Buzz
As a visually stunning decorative plant during the holiday season, the Christmas cactus (scientifically known as Schlumbergera or Zygocactus) typically blooms during Christmas or Easter when cared for properly. About a month before Christmas, you may notice tiny buds forming on the leaves. These buds gradually deepen in color until flower buds emerge. By Christmas, as if by magic, these buds transform into breathtaking blossoms, adding vibrant colors and warmth to the festive season.
Steps
Selecting Location, Soil, and Preparation
The Christmas cactus thrives in bright but indirect light. Place the plant in a well-lit area, such as near a window, but avoid direct sunlight. Intense heat and strong light can stunt growth and scorch the leaves. Also, keep the plant away from hot drafts, heat vents, fireplaces, or other heat sources.
- Move the plant outdoors during summer, ensuring it stays in a shaded area. Ideally, keep it indoors at a normal temperature of around 18 to 20°C. However, cooler nighttime temperatures are necessary to encourage blooming. We’ll discuss bloom stimulation later in the article.
- If placed near a north or east-facing window, light exposure won’t be an issue. For south or west-facing windows, diffuse the light using sheer curtains or other light-diffusing tools.
Provide humidity if you live in a dry environment. Place a water tray near the cactus to allow evaporation and spread moisture. Alternatively, set the pot in a non-porous saucer filled with gravel and add water halfway up the saucer.
- Optimal humidity should be around 50-60%. If the surrounding environment meets this level, no additional measures are needed.
Use pots and soil with good drainage. For the pot, inexpensive nursery pots work well, and orchid pots (plastic baskets) are also suitable. Find another pot that can hold water and fit the planting basket inside. Place medium-sized stones at the bottom so the basket sits about 2.5 cm above the base.
- Use a mix of 3 parts potting soil to 1 part sand for the Christmas cactus. Alternatively, combine 1 part potting soil, 2 parts peat moss or compost, and 1 part sharp sand or perlite. Regardless of the mix, pour about 5 cm of room-temperature water into the outer pot, then place the planting basket inside. After 12 hours, drain all the water. Repeat this process as needed, depending on environmental conditions. Monitor the plant's needs with a moisture meter and adjust accordingly.
Fertilize to promote growth. Actively growing plants require indoor flower fertilizer. It’s best to fertilize when the plant is 2-3 weeks old. Follow the dosage and frequency instructions on the packaging.
- Fertilization is crucial for maintaining plant health; weak plants may drop fragile segments. Generally, the Christmas cactus should be fertilized 2-4 times a year with a 20-20-20 fertilizer, but stop fertilizing a month before flower buds appear (typically by late October).
Watering the Plant
Be cautious when watering the Christmas cactus. Caring for this plant can be tricky because you must avoid overwatering or underwatering:
- The Christmas cactus is a tropical cactus, not a desert cactus. Unlike most desert cacti, it cannot tolerate completely dry soil. If the soil is too dry, flower buds will drop, and the plant will wilt. Use your finger to check the soil; if it feels too dry, it’s time to water.
- Overwatering can cause white rot spots on the leaves and lead to leaf drop. The soil should remain evenly moist for optimal growth. The rule of thumb is less is more.
- When watering, soak the soil thoroughly. Before watering again, check if the top 2.5 cm of soil has dried out. Mist the leaves and water the soil.
Adjust watering schedules seasonally. Watering the Christmas cactus depends on the environment and time of year. Here’s a suitable approach:
- Dry climate, outdoor planting: Water every 2-3 days during warm, sunny weather.
- Humid, cool climate, indoor planting: Water weekly.
- During fall and winter months: Reduce watering to encourage blooming.
Stop watering around October. Your watering duties pause at the start of October. You can resume light watering in November. If you live in a dry climate, place the pot on a tray of wet gravel. This method is also useful when the plant blooms during Christmas.
- Another time to stop watering is after the plant blooms. At this point, withhold water for about 6 weeks to let the plant rest. New buds will still form, and that’s when you should resume watering.
Be cautious of bud drop. One of the most frustrating issues with the Christmas cactus is buds falling off after forming. This can happen due to various reasons, often overwatering, but it could also be due to insufficient humidity or light.
- If this occurs, reduce watering and add fertilizer. Move the plant away from heat vents and place it in a slightly sunnier spot.
Encourage Timely Blooming
Stimulate holiday blooms by lowering temperatures. The secret to getting the Christmas cactus to bloom during the holidays is proper light exposure, suitable temperatures, and limited watering. By controlling these factors, you can time the blooms as desired.
- The Christmas cactus forms buds when days and nights are equal in length and when temperatures drop below 10-15.5°C for several weeks. Blooms may not occur if temperatures drop too low.
- From September to October, place the plant in a cool room at 10-12°C, allowing slight fluctuations. Avoid freezing temperatures. The plant will bloom during the holidays if the temperature drop is applied from early November.
Place the plant in a dark room at night. During the fall months, the Christmas cactus needs to be placed where it receives plenty of indirect light during the day but remains in complete darkness at night. The plant requires long periods, around 12 continuous hours, in the dark.
When buds appear, increase light and humidity. The "dark period" is over once the plant starts to bud. At this point, you should increase humidity, light, water (slightly), and temperature. In other words, you can continue caring for the plant as you did a few months ago.
Care for the plant after it blooms
Prune the Christmas cactus one month after it blooms. This will encourage the plant to branch out, especially after its resting period. The plant may not look very attractive after the flowers have faded. Some people wait until around March, when new shoots appear, to start pruning.
Propagate the Christmas cactus by cutting short segments in a Y shape. Each segment should have two or three nodes. Let each segment dry for a few hours before planting it in a 7.5 cm pot filled with the same soil as the parent plant. Insert about half of the first node and water moderately to prevent rot.
Repot the plant every 2-3 years. The Christmas cactus can thrive for several years unless its roots become diseased or damaged. Additionally, repotting is necessary when the roots become overcrowded or the soil nutrients are depleted. This is typically done in the spring.
Advice
- Remember to rotate the pot periodically during the new growth stimulation phase. Otherwise, your Christmas cactus may grow lushly on one side and sparsely on the other.
- The cactus will only grow to the size of its pot. To encourage larger growth, use a wider pot.
- The Christmas cactus is a beautiful plant that can bloom for many years; you can keep it even after the holiday season. It can be maintained for generations.
- The instructions for stimulating blooming are based on a cold Christmas season. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, it may be challenging to get the cactus to bloom at Christmas, and it may require a more controlled environment to bloom during the holiday. The best chance for blooming may be during the coldest months of the year.
Warning
- The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists the Christmas cactus as non-toxic to dogs and cats.
- Any sudden changes in temperature, light, or water can harm the Christmas cactus. Hot drafts and extreme temperatures can cause buds to drop before blooming. Gradually acclimate the plant to changes.
- Never place the Christmas cactus near an exterior door. Similarly, keep it away from heat vents, fireplaces, or areas with hot drafts.
