The Christmas Cactus is one of your 99 problems . It ’s not easy to grow , even though its name include the word of honor “ cactus . ” Like all plants , they have their bonnie contribution of problems . However , by diligently attending to your Christmas Cactus problems , they ’ll bloom happily once again . This templet will help you recreate your Christmas Cactus with ease . Top peak : the whoremaster lies in identifying the accurate cause .
It ’s significant to get it on the canonical fact about the Christmas Cactus . Having a well understanding of the plant will allow you to foreclose future Christmas Cactus problems .
Even though Christmas Cacti are a genus of the cactus , they ’re not from the audacious deserts . They pass into a small genus category of cacti call Schlumbergera , which are a character of tropical cacti . They thrive in humid shady forests found in the tropics . This plant does not grow on the ground but on the branches and corner of trees . It anchors itself on the molder vegetation trapped on the tree .
The Christmas Cacti blossom in wintertime . Therefore , for them to flower they necessitate a suitable light round . On ordinary , they need 16 hour of darkness and 8 hour of light to start their heyday cycle per second . A cool and dark environment is all they need to blossom .
The Christmas cactus ( Schlumbergera bridgesii ) is a democratic vacation houseplant known for its colourful blooms that appear near Christmas However , the drop fleeceable stems of this epiphytic cactus can sometimes become afflicted with mystical white-hot smear . These blemish definitely detract from the plant ’s beauty .
If you notice white marks marring the attractive pendent shank and branches of your Christmas cactus do n’t panic . In most cases , the slur are simply cosmetic damage and not a augury of serious disease . With right charge the plant can often outgrow the problem over time .
Read on to hear what causes white spots on Christmas cactus and how to forbid and handle them
What Causes White Spots on Christmas Cactus?
White spots or markings on Christmas cactus are unremarkably because of one of these constituent :
Sunburn
Too much verbatim Lord’s Day can burn or decolor the tender green skin of the stem , leaving white deep-set lesions behind . This often occurs if the plant is moved from indoors to full out-of-door sun without slowly acclimating it first .
East or west - facing windows indoors are ideal for Christmas cactus . out of doors , keep it in partial spook protect from vivid afternoon sun .
Mineral Deposits
bloodless crusty repository on the control surface are generally a buildup of mineral salinity , such as fluoride , chloride and boron .
dab water and soften piddle check salts that can leave these bloodless marks if set aside to dry out on the leaves and halt . Avoid wetting the leafage when tearing . Improve drain and provide even moisture to deter deposits .
Pest or Disease Damage
In some cases , lily-white spots can indicate an underlying pest infestation or fungal disease :
mealy bug – These small soft - bodied insects give rise bloodless waxy secernment that coat the cactus , exit a snowy cottony residue on the stems .
Scale insect – Hard brown bumps on stems may be armoured scale . feed by the firm insects removes plant fluids , leaving blank lesions .
fungous leaf spot – Various fungal pathogens can cause modest , drop down snowy spots circumvent by a cerise , yellow or black ringing . This is more coarse on Schlumbergera parting than stems .
Root rot – Overwatering can lead to lethal root rot . This may produce wilting , yellowing and white sunken spots on the stems before kill the plant .
So inspect tight to determine if pests or disease are contribute to spy before choose discussion . Gently chafe the spots with your digit can help distinguish whether it is scale , mealybug or fungal in origin .
How to Treat White Spots on Christmas Cactus
If your diagnosing concludes the white marks are due to sunburn , mineral buildup or pests , use these intervention tips :
Adjust Sun Exposure
If sunburn is causing bleaching , move the potted cactus to a shadier spot indoors or alfresco . Slowly introduce it to increase sun over a full point of weeks to month . blanched sunken lesions from former burn will bit by bit pass off or may peel off as the plant produce novel growth .
Remove Mineral Deposits
Use room temperature distilled water system or rainwater to avoid append more salts and mineral . To dispatch existing crusty sediment , plunge a soft cloth in distilled vinegar and lightly wipe stems . forefend wetting the leafage . Improvement will be gradual since marks blow over slowly as stem elongate . cut back off gravely affected section .
Treat Pest Infestations
Mealybugs , scale and other sap - give louse can be controlled with sprays of insecticidal soap , neem crude or horticultural oil applied every 7 - 10 day . Systemic insecticide tot up to the soil may be warranted for heavy infestations . Isolate treated plants from uninfected unity to forestall spread .
Be sure to follow label direction and test products for safe on a small segment of the plant first . take sternly infested stems to improve control .
Improve Growing Conditions
The samara to avoiding future blemishes is correct charge to provide the idealistic surround :
Water only when the potting mix is partly dry . debar moisture extreme point .
Use a well - drain cactus mix and pot with drain holes .
Increase humidness around the plant life .
feed monthly in spring and summertime with a balanced houseplant food dilute to 1/2 speciality .
Keep temperatures around 65 - 75 ° F during fall and winter .
With care to proper grow conditions and quick discussion if smear occur , you may assert a intelligent , vigorous Christmas cactus free of these ornamental flaws . Any current ashen blemishes should fade over time as the cactus produces new pristine emergence .
Is It Fungal Leaf Spot Disease?
While pests , erythema solare and mineral are the most coarse suit of white spots on Christmas cactus , occasionally they can indicate a fungal transmission . Let ’s reckon at how to identify and treat two types of fungous leaf billet diseases :
Bipolaris Leaf Spot
This fungous disease produces round white recessed spots edged in reddish - browned rings on leaves and sometimes stems . The lesion may spread or fuse to mould large dead patch . It is due to the Bipolaris coinage .
Bipolaris leaf spot thrives in warm , humid conditions . Avoid overhead watering and provide good air circulation . bump off and destroy affected leaves . cover with antifungal agent containing mancozeb or neem vegetable oil sprays .
Phyllosticta Leaf Spot
low round white spot flesh on leaves , outlined by a yellow halo . The wound become tan colored with dark brown borders as they age . It is because of Phyllosticta schlumbergerae .
Prevent conditions favorable for disease like overwatering , humidity and dense foliation . employ antifungal agent with chlorothalonil or mancozeb when symptoms are first noticed . transfer severely affected leaves .
Is It Root Rot?
While leafage spot kingdom Fungi usually do n’t impress the stems as much , the fungal disease root rot can cause widespread yellowing or lily-white spots on Christmas cactus stems . As the source die off from supererogatory moisture , the plant is unable to take up water and branch protrude collapsing .
To treat root rot , allow the potting premix to completely dry out out . Remove the works and trim off all black , kitschy roots . Repot in new cactus premix with total perlite for drainage . Water slenderly , allowing the grime to partially dry out out between waterings . Discard any naughtily regard cut .
With persevering care , the Christmas cactus can grow new healthy roots and stems will tauten up again as proper lacrimation resumes . Disinfect any pots before reuse to avoid circularize disease .
When to Seek Professional Help
Consult with your local nursery , horticultural extension office or plant disease expert if :
spotlight cover to spread rapidly despite handling .
You are unsure if it is pest , disease or cultural result .
The plant declines despite your best efforts to fix the problem .
They can help positively describe if disease is the lawsuit and recommend appropriate fungicides or discourse measures . This is particularly prudent if you want to protect other cactus in your collection from potential infection .
Do n’t permit a minor guinea pig of white spots detract from the graceful elegance of your prized Christmas cactus . With some investigator work and attentive care , you could restitute its unblemished beauty to enhance your holiday interior decoration .
Dire Christmas Cactus problems
If these things befall to your Christmas Cactus , it will be backbreaking to get better . But if you do the following , we ’re sure you ’ll be able to get a happy Christmas Cactus .
My plant is wilting and it has black spots all over it. The leaves have turned brown.
Symptoms : The plant is wilting . fatal and red fleck on the flora . The spots have a weak grain to them . The leaves of the plant are browning .
Cause : Overwatering and source rot .
This is very common when it comes to Christmas Cactus problems . The perpetrator is root rot . Act quickly . Overwatered Christmas Cactus aid should be deal out with straightaway rush if you need to keep your works ! .
take up by unrooting the Christmas Cactus and washing the soil off the roots . Take a pair of sharp , clean plant scissors and snip off the rotten clump of the root . If the roots are rotten they should feel squishy .
Get a clean Mary Jane with drainage holes at its bottom . Fill the pot with cactus soil and gently water to make it moist . allow the water enfeeble off . Do not make the soil too moist or you will start the rot all over again . Re - pot the plant and observe it for a few days .
Only irrigate the plant when the territory goes ironical . If your Christmas Cactus starts to shrivel , this is a good preindication that you want to irrigate . Once watered , slay spare water from the tray below to guarantee the land does n’t sit in it .
Avoid using fungicides ! This is indeedcaused by fungi , but you require to have intercourse the accurate variant to deal it . It is easy to re - pot the cactus and give the plant a second opportunity .
Christmas cactus dropping segments, leaves or flower buds. Save your succulent plant
Why are there white place on Cactus ?
lily-white spots on cactus become an alarming signal when they seem on attractive cacti and ruin the aesthetics of the plant . Cacti require less care , water , and precision than most non - succulent plant making them desirable for busy flora - lovers .
What causes icteric spots on a Christmas cactus ?
Yellow place on a Christmas cactus can descend from several experimental condition , including rootage bunkum , sunburn , or stem guff . However , the last one , Basal stem guff , can potentially be deathly for your plant if not treated immediately , so you should check for signboard of this disease before do by your flora for secondary issue .
What causes browned maculation on Christmas cactus bequeath ?
dark-brown spots on the leaves of your Christmas cactus are common . They can be the consequence of sunburn or sunscald , especially if they appear where the leaves are at their tenuous , unremarkably along the edges . However , in most eccentric , these touch are relatable to Botrytis blight , a fungal disease that affects millions of works worldwide each class .
Why is my Christmas cactus turning white ?
Christmas cactus plants will plow white due to leaf scorching or underwatering . If left in direct sunshine the UV light beam can bleach the color from the leaves . Underwatering can also fleece the foliation of nutrient need to maintain color pigmentation . So how do you handle a christmas cactus that has yellow foliage ?
