Overwatered Christmas Cactus Care – How to save Overwatered Cactus?

The second name of the cactus is Schlumbergera, which is considered a wonderful and winter-blooming tropical succulent. Its beautiful and colorful blooms can enhance the beauty of winter days. It is one of the few succulents that will reliably bloom indoors, year after year. You have to pay attention to the cactus plant if you want to grow them healthy.

If you somehow overwater your plant it will catch the problem. This can be a confusing response to overwatering, as the Schlumbergera will look like it needs more water, but the opposite is true. This can destroy the whole growth of your plant. But you can follow overwatered Christmas Cactus Care to save your plant. It is possible to do so, you just need to give your time and attention to the diseased plant.

A few more details about the Christmas Cactus

This is a fun fact about this plant if you properly take care of it, this can survive for up to 100 years. This plant moves from generation to generation, you can say that this plant can be like an inheritance. It has a stunning feel that makes it popular in the holiday festival, this is a gorgeous plant people mostly love it.

This plant produces beautiful pink blooms and it has attractive leaves, you can easily handle its maintenance. This is an ornamental plant that is able to increase the beauty of the corner of your house where it has been planted. Christmas Cactus as the name suggests is a cactus with the botanical name Schlumbergera bridgesii. So this is a winter-flowering house plant. 

Christmas Cactus loves bright but indirect sunlight. Because direct and full sunlight will burn its leaves it is not good for its growth. You need to give it water only when it is needed. Because overwatering will harm this plant. Letting this plant sit in a saucer or plate full of water may damage or might even kill the plant. 

This requires a bit of maintenance and care because this plant tends to die when it has to face even common problems. You can know about what problems are faced by cacti or succulents which are houseplants.

What are the main problems faced by cactus or succulents that are indoor plants?

You need to know all about the problems faced by cactus or succulents that are indoor plants. If you know the problems you will be able to solve them too. You need to learn all about them:

Underwatering

Underwatering is what the plant faces the problem when you don’t provide it with a sufficient amount of water. When you miss the watering schedule then your plant faces these underwatering conditions. 

This also can be caused due to the harsh sunlight. Because underwatered christmas cactus prefers bright but indirect sunlight, when you will give it harsh and direct sunlight your plant will have to face the underwatering problems.

Signs of an underwatered plant

• Leaves will start looking like they are dead.
• You will find cracks in the Christmas Cactus soil.
• Brownish-yellow and dry leaves that eventually curl up.

A quick solution to revive an underwatered plant

You need to give a sufficient amount of water when you see your plant is lacking the required amount of water. It will give you a sign by curling brown-yellow leaves then you will have to give it water enough that the soil becomes wet. Well, it will take a longer time to recover.

Overwatering

Overwatering can be the main cause of the death of your plant. When you give your plant an excessive amount of water this will lead your plant to the road of slow death. The roots of such waterlogged plants can die and also be caught by root rot as they are unable to absorb enough oxygen to function. Waterlogging cuts the air supply to roots which will destroy your plant’s growth.

Signs of an overwatered plant

• You will see that the soil is always wet and moist.
• This will cause the issues of pests and insects.
• You will notice that leaves will turn into yellowish shades of green.
• Also, The stems start decaying and turn soggy and soft.

Quick solutions to revive an overwatered plant

• You need to change the location of the plant and move it to the shady area. 
• You need to change the pot and clean the roots regularly. 
• Potting the damaged plant.
• Only water them when it’s needed.
• You need to treat the plant with a fungicide.

How to Propagate A Christmas Cactus?

Overwatered Christmas Tree cactus produces root rotting in the plant, and also leads the plant to death. You first need to make the plant get rid of excessive water collected under it. This should be the initial step of your effort to make your plant survive. 

After doing this, you can remove the plant from the pot and container and place it where it can not be caught with overwatering issues. After removing the fungus or rot from the plant roots, it’s time to remove the soggy branches or stems which have started to go soft and eventually rot.

Now you need to let your plant completely dry. It will take maybe two or more days and also make sure to put it in the sunlight. You should check the condition of the plant the next morning and then you need to take the next step. You need to dry the soil completely and then only begin watering again.

Make sure that your plant recovers once, it will never bear another overwatering attack. So try not to overwater your plant. Also, make sure to only water the plant after the layer of topsoil is completely dry.

Overwatered Christmas Tree Care Tips

If the plant got extreme damage you can simply propagate the plant. You need to take the stem of a healthy and young plant and make it able to root in a glass of water for as long as the roots start to develop again.

Once the re-developing phase starts, You can transfer the plant into the new container with part potting soil and part shredded dry leaves with compost in the ratio of 1:1:1 for good drainage.

After this process, the plant will receive full good sunlight at least for some time before its blooming period, and then you have to move the pot to a shady area where it can gain indirect sunlight. Also, one should avoid watering the plant completely, or water the plant only when it’s completely dry.

Yellow Christmas cactus care

You can follow all these care tips to keep your plant healthy:

Bright indirect light

This plant can grow in indirect bright light but keep in mind to avoid direct sunlight as that can harm the leaves and will turn them red. This will get unusual spots on the leaves of the plant. 

You need to keep them away from the direct sunlight. Also, the right location for placing the pot is in an east, or west-facing window is necessary.

Regular watering

Give your plants a sufficient amount of water and be regular in your action as well. During the growth season mainly in spring and summer before water make sure the top inches of the soil are dry. Make sure that water doesn’t remain at the bottom of the pot it could cause root rot.

Warm temperature

You need to focus on the maintenance of the temperatures. It bears ranges between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. You need to maintain the humidity level as well. 

Avoid keeping the plant at a temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, keep it away from the 50 degrees Fahrenheit temperature this will kill your plant.

Fertilizing

You need to provide fertilizer to your plant. This will grow your plant quicker and make it bigger in size. You need to apply a well-balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer 10-10-10. 

You need to give fertilizer once in a month during the growing season such as spring and summer.

Encourage blooming

You can place the plant in a cool place for 12 to 13 hours of darkness in order to grow flower buds. This will help your plant to grow healthy and your plant will remain happy. These were all the tips you can follow to keep your plant healthy.

Prickly Pear v Christmas Cactus

Prickly pear and Christmas cactus are two distinct types of cacti that showcase the diversity of this resilient plant family. Prickly pear, belonging to the Opuntia genus, is known for its flat, paddle-shaped pads and vibrant fruit, often called “tunas,” that are edible and nutritious. Found primarily in arid regions, prickly pear thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.

In contrast, Christmas cactus, or Schlumbergera, is a popular houseplant distinguished by its segmented stems and colorful, tubular flowers that bloom in winter, often around the holiday season. Unlike their desert-dwelling relatives, Christmas cacti prefer more humidity and indirect light, making them ideal for indoor environments. Together, they highlight the adaptability of cacti to various habitats and their unique aesthetic contributions to gardening and home decor.

Types of Christmas Cactus

Christmas cacti come in several varieties, each with unique characteristics and blooming patterns. The most common types include:

1. Schlumbergera truncata: Often referred to as the Thanksgiving cactus, it blooms earlier in the season, producing bright, tubular flowers in shades of pink, red, and white. Its segmented stems have pointed tips.
2. Schlumbergera x buckleyi: Known as the true Christmas cactus, this variety blooms in December and features flatter, rounded segments with vibrant flowers, typically in shades of pink, purple, or white.
3. Schlumbergera opuntioides: This lesser-known variety has a more elongated appearance and produces smaller, delicate flowers. It’s appreciated for its unique form and can be a charming addition to collections.
4. Schlumbergera gaertneri: Sometimes called the Easter cactus, this variety blooms later in the spring and has a more sprawling growth habit. Its flowers are often bright red or orange.

These types of Christmas cacti not only add beauty to homes during the holiday season but also offer a range of care requirements and blooming times, making them popular among plant enthusiasts.

Conclusion

The beautiful and colorful blooms of this plant can enhance the beauty of winter days. It is one of the few succulents that will reliably bloom indoors, year after year. You have to pay attention to the cactus plant if you want to grow them healthy.

This can be a confusing response to overwatering, as the Schlumbergera will look like it needs more water, but the opposite is true. This can destroy the whole growth of your plant. But you can follow overwatered Christmas Cactus Care to save your plant. It is possible to do so, you just need to give your time and attention to the diseased plant.

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