Last updated on December 14th, 2024 at 09:49 am
How to Care For Christmas Cacti. Keep reading this article and find out how to care for Christmas cacti.
5 Key Factors That Guarantee the Best Flowering Ever. The Christmas cactus is one of the most popular houseplants around the world. Honestly, there’s a perfectly valid reason for that. Namely, this beauty blooms and produces unique, colorful, tubular flowers in pink or lilac color. What people especially appreciate is that these wonderful flowers have a long bloom time, and the plant itself is easy to care for. We would bet almost every second household has at least one specimen.
Stay with us and learn how to care for Christmas cacti.
A Few Details About Christmas Cacti
This unique species flowers around the end of the year, mostly before the Christmas holidays, hence the name. Unlike all its relatives, the Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) don’t prefer dessert-like conditions. Did you know that these epiphytic succulents are actually native to the tropical rainforests of southern Brazil? Considering the origin, it can’t take the same sort of sunny, dry conditions, and needs regular water to remain healthy.
Traditionally, the cactus blooms red, however, Christmas cacti species can be pink, white, magenta, or purple, although there are specimens in extraordinary colors such as salmon, peach, and orange. To encourage more stems (flowers form at the ends of the stems) we recommend you grow this type of cacti as a hanging plant or place it in a location where there is a suitable place for it to drape.
Lastly, it is important to note that it can be grown indoors at any time of the year as a houseplant, until summer when you can replant or move it outdoors. Find out below how to care for Christmas cacti.
How to Care For Christmas Cacti
Light
Christmas cacti prefer partial shade or diffused light, namely, too much exposure can cause the plant to turn pale and yellow. If you decide to give them some time to sunbathe, let it be during the winter months.
Soil
As is the case with most of its relatives, the soil isn’t an essential factor for the Christmas cacti. This plant will enjoy loamy, sandy, perlite, cactus mix, and even general-purpose potting soil. The only thing you have to take care of is that the pH of the soil is between 5.5 and 6.2. According to experts, peat moss is a useful addition to achieve a more acidic environment.
Water
Although it will sound confusing to many because it is a cactus, this plant craves more water than most, primarily due to its tropical origins. Therefore, water the plant abundantly, but make sure that the soil is almost completely dry between two waterings.
Fertilizer
Be sure to start feeding your Christmas cactus once a month with a diluted water-soluble balanced fertilizer. It is advisable to stop feeding when you notice the formation of flower buds. After the plant blooms, you can start the process all over again. Experts recommend using fertilizer for desert plants.
Temperature & Humidity
Christmas cacti need plenty of moisture, so we recommend misting the plant or placing a bowl of pebbles filled with water under the pot to increase humidity levels. Additionally, make sure it is grown in a room where the temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
That would be it, now you know how to care for Christmas cacti.
The Bottom Line: How to Care for Christmas Cacti?
One thing you must keep in mind is that you shouldn’t treat the Christmas cacti as if they were regular cacti or succulents. This beauty just can’t handle the same kind of sunny, dry conditions and needs regular water to stay healthy.
Do you have a specimen of this species at home and what are your best care tips? Let us know below!
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