How to care for the lotus flower cactus
In comparison with the small amount of plant cultivation experience of most people on how to care for the lotus flower cactus and the maintenance tips for lotus flower cactus, the following is a detailed explanation by the editor.
The lotus flower cactus belongs to the cactus family of flowers, with large and beautiful blooms and bright colors, which has always been loved by a wide range of flower enthusiasts. The lotus flower cactus not only has beautiful flowers but is also very easy to care for, as long as there is sufficient water, fertilizer, and sunlight, most can bloom in large quantities. However, some flower enthusiasts say that the lotus flower cactus they are raising has vigorous stem and leaf growth but rarely blooms. Today, let's share some maintenance methods for the lotus flower cactus and learn how to care for it to produce a large number of flower buds.
1. Cultivation Soil
Whether a flower can be cared for well or not, the cultivation soil is very important. Some flowers prefer slightly acidic soil, while others prefer slightly alkaline soil. It is necessary to understand its growth habits before caring for flowers to prepare the cultivation soil properly. The lotus flower cactus requires loose, fertile, and well-draining cultivation soil. For example, you can mix decayed leaf soil, garden soil, coarse sand soil, and compost in a ratio of 4:3:1:2 to make cultivation soil.
2. Cultivation Method
When planting the lotus flower cactus, choose a pot of the right size with good breathability. First, place broken tiles at the bottom of the pot to cover the drainage holes, then add a small amount of decomposed bean cakes or bone meal as a base fertilizer, fill in the cultivation soil, place the plant, fully spread the roots, compact the soil, water thoroughly, and place it in a shaded area to care for one week before transitioning to normal care.
3. Fertilization Requirements
The lotus flower cactus grows quickly in stems and leaves and requires more fertilizer, but not too much. During the spring growing period, you can apply a well-decomposed cake fertilizer water every 15 days to promote strong stem and leaf growth.
In April and May, the plant generally starts to bud and bloom. If it lacks nutrients at this time, the plant will become weak and may bloom less or not at all. Therefore, before the plant buds, it should be given 1-2 applications of fast-acting phosphorus fertilizer to make the blooms more abundant and colorful.
After flowering, the plant will enter a period of vigorous growth again. At this time, you can apply a nitrogen-based fertilizer to promote new stem and leaf growth, which is beneficial for the next blooming.
4. Watering Method
The lotus flower cactus is cactus-like and has strong drought resistance. During maintenance, it is not suitable to water too frequently. In spring and autumn, water should be applied when the soil is completely dry, avoiding积水 in the pot to prevent root rot.
During the high summer temperatures, avoid making the pot soil too moist or dry. When the weather is dry, you can sprinkle water around the pot to increase the humidity of the air. In winter, control watering to maintain the pot soil slightly moist and slightly dry.
5. Light Requirements
In spring and autumn, the lotus flower cactus should be exposed to sufficient sunlight. In summer, the plant may have a brief dormant period, during which it should be protected from direct sunlight and kept in a well-ventilated environment to prevent yellowing and withering of the stems and leaves. In winter, try to place the pot in a sunny area to allow the plant to bask in the sun.
6. Pruning and Shaping
The lotus flower cactus has vigorous stem and leaf growth. During growth, remove excess side buds and new buds at the bottom, and remove weak stems and leaves to reduce nutrient consumption and ensure that nutrients can be concentrated to supply the healthy stems and leaves for flowering.
The stems and leaves of the lotus flower cactus are soft and long. When they reach a certain height, they tend to fall over. Therefore, it is necessary to build a支架 when they reach a certain height and evenly fix the leaves on the支架 to increase ventilation and light penetration between the plants, prevent falling over, and enhance ornamental value.
When caring for the lotus flower cactus, it is generally necessary to repot and replace the soil every 1-2 years. The repotting time can be chosen in the spring and autumn seasons when the temperature is suitable. First, remove the plant from the pot, remove the old soil from the roots, check for any rotten roots, and prune them. Then, repot with new cultivation soil.
The above content about how to care for the lotus flower cactus and the maintenance tips for lotus flower cactus are provided for your comprehensive understanding and reference!