Want to know how to grow a may’s flower? We are here to help. These cheerful houseplants are great for brightening up your home during the colder season. And with a few simple tips and tricks, they’re easy to care for.
When it comes to interior decorating, bringing in a plant or two is a great way to lighten the mood. And a Mayflower is ideal if you want a more contemporary feel.
“Traditionally, these low-maintenance plants provide a colorful take on red flowers, but they also come in pink, white, purple, and orange varieties,” explains the houseplant experts behind Baby Bio. There’s one to suit every decorating scheme.
4 simple tips on how to grow Mayflower
“Festive, floral and full of color – the Mayflower is always a popular plant,” says Beards & Daisies founder and houseplant expert Jo Lambell.
“While it’s still classed as an easy-care plant, don’t treat it the same way you would a regular cactus,” adds Jo. “It is an epiphyte and is native to the tropical forests of southern Brazil, where it grows on tree branches. Therefore, its care must be like that of a tropical plant.”
We’ve rounded up the key points on how to grow a Mayflower to ensure you get the best results.
1. Suitable soil
First of all, you need to make sure your Mayflower is in the ideal soil type. This is especially important to consider if you are learning to replant or pot from seedlings.
“Like any other succulent or cactus, make sure your plant is potted in well-draining soil,” says the team at Baby Bio. But also keep in mind that May flowers prefer slightly acidic conditions. Using a cactus-specific preparation can help keep the balance right and your plant will flourish.
“Use fertilizer every two weeks from spring to fall, and during winter reduce feeding to once a month to encourage flowering,” the team adds.
2. Lighting
As with any successful houseplant, you need to make sure you have the right light conditions.
“Many plant parents assume that cacti need full sunlight, but the Mayflower actually does best in bright but indirect sunlight,” says the Baby Bio team.
Jo Lambell agrees: «It can handle low light, but bright indirect light is ideal for this plant and will also encourage more flowers.»
3. Humidity
These plants like high levels of humidity. The Baby Bio team suggests misting your plant regularly or placing it in a tray of wet pebbles. This is particularly useful during the winter months when the air in homes can be drier.
Better yet, place them in a kitchen or add them to your bathroom houseplant collection. Both areas benefit from high humidity compared to other rooms in the house, the team says.
Essential Living experts also advise to «always avoid placing your cactus near a hot fireplace or radiator that will suck moisture out of the air.»
4. Rotate the vase regularly
“Be sure to rotate your plant regularly,” adds the Baby Bio team. This will ensure that all sides of the plant receive an equal amount of light, which helps establish an even growth pattern.
“And try to put them in a hanging vase to encourage complete and uniform growth,” adds the team. Speaking of hanging plants, why not create some beautiful outdoor displays as well?
What are the most common problems?
Even the best houseplants can have their fair share of problems, but most are easy to fix. In terms of Mayflower, be on the lookout for the following, as Jo Lambell of Beards & Daisies puts it:
- Falling flower buds can be attributed to sudden changes in temperature, as well as overwatering. During the growing season, it is best to maintain a temperature of 18 to 20°C;
- Wilted stems can occur when the plant is too hot or due to incorrect watering, either too much or too little. Adjust the light and amount of water you water the plant with, and it should recover;
- Discoloration happens when the plant is exposed to too much light. Remember, these cacti are different from desert cacti and are used to partial light as they grow naturally in rainforests.
watering
Overwatering is one of the biggest killers of Mayflower, as it can lead to diseases like white rot. “They only need to be watered once every two weeks during the summer and only once a month during the winter,” says the Baby Bio team.
“Only water when the top 5 cm of soil is completely dry, so use your finger or a pencil to test your moisture levels before each watering. If it is dry, aerate the soil to allow for even distribution.”
Everything is a matter of balance. Don’t leave your plant too long without water or it will wilt, as Essential Living explains. A May flower does not tolerate completely dry soil, unlike a desert cactus.
Propagation
Learning to take plant cuttings is an easy way to get new plants.
“Mayflower is very easy to propagate,” says the Baby Bio team. It is usually best to seedlings in early spring. They share their tips on how to do this:
Using a clean, sharp knife or scissors, simply make a Y-shaped cut from the end of a stem, close to the lower sections of the plant.
Allow the end of the cutting to dry for approximately a day to prevent stem rot, then plant it in well-draining compost about 1/2 inch deep. Place your baby plant in bright but indirect sunlight and water sparingly to prevent rot. Typically, it takes about 12 weeks to root.
*Via Gardening Etc