Proper care can help your plant live for decades.
With gorgeous blooms in festive hues,Christmas cactusmakes a popular holiday gift.
The exotic-looking flowers open just in time for the holidays and provide weeks of color.
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Christmas cacti are sensitive to root rot.
Avoid overwatering the plants, and do not let water sit in the saucer beneath containers.
Water plants when the soil is dry to the touch.
Light
Once the flowers fade, reduce watering until growth resumes in spring.
Indoors, that might be a bright east- or north-facing window.
Plants also perform well when brought outdoors for summer.
Too much light can cause plants to appear pale or yellow.
Soil
Plant a Christmas cactus in well-drained, lightweight soil.
Three parts potting soil mixed with two parts perlite will provide good drainage.
Or use a specially formulated cactus potting soil mix.
Use a well-draining pot to allow excess water to drain and to prevent the plant from becoming waterlogged.
Do not let the plant sit in standing water.
This can lead to root rot.
Once buds are set, the plant prefers lower nighttime temperatures at about 55 to 65F.
Keep the plant in a location free from drafts and sudden temperature changes.
Continue monthly feedings through August.
A fall feeding with a low nitrogen fertilizer (for example, 0-15-10) can boost flower bud formation.
With proper care, a Christmas cactus can live for decades.
Collectively, they are referred to as holiday cacti.
Regardless of which species you may be growing, basic plant care remains the same.
Some growers also pinch plants back in September to create an even crown and remove immature stem segments.
Immature stem segments (less than 1 cm) do not flower.
Pinching back to a mature segment will encourage bud development.
Propagating a Christmas Cactus
Cuttings can be used to propagate new plants for family and friends.
Taking cuttings from the plant will also help it to grow fuller.
The best time to propagate is one to two months after blooming.
How to Grow a Christmas Cactus From Seed
Harvest seeds from the plants pods, or fruit.
If the pods are green, wait until they turn red, which is usually in the fall.
They prefer to be rootbound.
Do not repot the plant while it is blooming.
Overwintering
As indoor plants, Christmas cacti bloom in the weeks around Christmas.
As outdoor plants, they are cold-hardy in USDA zones 10-12.
Sudden temperature changes can cause the plants to lose their blooms.
During summer, Christmas cacti can be placed outdoors with filtered sunlight and protection from wind.
Common Pests and Diseases
Overwatering can attract pests to your Christmas cactus.
Common pests include mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids.
These pests can cause wilting, yellowing, and stunted growth.
Toget rid of pests, use insecticidal soap and horticultural oil.
Fungal diseases can cause stem rot.
Apply a fungicide to treat the plant, though it may be hard to save.
Plants may not bloom if temperatures remain too warm and/or plants do not receive the required amount of darkness.
These can be challenging conditions to provide indoors where artificial heating and lights are normally used.
For optimal bud development, provide dark night conditions for six weeks beginning in the middle of September.
Maintain air temperatures between 60 and 68F.
Aim to provide similar conditions in the budding and display locations.
Move plants as soon as buds appear to minimize bud drop.
Continue to provide cool air temperatures.
At 68oF, flowering can last 7 to 8 weeks.
Another option is to place your Christmas cactus in a cool window and hope for the best.
Cool temperatures can sometimes override day-length requirements.
Move the plant out of direct light.
If the soil is dry up to one-inch depth, it needs watering more often.
Water the plant when the surface of the soil is dry.
With proper care, the Christmas cactus can bloom twice in one season.
Native to South America, the Christmas cactus grows well as an indoor plant when provided with proper care.
Start this plant at any time throughout the year, and it will bloom at the start of winter.
Keep the temperature around 65F and the plant moist, positioned in direct sunlight.
