The Christmas cactus is a popular houseplant for a reason: it’s beautiful! They produce gorgeous, tubular flowers in pink or lilac colors when they bloom. They’re a fantastic plant because of their lovely blossoms, long bloom time, and low maintenance requirements. We’re sure you have a Christmas cactus in your household!
About Christmas Cacti
The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) and its cousins do not live in hot, arid conditions like deserts or plains, unlike other cacti. These epiphytic succulents are native to southern Brazil’s tropical rainforests, where they grow on tree branches and absorb the high humidity, dappled sunlight, and moderate temperatures.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t treat a Christmas cactus like any other cactus or succulent. They can’t withstand the same hot, dry circumstances as other cactus. These cacti require more frequent watering than most succulents, but you must be careful not to overwater them. (For more information, see the thorough care instructions below.)
Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas Cactus?
Easter cactus (S. gaertneri), Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata), and Christmas cactus are the three primary types of “holiday” cacti (S. x buckleyi). Each holiday cactus blooms closest to the holiday for which it is named. Most “Christmas cacti” offered nowadays, on the other hand, are actually Thanksgiving cacti, which bloom from November to February and hence go unrecognized as Christmas cacti. See our post on the different types of holiday cacti and how to identify them apart for more information.
Note: On this page, we use the word “Christmas cactus” to refer to all three of these species because it is the most generally used term and our care advice applies to all of them!
How do you keep a Christmas cactus alive?
- Watering: Mist your plant frequently while it is blooming to keep the soil uniformly moist.
- Light: For moderate light and some direct sun, place the cactus in an east-facing window.
- Fertilize every two weeks once buds have formed with a high-potassium fertilizer.
Is Christmas cactus a cactus or succulent?
Christmas cactus are succulents that are commonly grown as houseplants and are a popular holiday plant. Christmas cactuses are easy to find in mid-fall in garden centers and retailers, and their name comes from the time of year they bloom. They do require specific care to induce blooming, but they are otherwise extremely simple to maintain.
Are Christmas cactus easy to care for?
With good cause, the Christmas cactus may be found all over throughout the holiday season. It’s a blooming succulent that’s easy to care for, has beautiful blossoms, and may survive for up to 100 years if properly cared for! That’s correct! This plant can last for decades, giving your holidays a splash of color for generations. That’s a fairly good return on investment for a plant as simple and low-maintenance as the Christmas cactus!
What conditions do Christmas cactus like?
Schlumbergera can be found in jungle-like forests connected to trees in their natural habitat. They prefer a semi-shade environment versus the full light of desert-dwelling cacti. A well-lit, but out of direct sunlight, environment with a humid climate would be excellent. Use gravel-filled saucers to place your plants on and keep them moist to improve humidity.
To sustain healthy growth, repot once a year (or at least every two years). This can be done at the end of March, when their growing season begins. To help with drainage, use a regular cactus compost or a loam-based compost like John Innes No 2 with additional leafmould (or peat substitute) and grit. Choose only a slightly larger container for potting on, as they prefer to be tight in a compact pot.
Aftercare
- A time of rest is required after blossoming. Restrict the temperature to 12-15°C (55-59°F) and reduce the watering to only once or twice a week from late January to late March to avoid the compost drying up altogether. Moving to a cooler environment is a simple way to accomplish this.
- Increase the watering and start feeding with a houseplant liquid feed during the growing season, which runs from April to September. Maintain a temperature of 18-20°C (65-69°F) during the growing season if possible.
- They can be placed outside throughout the summer months, once the risk of frost has passed. This promotes flowering and helps to ripen new growth. Keep them in a shady area away from snails.
- With the shorter days and cooler temperatures, flowering buds begin to form around mid-September. With a second resting period, the watering and temperature should be reduced (as before). Increase the temperature to 18-20°C (65-69°F) and begin regular watering just until the flowering buds have formed.
- After that, your plant should bloom and provide you with a stunning display. If there are two resting periods with a reduction in watering and temperature, exact temperatures are not required to encourage flowering.
Is a Christmas cactus a houseplant?
The Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a popular winter-flowering houseplant that works well in almost any indoor environment. It’s not only easy to care for, but it’s also easy to propagate, making it an excellent choice for holiday gift giving.
What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
Thanksgiving cactus, holiday cactus, and crab cactus are all names for the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata). The leaf-shaped stem segments with curled, sharp teeth or claws around the margins are known as crab claws. The leaf segments of the Easter cactus (Schlumbergera buckleyi) have rounded edges. They all originated in the gloomy, damp forests of southeast Brazil. They’re called epiphytes because they thrive on trees above ground, in places where branches meet and decomposing fallen leaves and mosses collect.
Despite the fact that this plant is called a cactus, the care it requires has little to do with its desert cousins. It’s a cactus that grows in the forest. Its requirements can be traced back to their source. The optimum time to plant a Christmas cactus is when it is warm “I’m stuck in a pot.” This entails keeping it in a small container for as long as possible before transferring it to a little larger pot. They prefer a nutrient-dense organic potting mix and should not be allowed to dry out. When the plant is blossoming, increase the amount of water it receives. They enjoy indirect light that is bright. As the plants begin to burn, the leaf segments might turn a dark crimson color.
‘The’ “The “secret” to getting your Christmas cactus to bloom in the years after you buy it boils down to two factors: light and temperature. These two are the keys to the kingdom of flowers. Flowers are produced by Christmas cacti in a chilly, short-day cycle. It takes at least eight days of 16 hours of darkness and 8 hours of light every day to start the creation of flower buds. Do not turn on the lights at night, even if only for a brief time, wherever the plant is put. This violates the required dark cycle. It should be around 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid placing the plant in an area where it will be exposed to cold or hot air drafts.
It’s as simple as putting the Christmas cactus on the window sill in a chilly room and not turning on the lights. If the plant was in a brightly lit room, the side closest to the window often grows buds, but the plant’s illuminated side does not. If the plant produces flower buds but then loses them, it’s usually due to either too much or too little water or a lack of air humidity. The good news is that if their temperature and light needs are met, Christmas cacti are reasonably straightforward to re-bloom.
Can I repot my Christmas cactus in December?
Christmas cactus repotting should be done after blooming has ended and the blooms have withered in late winter or early spring, when most plants are best repotted when they show new growth. When the plant is actively blooming, never try to repot it.
Repotting a Christmas cactus isn’t necessary because this tough succulent thrives when its roots are little congested. Repotting the plant on a regular basis can harm it.
Should I keep my Christmas cactus inside or outside?
The Christmas cactus prefers bright, but indirect, light. Keep it near a window if you’re keeping it indoors, or shaded by trees if you’re keeping it outside during the summer.
Despite its name, the Christmas cactus is a tropical rain forest plant native to South America’s tropical rain forests. If you live in a dry region, keep a source of humidity handy, such as a shallow tray of water. The plant cannot withstand dry soil and must be watered on a regular basis (done at the base of the plant).
Too much water, on the other hand, will cause leaves to spot and fall off. Before watering, let the top layer of soil dry completely.
Do Christmas cactus flowers close at night?
This holiday season, you might get a Christmas cactus as a gift if you’re lucky. Although this ubiquitous home plant blooms around the holidays, its broad green limbs are lovely all year. It’s a plant worth admiring, with cultivars in a spectrum of colors. If you’re given a Christmas cactus this holiday season, these 10 facts about it will help you care for it.
1. It’s referred to as a “It’s termed a “cactus,” yet it prefers cool temps. Christmas cacti should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. According to the Purdue University Extension Service, if a Christmas cactus is solely exposed to cool temperatures, it will bloom for longer. Place your Christmas cactus in a cool, draft-free location away from heaters and fireplaces for optimal results. Cactus blossoms might drop before they open due to extreme temperature swings. 68 degrees F is the ideal temperature for Christmas cacti.
2. To bloom, Christmas cacti require light. Purdue University Extension recommends maintaining your Christmas cactus plants in a sunny spot indoors to ensure long-lasting blooms. If you take them outside during the summer, however, choose a somewhat shaded position because too much direct sunlight might scorch the leaves.
3. The Christmas cactus is a Brazilian native. According to Clemson University Cooperative Extension, these epiphytes (plants that grow on top of other plants without being parasitic) thrive in the Brazilian rain forest, among tree branches. They flourish in humid environments because they are tropical plants.
4. Christmas cacti require rest to maintain their beauty. The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens’ horticulturists recommend placing your Christmas cactus in a room where the lights are never turned on at night. Christmas cacti require 14 hours or more of continuous darkness per day for their bloom buds to set. The plants, however, can endure light at night once the flower buds have set.
5. Unlike the Poinsettia, which is harmful to dogs and cats, Christmas cactus is not. Poisonous to dogs and cats, poinsettia is well-known. The ASPCA, on the other hand, says that if Fido or Fluffy eats a Christmas cactus, she won’t get irritated or vomit like she would if she ate Poinsettia sap.
6. The Christmas cactus has a 20- to 30-year lifespan. Can you imagine giving your children or grandchildren a living, blossoming plant? Christmas cacti, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, can live for 20 to 30 years if properly looked for. You may encourage the Christmas cactus to bloom year after year if you start providing lengthy evenings around October 1. Its blooming is also aided by cool nighttime temperatures.
7. Christmas cacti will die if they are overwatered, but they prefer to be misted on a daily basis. Water a Christmas cactus only when the soil is dry to the touch, according to an Oregon State University Extension Service gardener. Instead, horticultural expert and radio personality Walter Reeves, the Georgia Gardener, recommends spraying the Christmas cactus leaves regularly to keep the optimum humidity level surrounding the plant.
Christmas cactus is usually infected by eight illnesses. Experts from Penn State University Extension have created a useful data sheet listing the most common plant diseases that harm Christmas cacti. Basal stem rot, botrytis blight, impatiens necrotic spot virus, phytophthora root rot, and pythium root rot are all on their list.
Pests that commonly infest Christmas cacti include fungus gnats, flower thrips, and root mealybugs. Overwatering is the leading cause of insect infestation in Christmas cacti. Another advised strategy is preventive care, such as removing affected plants. Pesticides are accessible for commercial producers, however they may not be available to amateur gardeners.
10. By the way, that Christmas cactus you’re about to buy is most likely not a Christmas cactus. Surprise! According to the University of Massachusetts Extension Service, “Schlumbergera truncata, sometimes known as Thanksgiving cactus or Zygocactus, is the most common commercial variety of holiday cactus. True Christmas cactus is a 150-year-old interspecific hybrid of Schlumbergera truncata and Schlumbergera russelliana from England. Although it’s a common houseplant, it’s rarely grown commercially.”