Holiday cactus plants are a popular choice for gifts, especially during the festive seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you have received a Christmas cactus as a present and are new to caring for this type of plant, it’s essential to know how to keep it healthy and vibrant. Although Christmas cactus care differs from that of classic desert cacti, a few simple tips will ensure that your Christmas cactus thrives and continues to produce beautiful flowers year after year.
Quick Christmas Cactus Facts:
- Botanical name: Schlumbergera x buckleyi
- Height: 12 inches (30 cm)
- Spread: 12 inches (30 cm)
- Sun exposure: filtered light
- Soil requirements: well-draining, slightly acidic
- Hardiness zones: USDA 9-11
- When to plant: fall
Christmas Cactus Care
The winter-flowering Christmas cactus is a delightful addition to any houseplant collection. With their tropical flowers and softly pointed leaves, varieties such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cacti all bring beauty to your home. However, it’s important to note the differences among them. Christmas cactus blooms are magenta to pink in color, with rounded, notched leaves and arching stems. Native to South America, Christmas cacti have little tolerance for cold temperatures. Although they are typically grown indoors as houseplants, Christmas cacti can thrive outdoors during the summer months.
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Types of Holiday Cactus
It’s essential to identify whether you have a true Christmas cactus. The Easter and Thanksgiving cactus varieties can appear deceptively similar. The true Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera x buckleyi, has purple anthers and deeply pink or magenta blooms, with smoother stems. On the other hand, Schlumbergera truncata is often sold as a Christmas cactus, but it has more notched stems and blooms earlier, closer to Thanksgiving. Additionally, there is the Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, formerly Schlumbergera gaertneri), which blooms later.
How to Care for Christmas Cactus
Moisture is crucial for the health of a Christmas cactus. During its active growth in spring and summer, the plant requires frequent and thorough watering, with the soil staying slightly moist. However, it’s important to allow the moisture levels to drop and the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Avoid letting the Christmas cactus sit in water, as this can lead to stem and root rot. Applying a mild houseplant fertilizer solution every other week is also beneficial.
Light
When it comes to Christmas cactus houseplant care, placing the plant near a bright window is ideal. However, it’s essential to protect it from the intense rays of afternoon sun, which can cause burns. In their natural habitat, these plants grow as understory plants in tree branches and rock crevasses, receiving mostly filtered sunlight. Indoors, a bright window with a sheer curtain can provide optimal light. If you choose to place the plant outdoors, the north side of your home or a fence can offer the necessary light screening to prevent burning.
Water
Unlike desert cacti, Christmas cacti are native to areas with tropical rainfall and periodic moisture from dew and organic matter deposits. Thus, they require a different watering approach. During the growing seasons of spring and summer, water the Christmas cactus enough to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. However, when the plant is dormant in cooler seasons, it requires less moisture and should be kept slightly drier.
Temperature & Humidity
Read more : Preventing Bud Drop on Christmas Cactus: Tips and Tricks
Christmas cacti prefer temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F (15-21 C) and average to high humidity levels. To increase humidity, you can place a tray of pebbles filled with water beneath the Christmas cactus container. However, it’s important to avoid exposing the plant to cold drafts, unvented heaters, or rough handling. Night temperatures above 70 F (21 C) may inhibit bud development. Since Christmas cacti come from warm, humid climates, it’s best to maintain humidity levels around 50-60 percent. Placing the pot on a dish of pebbles with water will help create a humid environment without overwatering the roots.
Soil
Contrary to popular belief, Christmas cacti do not require special cactus soil. Instead, they thrive in well-draining soil that retains a bit of moisture. A mixture of 1 part potting soil to 2 parts peat moss and 1 part perlite is ideal. Alternatively, you can use potting soil mixed with orchid mixture or pine bark. Repotting is only necessary when the plant truly needs it, as Christmas cacti tend to flower best when they are slightly root-bound.
Fertilizer
From June to August, feed your Christmas cactus monthly with a diluted houseplant fertilizer. As the flower buds begin to form in the fall, switch to a low-nitrogen fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus and potassium. This will promote flower development and encourage the Christmas cactus to bloom during the holiday season. Be cautious not to overfertilize, as the fine and shallow root system of the Christmas cactus can be damaged. Applying a mild houseplant fertilizer every other week is a safe practice.
Problems, Pests, and Bud Drop
Avoid letting the plant stand in water as it can lead to fungal diseases. Mealy bugs, aphids, and scale are common pests that may infest outdoor Christmas cacti. However, you can gently wipe them away with a soft cloth or swab dipped in alcohol. If your Christmas cactus fails to produce many blossoms or begins dropping buds, high temperatures above 90 degrees F (32 C) or sudden drops in temperature may be the cause. To remedy this, provide the plant with 13 straight hours of nighttime darkness.
How to Prune a Christmas Cactus
In general, Christmas cacti do not require extensive pruning. However, if necessary, remove any damaged or diseased sections as they occur. Pruning the Christmas cactus back after it blooms can encourage more blooms the following season. Use a sharp, sterile implement to cut sections at the joint, as this will promote more branching at the cut site.
Christmas Cactus Propagation and Planting
Christmas cacti can be propagated through stem cuttings. To root cuttings in water, separate a healthy stem length and place it in water. Alternatively, you can follow these steps:
- Cut back shoots from the tips at the second joint of each tip and allow the cut end to callus for a few days. Using root hormone may speed up the process.
- Insert the callused end about a quarter of its length deep into slightly sandy soil.
- Moisten the soil evenly and cover the potted cutting with a plastic bag.
- Place the pot in a well-lit area, avoiding direct sunlight.
- Within a few weeks, the cutting should show signs of growth. Once this occurs, transfer the plant to another container with a looser potting soil mix of compost, loam, and sand.
Read more : The Real Dirt: Unveiling the Enchanting Story of Christmas Cacti
Ideally, the pH balance of the soil for Christmas cacti should be between 5.5 and 6.2.
Repotting a Christmas Cactus
When it’s time to repot a Christmas cactus, use the same potting mixture as the original plant. Pre-moisten the soil to avoid disturbing the roots during the repotting process. Although Christmas cacti prefer to be slightly root-bound, they still benefit from fresh soil every year or two. Give the plant a bit more room than the canopy to allow for growth. Pruning the plant back before repotting can also promote further branching.
How to Make a Christmas Cactus Bloom
If you want your Christmas cactus to produce abundant flowers, it requires exposure to cooler temperatures of around 45 degrees F (7 C). Bright daytime light, 13 hours of nighttime darkness, and cooler temperature exposure are key factors. To induce blooming, move the plant to a cooler location in September. This change will signal to the plant that it’s time to bloom.
After Flowering
By fall, the Christmas cactus usually stops flowering, approximately six to eight weeks before the holiday season. At this point, you should allow the plant to enter its dormant cycle by reducing both moisture and light, as well as lowering the temperature. To facilitate this process, decrease watering and provide the plant with 12-14 hours of darkness and average temperatures around 50-55 F (10-12 C). Also, ensure that the Christmas cactus is kept away from drafty areas and protected from sudden changes in moisture, temperature, or sunlight.
Longevity
Although it’s difficult to prove, experts suggest that with proper care, a Christmas cactus can live up to 100 years. If your Christmas cactus appears neglected, dried up, and lifeless, you can try giving it a fresh start. Cut it all the way back to the soil level and lightly water it daily. You may be pleasantly surprised to see it come back to life.
With these tips in mind, you can confidently care for your Christmas cactus and enjoy its vibrant blooms for many seasons to come.
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Category: Succulent
