Christmas Cactus Dropping Buds
What can i do.
Christmas cactus dropping buds. The christmas cactus is one of the most popular houseplants sold during the holidays. The question why is my christmas cactus dropping buds is a common one here at gardening know how. Unlike most desert cacti this variety cannot tolerate completely dry soil. In fact christmas cactus dropping leaves actually stems and buds are common when growing conditions are less than ideal.
However christmas cactus schlumbergera bridgesii is a native of the rain forests of brazil. Most of these are sold straight from greenhouses where they have experienced strictly controlled lighting moisture and temperature conditions. It sounds as though your new christmas cactus is reacting to a change in the environment. The soil needs to be moist during summer and winter but dry to the touch in fall and spring before adding water.
If the soil gets too dry the flowers buds will drop and the plant will wilt. Despite being a relatively low maintenance houseplant knowing this little trick will prevent buds from dropping off your christmas cactus. You can have problems when growing a christmas cactus such as wilting leaves changing color leaves falling off and more. Leaves on the christmas cactus will wilt when the plant doesn t receive enough water.
It seems like every time i turn around more have fallen off. You might see a lot of stores selling these brightly colored succulents during the months of october to december. Fertilizer is another thing that can cause the buds to drop on a christmas cactus especially if it is being fed during its dormant time of year. Now the plant is losing its buds one flower at a time.
As soon as we hear the word cactus we usually assume the plant must like a hot dry environment. Christmas cactus plants are succulents and hail from the tropical forests of brazil. The fertilizer that plant receives. Your plant was given special treatment to make it bloom at christmas and it was provided with perfect growing conditions during this time.
Quick tip video about how to keep buds on your holiday cactus from dropping. When watering the cactus avoid getting water on the leaves. Dry soil conditions will also cause the buds to drop. A christmas cactus is a tropical cactus not a desert cactus.