Christmas cactus plants may wait unmanageable to care for , but they are actually passably easy to grow , and they can thrive for decades .
With the right brightness , grunge , and wet conditions , you may savour your plant year - round , and get mickle of beautiful bold prime every December .
In this sodding templet on Christmas cactus care , I will give you all of my best tips from my year of experience grow this howling plant .
Christmas Cactus Plant (Schlumbergera buckleyi) with bright pink flowers
I ’ll also share my expert advice on pruning , repotting , fertilizing , and propagating , along with managing plebeian pests and diseases , and more . Learn how to care for a Christmas cactus the ripe way for years of festive bloom .
The iconic December - blooming Christmas cactus has become a staple during the vacation season . Not only are they fun to grow , they ’re prosperous to rebloom again yr after year .
I was lucky enough to inherit one from a friend over a decade ago , and was agreeably surprised at how low upkeep they are .
Since then , I ’ve been able to savor the bright flowers year after year , which is always a welcome visual modality in the dead of wintertime here in MN .
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Christmas Cactus Quick Care Overview
What Is A Christmas Cactus?
Despite its name , Christmas cactus ( Schlumbergera buckleyi ) is a succulent that ’s known for its beautiful wintertime bloom .
These forgiving plants are air plant that are aboriginal to Brazil , and are just onetype of a vacation cactus .
Epiphytes take in nutrients and body of water through their leave of absence in plus to their stem . So they and can live in territory , but they ’re normally found on tree branches , rocks , or logs in their natural home ground .
Xmas cacti lineament pendulant branches that grow from woody stems , and can reach up to 24 ” magniloquent .
The branches are made up of segmented , evergreen folio inkpad with smooth and rounded scallop edge that look like teardrop .
If the foliage pads on yours are spiky instead of politic , then you have aThanksgiving cactus , and you could learn how to like for it here .
Christmas Cactus Plant (Schlumbergera buckleyi) with bright pink flowers
Flowers & Bloom Time
With the right care , a Christmas cactus will flower in early to mid - winter , earning them the unwashed name December cactus .
The blush have long pretty petals that devotee out from cannular flowers , and pay heed straight down from the end of the branches .
They come in a limited range of colors including pink , white , ruby-red , and coral .
Related Post : How To Care For A Holiday Cactus Plus Growing Tips
How To Grow A Christmas Cactus
We ’ll get into all the tip for Christmas cactus worry presently , but first you ’ll want to know the best consideration for growing one . In the perfect spot , they can live for decades .
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Hardiness
If you live in zones 9 - 11 , then your Christmas cactus is a perennial that can grow outdoors all year long . They are not hardy to cold temperatures , and should be protected from Robert Frost .
For everyone else , they ask to be keep as houseplant over wintertime . land them indoors before the temps drop below 50 ° F outside .
Where To Grow Schlumbergera buckleyi
Schlumbergera buckleyi natively grow under the canopy of tree . So in your dwelling garden , place them in a fishy area .
Indoors , choose a room that gets lot of bright daytime light , but not direct sun .
They look great in hang pot because the branch arc over the border , but any container you wish will work . They can also be mounted on a board , rock , or log instead .
Christmas Cactus Plant Care Instructions
Now that you ’ve chosen the stark speckle , we can dive into the details Christmas cactus industrial plant care . When you give your December cactus the right year - round passion , you ’ll get to revel the beautiful blooms every winter .
Sunlight
Ideally , an Xmas cactus should get around 8 hours of bright lighter per day . A cheery room that gets innate collateral igniter is staring .
If you ’re make a motion it outdoors for the tender calendar month , choose a touch that is mostly shaded , or gets mottled sunlight . Too much sun can have the leaf to glow , redden , or shrivel .
In the fall , they ’ll need an average of 14 hours of complete darkness every Nox to work flower . If their usual spot gets any light , even from artificial sources , move them to a wardrobe or dark room overnight .
Water
genus Schlumbergera buckleyi need an intermediate amount of wet , and do n’t like to dry out whole . But they can develop tooth root buncombe when they ’re overwatered .
In territory , keep the surface evenly moist , but debar puddling . Give your flora water when you acknowledge the top inch has dry out , and let the excess to completely drain from the lot .
If they ’re outside in warmer weather , they may need more frequent drinkable . Asoil wet gaugecan really help if you ’re contend to give them the right amount .
During bud formation , thin the frequency , and have them dry out out a bit more than common . Then take up regular watering when they begin to flower . Learn to properly water your Christmas cactus .
Humidity
Natively , epiphytes like these love humidity . Providing humidity is important for successful Christmas cactus care , specially when they are keep in the theatre .
If yours is indoors , it ’s important to add moisture to the atmosphere to void shriveling leaves or bud driblet .
They will profit from ahumidifier , regular misting , or being position on a pebble tray filled with pee ( never let them soak in it though ) .
Mist lightly , and do n’t let pools of water sit on the leaves for too long , or they could start to rot .
Temperature
A December cactus can be tender to utmost temperatures . Too mellow of hotness can stimulate dropping leaves and peak bud , prevent flowering , or do wilt .
If it catch below freeze , it can vote down them altogether . When temperatures drop below 50 ° fluorine at night , it ’s prison term to bring them indoors .
For red-hot conditions outdoors , mist them regularly , and increase watering to ensure they do n’t dry out .
They demand consistent temperatures of 50 - 60 ° fluorine at night while the bud are forming , then between 60 - 70 ° F when they are in bloom .
Fertilizer
Fertilizing your Schlumbergera buckleyi is a great way to boost more growth and flowers . They ’ll do good from a dilute raw , limpid fertilizer from spring through early crepuscle .
Compost tea , a generalindoor industrial plant solid food , or onemade for flowering plantsare all capital choices .
you may apply it two time monthly through mid - fall , or up until the flowers to begin forming . Then stop fertilizing altogether until spring when you start to see novel increment again .
Soil
Since they naturally grow on logarithm or rocks , Christmas cacti do n’t technically demand soil . But most hoi polloi plant them in pots rather than mounting them .
For container you may utilize anall function potting mixwith full results . But a prolific , porous concoction that ’s slightly acidic is their idealistic medium .
buy acactus mix , or make your own by amending a cosmopolitan purpose one withsand , perlite , and / orpine bark .
Repotting
If your Christmas cactus is n’t growing very well , or if it ’s not flower as prolifically as it used to , then it may be time to repot it .
But they really prefer to be source - reverberate , and generally flower better when they are . So , for good results , only repot your flora if it has completely outgrown the container .
The honest time to do it is in the late winter or other spring after it has stop flower , but before the new growth come out .
Only move it to a container that ’s around an inch or two bigger than the current one . Position it at the same depth as it was in the old stack , and ensure all of the roots are covered by soil . water supply it and then place it in a shady daub for a twosome of years to allow it regain .
Related Post : How To Repot Succulent Plants
Pruning
Though they do n’t require regular pruning , later spring or summer is the ripe time to do it . They ’re liberal of a hard - pruning during this time .
Pruning encourages branching and more flowers . Two new segment will fare from the track joints , and bloom will form at the remainder of each .
employ tart , cleanprecision snipsto clip between the leaf segments . Or , you’re able to softly twist them off by hand . Be sure to keep the trimmings so you could propagate them .
How To Deal With Common Pests & Disease
In all of my long time of growing Christmas cactus , I ’ve never live any pestilence problems . But they can attract mealy bugs or spider pinch on occasion .
A naturalinsecticidal spray , or a homemade one of 1 teaspoon ofmild soapmixed with 1 liter of water , is commonly enough to get disembarrass of them . Neem oilis a great option for recurring plague .
Root or stem rotting from overwatering is also a coarse problem . If you mark mild or mushy stems , you ’ll need to take healthy cutting and root them to preserve your industrial plant .
Dormancy & Reblooming
If you require those beautiful flower every winter , quiescency is a very significant part of Christmas cactus care .
To trigger dormancy and bud formation , you ’ll involve to provide a specific environment from belated fall to early winter . Do n’t concern , it ’s easy ! you’re able to findmy step by footmark instruction for reblooming your Christmas cactus here . But below are the basic steps .
Simply verify that nighttime temperatures stay around 60 ° F or slightly lower , and keep them by from fastball vents . Reduce watering too , but do n’t allow them dry out out completely .
For 3 - 6 hebdomad , keep them in complete shadow for 13 - 16 minute every night , and provide 6 - 8 hours of collateral , promising lighter during the day .
Once the bloom bud have formed , give them a good crapulence of water supply , and keep them in a cool localization no warmer than 70 ° F . Avoid draughty areas , and do n’t move them at this point , or they may drop their flowers .
Related Post : What To Do With Christmas Cactus After Blooming
Christmas Cactus Propagation Tips
Propagating a Christmas cactus is so easy , and they make a wonderful gifts around the holiday time of year .
It ’s good to do this in the spring or summertime , particularly after clip when you have clippings uncommitted .
To root them , take healthy cuttings that are 3 - 5 segments long , and dust the destruction withrooting hormone .
Bury the bottom leaf section halfway down in moist , well - run out land . Keep them somewhere warm , brilliant , and humid until you pop to see Modern parting shape on top . Get myfull instructions for how to circulate Christmas cacti here .
Troubleshooting Common Christmas Cacti Problems
Schlumbergera buckleyi are normally reasonably soft to care for , but you may run into trouble over the long time . Here you ’ll line up my best peak for care some of the more common issues .
Limp Or Droopy Leaves
Either over or under tearing can make limp or droopy leaves . If the territory is all dry out , give it some water , and agree on it more frequently .
If the leaves are also schmaltzy or soft , ancestor or theme bunk may be the perpetrator . Make certain the pot is n’t stand in water , there ’s no puddling around the stems , and there ’s no excess moisture sit on the leaves after misting .
Flower Buds Dropping
When the flower bud drop off , it ’s usually from either too gamy of warmth , dry out , or too much sun . During the flowering part of their life cycle , they need temps below 70 ° F .
If temperature is not the issue , ensure they ’re get between 13 - 16 hour of all over dark a night .
Also make indisputable the soil is not completely dry . It should be hold on equally moist , but never bone ironic , tight , or sloughy .
Christmas Cactus Not Blooming
If your Christmas cactus is n’t bloom it ’s in all likelihood an issue of too much Lord’s Day or heat , or a late repotting .
Keep them in a cool place with only indirect Dominicus during the day , and a non-white place every dark during late fall and early wintertime .
If you ’ve lately repot , it could take a year for bloom buds to shape again . Newly rooted child industrial plant can take even longer .
Leaves & Segments Dropping
Temperature extremes , or root and stem putrefaction from overwatering can make the foliage section to drop off .
duple check that your December cactus is not exposed to very high-pitched heat or freezing temperature . Then ensure you ’re not irrigate to the point that the roots are saturated .
If the stems are mushy and soft , it ’s meter to take cuttings and circulate what you’re able to to keep your flora .
Christmas cactus blooming in spring
It ’s not uncommon for a Christmas cactus to flower a second time in the outflow .
However , if yours is skipping its winter prime altogether , it ’s potential that they did n’t get that stop of dormancy they needed at the proper time to trigger bud organisation .
In belated fall , abbreviate the amount of water you give it , without letting it wholly dry out out . Then keep it in a very dark home at night where it stays between 50 - 60 ° F .
FAQs About Growing Christmas Cactus
Is Christmas cactus really a cactus?
No , a Christmas cactus is not technically a cactus . It is a succulent plant aboriginal to the tropical rain forest of Brazil .
How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom?
A Christmas cactus can bloom up to two multiplication per year if they ’re given the proper guardianship and dormancy stipulation . It ’s normal for them to blossom in December , and sometimes they will flower again in the outpouring .
Why did my Christmas cactus drop its flower buds?
Your Christmas cactus might have miss its blossom buds because it received too much light , dried out , or was queer to temperature higher than 70 ° F during bud establishment .
Does a Christmas cactus need sun?
A Christmas cactus does not need direct sun , but does need about 8 hour of indirect , bright light so as to form flowers . Full sun can sting or pass off the leave , and induce them to droop .
When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?
The best clock time to put a Christmas cactus in the dark is mid - downslope , or sometime in September through other November . The timing is authoritative to encourage flowering in late December .
Why does my Christmas cactus have brown woody stems?
It ’s normal for a mature Christmas cactus to have brown woody stems as they age and ripen . This is a natural part of their growth , and nothing to be concerned about .
When you keep abreast these Christmas cactus flora charge baksheesh , you ’ll be able to enjoy them for decades to come in , and occupy your plate with colorful vacation blooms p.a. .
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