Common Questions about the Cultivation of蟹爪兰 (Disocactus ackermannii)
This article provides an in-depth explanation of the knowledge topics related to the succulent plant 蟹爪兰, addressing common questions about its cultivation that will surely help you. Let's learn about them together!
During the cultivation of 蟹爪兰, enthusiasts often encounter various common questions. This article summarizes the watering, deflowering, early blooming, and propagation issues that may arise during the cultivation of 蟹爪兰.
Q: How to water 蟹爪兰?
Before discussing watering, let's talk about the soil used for growing 蟹爪兰, which should be well-draining, light-textured, and rich in humus. Choosing good soil is the foundation for successful home gardening. For propagated cuttings, it is recommended to use a soil mixture of珍珠岩:蛭石:泥炭 in a 1:1:1 ratio. Now, let's talk about watering. The watering method for 蟹爪兰 involves combining small and large amounts of water. When the soil surface becomes dry and white, apply a small amount of water, reaching only the upper half of the pot. When the soil surface dries out again, apply a large amount of water, allowing excess water to flow out from the bottom of the pot. Repeat this process. During the post-flowering recovery period, or when the environmental temperature is too high or too low, the amount of water should be slightly less than usual. For 蟹爪兰 grafted onto cacti or leaf cacti, the watering cycle should be appropriately extended, and for those grafted onto 三棱箭, even less water is needed.
Q: How to deflower 蟹爪兰?
The top of the stem sections of 蟹爪兰 often produce multiple flower buds simultaneously, which can compete for nutrients. Deflowering is necessary to prevent bud drop due to insufficient nutrients and to achieve a uniform flowering period for the best ornamental effect. The method is to select flower buds of uniform size and keep one flower bud per stem section.
Q: After flowering, the stem sections of 蟹爪兰 become soft and severely wilted. How to deal with it?
Flowering in 蟹爪兰 consumes nutrients stored in the stem sections, so it's normal for the stem sections to become soft and severely wilted after flowering. The plant's health is relatively poor after flowering, so watering should be strictly controlled to avoid root rot. Place the plant in a cool, well-ventilated area with bright indirect light and apply a balanced fertilizer externally to promote recovery. This recovery period lasts about half a month to a month. During this period, you can cut off the top 1-2 wilted stem sections to shorten the recovery time.
Q: How to propagate a new 蟹爪兰 at home?
There are three methods of propagating 蟹爪兰: cutting, grafting, and sowing. The simplest method is cutting propagation: Use a propagation medium made of珍珠岩:蛭石:泥炭 in a 1:1:1 ratio, select healthy, thick stem sections, remove the top tender stem sections, let the cut surface dry slightly before inserting it into the propagation medium, and maintain proper humidity depending on the environment. Roots should start to grow in about 2-3 weeks.
Q: How to make 蟹爪兰 bloom earlier?
蟹爪兰 is a short-day plant and can only bud and bloom under short-day conditions. If you want to make 蟹爪兰 bloom earlier, you can perform short-day treatment by shading for 8 hours a day, which can advance blooming by one month.
Q: What are the reasons for the yellowing, softening, and falling off of the stem sections of 蟹爪兰?
Excessive sunlight and high temperatures can cause the stem sections of 蟹爪兰 to yellow, soften, and fall off. Although 蟹爪兰 is a cacti plant, it cannot withstand strong sunlight like terrestrial cacti. In the summer, it needs a cool environment without direct sunlight, high humidity, and good ventilation.
Are you now aware of the detailed information shared about the common questions related to the cultivation of 蟹爪兰?