Christmas Cactus - What you need to know

The Plant World revolves around our calendars. Chrysanthemums are associated with Fall. Easter Lilies are in bloom for Spring and Resurrection Sunday. The Poinsettia naturally blooms for the Christmas season. Well, you get the idea. All other things being equal, the Christmas Cactus will bloom between Thanksgiving and Christmas. These easy to care for plants are hybrids of several species with a multitude of color variations. The original species are natives to Brazil and neighboring areas of South America. They are epiphytes growing in and on trees in the tropics. They derive their subsistence from the air and rainfall in tropical rainforests. The Christmas Cactus is known botanically as Schlumbergera.

The Christmas Cactus is incredibly easy to care for. Many home gardeners possess heirloom plants that are 20 years old and more.  They have literally been handed down through multiple generations. The modern hybrids are produced in a multitude of colors that range from  white to bright red, yellow to peach, and pink to lavender.

 Flowering

It is not unusual to see Christmas Cactus plants with buds and blooms in early November. The plant flowers with the shorter and cooler days of fall. We recommend you leave your plants outside until there is eminent danger of frost. Preferably it should be placed in an area where it is dark from sunset until sunrise. During the day it needs to be in bright light. With the cooler and shorter days of fall your plant will faithfully flower each year in November.

Water, Potting  Soil, and Fertilization

For best results, use a potting soil that is organic and well drained. A typical house plant mix. Blackgold works very well for the Christmas Cactus. You should treat the Christmas Cactus more like a houseplant than a cactus. If the leaves begin to shrivel before you water the plant you need to water more often. A plant that becomes too dry may abort it’s flower buds. Lack of moisture can also stress the plant and allow root rot to gain a foot hold. Fertilize once new growth has commenced after flowering. Fertilize about every 4-6 weeks with a balanced house plant feed at a low rate for house plants.

Light and Temperature

The Christmas Cactus requires bright indirect sunlight. Inside they would like to have 2-4 hours of bright light in a sunny window. Outside they would prefer to be out of the direct sunlight.  The plants basically like the same temperature range as humans but can tolerate lows in the 30’s as long as they do not freeze and as high as 100 in the shade.

 Diseases and Insects

The Christmas Cactus is amazingly resistant to most pests. Mealy bugs are an ever present danger and are hard to control. If the Christmas Cactus is stressed from over or under watering it can develop root rot. Overwatering can be a danger in the short cool days of winter. Growing the Christmas Cactus can be very rewarding, with proper care they can be in flower for 6 weeks. In addition, they need only minimal care the rest of the year.

• Bright window
• Occasionally water
• Keep cool and let the short days of fall work their magic

When it’s not in bloom, the Christmas cactus still shows off its bright green leaves, and it can brighten up your home, clean the air, while providing humidity. 

December is the time to acquire your very on Christmas Cactus. We have a great selection of Christmas Cactus to choose from.

Happy Gardening

Sam