Christmas Cactus are a popular plant to give and receive during the holiday season. When taken care of, they can last for years and put on a flowering show each season. If you want to learn more about how to care for a Christmas Cactus, take a look at 7 Christmas Cactus Care Tips below. These tips will help you grow a healthy Christmas Cactus that is sure to perform year after year.
7 Christmas Cactus Care Tips
1. Opt for a warmer climate.
Although they are called a Christmas Cactus, these plants still prefer warmer air like most cacti do. Grow your plant in a space that is at least 60 degrees. In most homes, this will be the case and you won’t run into any issues. However if you plan on keeping your plant outdoors, you want to be sure it never gets lower than 60 degrees.
2. Let your plant enjoy a variety of light.
Christmas Cactus enjoy a variety of lighting options. Feel free to give them some moderate light as well as some shade. They can handle direct light in limited quantities. They shouldn’t have more of one of these lighting options than the other.
3. Keep the plant misted.
Your soil should always be damp but not with standing water. Just allow it to be damp to the touch. Your cactus will also enjoy being misted, so keep a spray bottle near for daily spraying.
4. Be sure to take the time to repot.
Christmas Cactus will enjoy being repotted each year, especially if they have flowered. Feel free to fertilize with a standard houseplant fertilizer when you do.
5. Use a hummus mix.
Christmas Cactus love a hummus mixture soil. Utilize this type of mixture (available at gardening centers) so your plant can really dig in and enjoy its new space.
6. Beware of dropping buds.
If it seems as though your buds are falling off too soon, it may be a hint that something is wrong. Check the soil to make sure it is wet enough. Also, be sure your plant is getting rotated for light and shade. It may also be time to consider a larger pot. Give these tips a try and see if the bloom dropping improves.
7. Warm up the space when buds appear.
When the buds begin to appear, take the plant to a warmer space in the home. This will help the plant bloom better and put on a more colorful show.
Growing Christmas Cactus can be easy and rewarding. Give these 7 tips for growing Christmas Cactus a try and see how they work for you.
More Winter Gardening Tips
How to Keep Your Pointsettias Alive This Year
8 Ways to Make Your Christmas Tree last Longer
Tips for Growing an Indoor herb Garden
Winter Vegetable Gardening Guide for Mild Climates
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Kay says
I also feed mine watered down coffee black of course no sugar or cream, it loves it about every two weeks instead of water!
Cait says
Hi! I have 2 cats that love to naw on my Christmas cactus when I’m not looking. I keep it in a closed off room so they won’t get to it and this is not very ideal. I’ve been think about getting terrarium to put it in. Is this a good idea? Do you have any suggestions on what to do?
Mary Klorres says
I just found your site and your article on Christmas Cactus. It is so informative. I bought this beautiful plant about 2 wks ago. It was covered with buds. Now, it has none. Thought maybe it was the shock of relocation, but, found out from your article that it was me. I’m sure I let it get too dry. I have since soaked it well and will mist daily. When checking for soil moisture, I noted it hardly has soil (mostly roots). Should I go ahead now and move up pot size? Would that help it get more buds for this season, or have I missed my chance? Thank you so much! (I plan on spending many enjoyable hours exploring your sites and blog!)
Alea Milham says
You should wait until late winter or early spring to repot it. After it is done blooming.
Hettie says
I can’t live without this site I am a dumbo pensioner gardener and you are a great teacher. Thanks xxx
maryln bonnell says
I dabble at plants. I have a reserected pontsetietta from last year but didn’t know hot to make it have red blooms and a huge christmas cactus that I cannot get to bloom. I look forward to learning new things from your site. I love growing things and I want that unique look to them, I have many violets and I am wanting to create a new type, who knows I just might do it someday.
Lori says
For your Christmas cactus you have to put it in a darkened room for the month of October and let it get slightly dry. Then in November bring it back out into a brighter room and keep it moist. Flowers will begin to form.
Trudy wilson says
Mine bloom in the summer and in the winter. They go outside in the spring and come back in the house end of September. They get shade with short amount of sun in the summer and go into an east garden window in winter. I live in the Pacific Northwest. It seems to work