Christmas Cactus is very sad??
Hi, I am babysitting this plant for a coworker while they are down south for the winter. It was doing so fabulous and bloomed beautifully but in the last two weeks has become very very sad? I water it as Greg instructs but something is wrong?? Its leaves feel very thin and look wrinkly.
Please help, they told me this plant is a family heirloom and nearly 100years old?!
Please help, they told me this plant is a family heirloom and nearly 100years old?!
8” pot without drainage
Last watered 1 year ago
6
She looks like she's being overwatered. They don't like to be wet all the time. Allow her soil to dry COMPLETELY. When in doubt wait. They are epiphytes that live on trees so in nature they don't have soil around their roots. So they hate wet feet and will get droopy and weighed down with water.
How often is Greg having you water? Always check by sticking your finger as far as you can into the soil if it feel cool or moist, WAIT ❤️
How often is Greg having you water? Always check by sticking your finger as far as you can into the soil if it feel cool or moist, WAIT ❤️
@SuperbRaspfern Greg has me watering 1cup every 2ish weeks. When I water it looks really dry on the surface. I just watered right before I posted these pics, you’re thinking wait longer next time?
So instead of going by what it looks like on the surface I want you to try this.
Stick your finger into the soil as far as you can. Now you are going by feel, sometimes you have to let your finger sit in it for a few seconds to actually 'feel' the soil.
If it feels, cool, moist or some soil sticks to your finger don't water yet. Those are you signs that there is plenty of water in the pot still.
It is safe in that case to wait a few more days and then check again.
Some soils hold moisture an incredibly long time. And when I zoom in it looks like a heavier soil. In that case the center of the pot will remain quite moist even though the top looks dry.
Stick your finger into the soil as far as you can. Now you are going by feel, sometimes you have to let your finger sit in it for a few seconds to actually 'feel' the soil.
If it feels, cool, moist or some soil sticks to your finger don't water yet. Those are you signs that there is plenty of water in the pot still.
It is safe in that case to wait a few more days and then check again.
Some soils hold moisture an incredibly long time. And when I zoom in it looks like a heavier soil. In that case the center of the pot will remain quite moist even though the top looks dry.
Forgot to mention when you do water water more than a cup you want water to reach the bottom of the roots too. So, thoroughly so that water comes out of the tray below it. A turkey baster works great at getting the water out of the tray so you don't have to move the plant around.
Unless it doesn't have drainage in that case don't do that just keep what you are doing. I know it's not your plant so I'm not going to tell you it needs drainage ❤️
Unless it doesn't have drainage in that case don't do that just keep what you are doing. I know it's not your plant so I'm not going to tell you it needs drainage ❤️