Good morning, afternoon, and evening to you all :)

I've run into a bit of trouble with my schlumbergera cutting. It only has 3 segments, so not a whole lot of plant to store enough water a nutrients (I assume) while it's been generating this massive bloom. I water it when the soil is dry and crumbly, and, normally, when it's wrinkled. It has progressively gotten thinner and thinner, regardless of watering. Am I right in assuming this is because the flower has taken so much energy from the little cutting? Should I fertilize it? I know spikes are bad, but they're all I have if it is recommended to fertilize (and they're pretty old, too - just found them in the basement a month ago, covered in dust ) Thank you in advance!

Have you established if it has roots?
You mention it is a cutting, when did you take the cutting and planted it? If it was not that long ago it may not have developed (m)any roots yet. The flower could just be produced from the stored resources and thus indeed be the main cause for the slow withering of the plant.

mcvansoest said:Have you established if it has roots?
You mention it is a cutting, when did you take the cutting and planted it? If it was not that long ago it may not have developed (m)any roots yet. The flower could just be produced from the stored resources and thus indeed be the main cause for the slow withering of the plant.

I took the cutting mid-November, it rooted (in water) about a week later, I then potted it, and it has firmly resisted my pulling on it since December. I am very curious about what the roots look like now, and I'm confident it has been established, but I'll probably pull it out and check once the bloom dies back as to not disrupt it.

I am not a big fan of fertlizing sick plants. The section with the bloom looks fine the wrinkled one could be a problem. I would just leave it alone for at least a week and see what happens. Many times thes do better with negelect then love.

herrwood said:I am not a big fan of fertlizing sick plants. The section with the bloom looks fine the wrinkled one could be a problem. I would just leave it alone for at least a week and see what happens. Many times thes do better with negelect then love.

Sounds good, thank you very much