- Christmas cacti are hardy and rarely get sick
- Improper care cause of diseases
- When the Christmas cactus sheds all its blossoms
- Why isn't the Christmas cactus blooming?
The Christmas cactus is one of the houseplants that are very robust and therefore do not often suffer from diseases. Wrong care is almost always responsible when Christmas cacti become ill, lose their flowers or do not flower at all.
Too much moisture makes the Christmas cactus sick
Christmas cacti are hardy and rarely get sick
In a favorable location and with good care, you will have no problems with a Christmas cactus. This cactus species is considered to be very robust and disease-resistant. Only if the location is unfavorable or care errors occur can the Christmas cactus suffer from the following diseases and problems:
- root rot
- stem rot
- falling flowers
- lack of flowering
Improper care cause of diseases
As a representative of the cacti, the Christmas cactus does not like it when the substrate is too wet. It is essential to avoid waterlogging and only use rainwater or low-lime tap water for watering.
Waterlogging from compacted soil or standing water in the saucer will cause the roots and cactus limbs to rot and fall off.
When the Christmas cactus sheds all its blossoms
The Christmas cactus does not tolerate it if you move it around frequently. The inflorescences always align themselves with the light. If you turn the pot, the flowers change their direction of growth. If this happens more often, they simply fall off.
Also avoid drafts and place the Christmas cactus in a sheltered location.
Why isn't the Christmas cactus blooming?
If the Christmas cactus does not bloom, it is usually not due to diseases. In order to develop a rich flower, it needs a rest period about three months before the flowering period. During this time it is placed cooler at 17 to 18 degrees for about six weeks.
Some experts also recommend giving the Christmas cactus a longer period of darkness before flowering. It is placed in a place where it receives little light and is hardly watered. This phase stimulates the formation of new flowers.
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Pests also do not often bother the Christmas cactus. Very rarely, scale insects or aphids can occur. An infestation should be controlled as soon as possible to prevent further spread.