the fundamentals of those succulents together with their background, care and upkeep wants, and recommendations on pest and illness management, make sure to learn our full information to rising and caring for Christmas cacti.
Greatest Temperatures for Foliage Development
These cool-weather blooming epiphytes hail from coastal, mountain forests in Brazil the place the circumstances are pretty gentle.
Within the heat months, the daytime vary tends to stay to a nice 70 to 80°F, with drops of about 10 levels at night time.
In temperatures as much as 90°F, vacation cacti are stimulated to supply their distinctive foliage that consists of flattened stems, referred to as cladodes – however not blooms.
If temperatures stay above 90°F, they’ll cease rising and anticipate cooler circumstances earlier than resuming progress.
Greatest Temperatures for Bloom Manufacturing
Subsequent let’s take a look at the ranges that may encourage these succulents to bloom.
Whereas not all gardeners are in settlement on the best temperature vary to encourage flowering, most horticulturalists agree that nighttime temperatures of 55°F is acceptable to encourage bud formation.
Then again, under 50°F may cause buds to drop, and nighttime temperatures constantly above 65°F can forestall bud formation.
That offers us a candy spot of nighttime temperatures between 50 to 65°F if you’d like your vacation cactus to bloom.
Or intention for 55 to 60°F if you wish to be extra prudent on each ends of the vary, avoiding factors on the thermometer that could be both too cool or too heat.
You possibly can be taught extra about how one can encourage Christmas cactus to bloom in our information.
Christmas Cactus Chilly Tolerance
Whereas not all gardeners intention for a similar vary on the thermometer to encourage flowering, likewise, not all horticulturalists designate the identical chilly tolerance for these succulents.
That is possible as a result of chilly tolerance for any given plant relies on extra than simply the temperature – different components that affect this tolerance embrace size of publicity, humidity, and soil dryness.
In truth, some succulents, equivalent to prickly pears, are rather more tolerant of the chilly if circumstances are pretty dry.
Nevertheless, this isn’t the case with Schlumbergera species as they aren’t tailored to residing in chilly winter circumstances.
The coldest these succulents expertise of their native vary is round 50°F, so it is a good decrease restrict to respect.
So in case your plant is exterior for the summer season, make sure to carry it again indoors earlier than the forecast predicts it to drop under 50°F as if it goes any decrease Christmas cacti can drop their leaves.
Having stated that, some gardeners – and even some well-respected gardening establishments – declare that these crops are hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 10, the place lows can attain 30°F.
Others suggest this plant for Zone 11 on the coldest, which experiences lows of 40°F.
As we’ve mentioned, it’s possible that these differing opinions on the chilly tolerance of those succulents replicate different environmental circumstances in addition to temperature.
Humidity variations will have an effect on this tolerance, as will the hydration of crops when uncovered to temperatures under 50°F. So until you could have private expertise that tells you in any other case, play it protected and maintain crops above 50°F.
Do you reside in a location the place climate circumstances keep above 50°F throughout winter?
In that case, you could wish to learn our article about rising vacation cacti outside.
I discussed the significance of size of publicity to freezing circumstances.
If you’re bringing considered one of these vacation bloomers from a automobile to your entrance door throughout winter, maintain the plant in a bag or field to guard it, but it surely needs to be advantageous for such a brief size of time.
Then again should you go away considered one of these houseplants outside for a whole night time of freezing circumstances, you could discover the stems have turned mushy the subsequent morning.
Cross your fingers – though it is going to be severely broken, there’s an opportunity you might be able to revive the plant!
To do that, transfer it out of the chilly and right into a heat – however not scorching – location. Trim again any broken stems – something that’s mushy or black – and provides the plant a small quantity of water if the soil is dry.
Keep even moisture within the soil to maintain the roots alive, however don’t water abundantly till stems start to regrow – if certainly they do regrow.
Solely time will inform! You’ll have to attend and see if the plant recovers and produces new stems later in winter or spring.
Chill Out – However Not Too A lot
Let’s do a fast recap: maintain these succulents above 50°F to stop chilly injury.
Goal for 55 to 60°F to encourage blooming, give them 70 to 80°F to advertise stem progress, and by no means expose them to freezing circumstances for prolonged durations.
And if a vacation cactus is uncovered to an evening or extra of freezing temperatures, prune broken foliage and attempt to maintain the plant alive till it begins to regrow.
Do you could have any remaining questions concerning the chilly tolerance of those epiphytic succulents? Are you rising a vacation cactus outside yr spherical? In that case, what USDA Hardiness Zone are you in? Tell us within the feedback part under.
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