How to Properly Care for a Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is a vibrant and enduring plant with flat, segmented stems Its unassuming presence throughout the year transforms into a stunning display during the festive season
During Christmas, the Christmas cactus undergoes a magical transformation despite its unassuming appearance for most of the year.
Caring for Christmas Cactus
During the holidays, the Christmas cactus, although plain looking, will blossom with flowers of red, white, pink, purple, or orange, adding a festive touch to many European and North American homes.
Christmas cactus thrives in bright, but indirect sunlight. Keep it near a window when indoors or shaded by trees if kept outdoors in warmer months.
This iconic holiday plant has tropical roots. Get tips on keeping your poinsettia looking its best all year.
Image courtesy of the Biltmore Company / HGTV
Taking care of poinsettias during the winter months and beyond
Despite its name, the Christmas cactus is not a desert plant. It actually originates from the tropical rainforests of South America. If you live in a dry climate, it's important to keep a source of humidity nearby, such as a shallow tray of water. The plant cannot thrive in dry soil and needs to be regularly watered at the base.
Conversely, too much water will cause leaves to spot and fall off. Allow the top layer of soil to dry completely before watering.
Ensuring a Christmas Bloom
To prompt Christmas cacti to bloom, expose them to temperatures of around 50-55 degrees during the night in the fall. By carefully balancing darkness and sunlight, you can ensure that the plants will produce beautiful flowers just in time for the holidays.
To achieve this, six to eight weeks before Christmas, relocate the plant to a completely dark area with a temperature of 60 degrees, such as a closet or garage, for 12 hours each night. Some people opt to cover the plant with a box in the mornings and remove it at night. During the day, make sure to place the plant in a sunny spot for the other 12 hours. Watering should only be done when the top inch of the soil feels dry. This regimen will likely result in flowers for the holiday season.
A few weeks after the flowers have faded, prune stems back to encourage new growth.
Propagating Christmas Cactus
Take part in the beloved family tradition of passing along Christmas cactus cuttings to create new plants. Simply cut off three or more stem segments and place them in a pot of soil, ideally from the parent plant's pot. Ensure at least one segment is buried in the soil. Treat the cuttings as mature plants and within 4 to 6 weeks, they should take root.
