Why are the leaves of Schlumbergera becoming soft and thin? Can I still plant cuttings if the leaves of Schlumbergera are soft?

Christmas cactus is a common flower in life. Many people like to grow some at home because it is easy to grow and has the effect of purifying the air. However, many people find that the leaves of Christmas cactus become soft and thin. So why do the leaves of Christmas cactus become soft and thin? Let's take a look.

Why are the leaves of Christmas cactus becoming soft and thin?

Improper soil

Christmas cactus has relatively high requirements for soil. It is more suitable to grow in loose soil with good drainage, and the soil must have good air permeability. If the air permeability is poor, it will cause the roots of Christmas cactus to rot and the leaves will gradually turn yellow, so be sure to use soil suitable for it.

Overwatering

In fact, Christmas cactus likes to grow in a humid environment, but we cannot water it too much during the cultivation process, because this is likely to cause water accumulation in the pot, which will make the leaves thinner and softer, and then wither and die. If at this time, we must reduce the amount and frequency of watering, and wait for a while, and then water it normally after the leaves recover.

Too little light

Light is essential for plant care, and the same goes for Christmas cactus. It must be grown in a sunny place. Without sufficient sunlight, the leaves will grow poorly and sometimes even dry up. If you can expose the Christmas cactus to sunlight for about eight hours a day and keep it in a cool place at other times, it will grow very lush.

Can I still plant cuttings if the leaves of Christmas cactus become soft?

Soft leaves of Christmas cactus are commonly caused by root rot and drought, which are the two extremes of waterlogging and water shortage! The survival rate of branches with soft leaves used for cuttings is definitely not as good as that of normal healthy branches, but as long as they have complete growth points and are not in particularly bad condition, you can still try cuttings, and there is a certain chance of survival.

What should be paid attention to when taking cuttings of Christmas cactus

When cuttings, choose thick and strong leaves, let the wounds of the leaves dry for a day, and try to use imported peat soil. If not, use domestic peat soil with some carbendazim. Start watering the next day after cuttings, and water thoroughly when the soil is dry. Remember not to water frequently!

After the cuttings take root, use nitrogen fertilizer in the early stage and balanced fertilizer in the middle stage. When you want to promote flowering in the later stage, use high phosphorus fertilizer to irrigate the roots once every half a month one month in advance, with 8-10 hours of light and a temperature of 25 degrees. Do not move the flower pot during the bud incubation period.