The Christmas cactus , Schlumbergeraspp . , is not a desert cactus .
It uprise instead in the damp understories of South American rainforests .
As a houseplant , it ’s easy to maintain in a container of well - draining , organically - rich potting sensitive in a localization with indirect sunlight .
Photo via Alamy.
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In ourChristmas cactus growing guidewe discuss how to domesticate this colored houseplant in your household .
This article zeroes in on one particular feature : woody stems .
Photo via Alamy.
What You’ll Learn
Let ’s get started .
Why Do Stems Become Woody?
Christmas cacti do n’t have leaves . Instead , they have fleshy green segments called cladodes that join together to form stems .
With proper care , a flora may become a family heirloom , often living for 20 old age or more .
In the slip of an elderly cactus , while there may be a proliferation of unripe growth cascading over the side of the Mary Jane , a peek into the center of the plant is likely to reveal a woodland of thick , hard chocolate-brown stalk .
Just like a person , whenSchlumbergeragrows former , there are forcible changes . In a nutshell , the appearance of large woody stems is just that – a house that yours has reach old age .
Does old age spell trouble for your Christmas cactus ? get ’s find out .
Age-Related Issues and Remedies
There is nothing inherently wrong with being an old plant , and woody tissue does not take away from its lulu .
However , if yours has grown to Brobdingnagian proportions , there could be problem . Two issues that may come up are : a rootbound pot and splitting stems .
We ’ll explore each .
Rootbound Plant
Schlumbergeraplants favor tight living quarters , so rootage that are somewhat snug in the hatful are not normally a problem .
However , when the stem start to glint out of the drain hole in the bottom of the pot , it may be time to get a slightly orotund container , make full it with clean pot medium , and replant .
Roots that are tightly tangled ca n’t take up nutrients efficiently . And ifyou have n’t repottedin many years , the potting medium is potential to be depleted of crucial nutrients .
So , cater to your cactus in its dotage by refreshing it .
In add-on , if you see signs of malnutrition from poor nutrient uptake , like stain and wilting , you may need to give the plant a lift by trimming each shank by one - third before repotting .
To do this , habituate clean pruning shears to cut between the cladode segment .
Each cutting off section will presently burgeon forth young increment for a rejuvenated visual aspect , and better nutrient uptake .
Splitting Stems
Another issue with an old plant that has grown quite heavy is the potential for it to unwrap apart .
Even if you don’tneedto repot , you may still require to trim each stem by one - third to relieve the plant of excessive free weight .
When a root rip , it create an undecided wound that is vulnerable to disease such asbacterial mild putrefaction , caused byPectobacterium carotovorum , particularly in hot , humid environments .
alas , there is no effectual handling available to bring around this condition .
In the event that your plant breaks or splits , and especially if the leaf and rootage have become mushy or malodorous , there may still be time to dissemble .
Unearth the cactus and rinse it thoroughly , roots and all . Use fresh pruning shears to abridge off all mushy foliage and rotten roots , and repot what ’s leave in fresh potting mix .
Do a deep pruning if necessary , shorten affected stems right back to where the chocolate-brown woody part lead off .
Try not to withdraw more than one - third of the entire plant , as it will be floor and convalescence will likely be slower .
forthwith after repotting , hold a doseof all - function liquified houseplant fertilizer per package instructions to jump - start recovery .
If the equipment casualty is extensive , do n’t interest , becauseSchlumbergeraare well-to-do to propagate from flaccid cuttings .
To do this , simply find out a few healthy dark-green sections at least two section long , and clip them off with clean pruning shears .
lie them on a paper towel for a few days to heal and form a callosity at the point where they were cut .
Once they have healed , place them in a well - drain container of moist , organically - plenteous potting spiritualist , where they will shortly grow roots and establish themselves .
Find more crest on generation here .
The Golden Years
Whether you ’re a soul or a plant life , get older is just what materialise when you ’re in effective health . Ironic , is n’t it ?
Celebrate your Christmas cactus . mollycoddle it in its gilded years . Do n’t countenance it become severely potbound or collapse beneath its own weight unit .
And rest assured that when it bursts into flush in the vacation season , it ’s not thinking of how brown its shank are , and neither should you .
If you determine this clause instructive and would like to learn cactus finish , check out these guide next :
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Nan Schiller
