December 3, 2021

Caring for your Christmas Cactus

How to grow Christmas cactus houseplants

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera spp.) is an easy, long-living houseplant, and it’s also a pet-friendly plant, according to the ASPCA. Christmas cactus is most frequently purchased during the holiday season when in bloom, and so is regarded as a holiday houseplant, though it can be enjoyed year-round as an indoor plant. Sometimes passed down from family generation to generation, Christmas cactus is known as a legacy plant, or pass-along plant. Beloved for its beautiful tubular blooms, even an old Christmas cactus is easy to rebloom, if you know what to do. Scroll for quick tips on caring for flowering Christmas cactus, how to trigger blooms, and more.

BASIC CARE TIPS

Temperature | Normal household temperatures of 60-75° F.

Soil | No special cactus soil required – Christmas cactus can be grown in an average, well-draining potting mix.

Light | Christmas cactus grows best in bright, indirect light (3-5 ft away from a sunny window). They’ll tolerate some full sun, but too much direct sunlight will result in red markings. Medium, Kelly green foliage is a visual indication of a healthy, happy Christmas cactus.

BASIC CARE TIPS

Water
Christmas cactus should be watered when soil feels dry to the touch approximately one inch below surface. Other indications are when the pot is feeling very light in weight or when the plant is observed to be wrinkling. Always water thoroughly, letting water run throughout the soil in the pot to the point of draining out the bottom, repeating a second time, and letting it drain fully before putting it back in its place.

 

Fertilizer
Like most houseplants, Christmas cactus needs to be fed only during the April-September growing season. Osmocote®  for indoor plants is a good option, as is any water-soluble option for houseplants. Whichever you choose, just be sure to follow package instructions.

secret to getting christmas cactus to bloom

It’s easy to get your Christmas cactus to bloom for the holidays, especially if you know how to trigger the bud and bloom cycle. Christmas cactus reacts each fall season to the shortening of daylight and the cooler nighttime temperatures. Exposing the plant to these two conditions more directly will encourage buds to set, which helps secure beautiful holiday blooms.

Mid to late September, simply place your Christmas cactus outside and plan to leave it there for 2-3 weeks. If frost is expected any given night, bring the plant under cover. Mid to late October, bring the plant back in and continue the usual care. By Thanksgiving, your plant will erupt with flowers that persist into Christmas!

sharing is caring

Christmas cactus is one of the easiest plants to propagate, which is why cuttings are often shared with friends and family as new plant starts. After the parent plant is done blooming, identify a stem with three or more leaf sections and simply snap it off at the base. Stick the stem right back into moist potting mix, and it will soon root as a new baby plant. Voila, the gift that keeps on giving!

Bringing it all together

Christmas cactus is a floriferous and incredibly easy plant to grow, share, and enjoy. Caring for Christmas cactus is a breeze when you know the basics, and getting it to re-bloom each and every holiday season is just as simple. For information on other common holiday houseplants and how to care for them year-round, view our Holiday Houseplants Gardening Guide.

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