How to Care for a Christmas Cactus

The first thing you should know is that your Christmas cactus is not a cactus. It is a succulent. Don’t worry, you are on the right page. This article will help you understand the basic needs of the flowering wonder you took into your care in December. 

Here is a fun tip for you: the plant you are researching is probably a Thanksgiving cactus, not a Christmas cactus. The Thanksgiving cactus (schlumbergera truncata) is often marketed at Christmastime as a Christmas Cactus (schlumbergera bridgesii). The good news is, that despite the subtle differences in the plants, both are cared for in a similar way. 

Here are a few of the best Christmas Cactus varieties organized by the color of their blooms:

1. Red

   Red is a very popular color of Christmas cactus as red and green are the traditional holiday colors. If you are looking for a red variety, check out the following:

   • Kris Kringle – An early bloomer with red flowers
   • Dark Marie – While the buds are purple, when they bloom, you’ll be blessed with red and white flowers.

2. Orange

   Many orange varieties of the holiday cactus family will bloom in late autumn, the perfect time to showcase the color. Here are three of the nicest varieties:

   • Madslome – When bloomed, this variety is a dark orange color with a creamy white center.
   • Xmas Fantsy – Has a peach color with a purple hue throughout.
   • Peach Parfait – This plant has blooms that are both peach and orange on the plant. They have purple stamens.

3. Yellow

   If you are looking for a pretty yellow variety, check out the “Gold Charm” which will bloom large gold flowers. This plant will also grow quite quickly.

4. Pink

   When looking for a Christmas cactus with pink flowers, check out the following varieties:

   • Thor Rit – This variety blooms bright pink flowers does best in hanging baskets as the stems trail.
   • Thor Tina – Similar to Thor Rit, but with softer colored blossoms.

5. Purple

   For a purple-flowered Christmas cactus, check out one of the following varieties:

   • Dark Eva – This variety will start out as dark purple buds, but will bloom in white flowers with a violet-colored tip.
   • Nicole – The blooms on this variety are soft purple with a creamy center.

6. White

   If you want to remember the snow at Christmas-time, you may enjoy Christmas cactus varieties with white flowers, much like the following:

   • White Christmas – Produces very small white flowers that are a bit creamy.
   • Thor Britt – Not only does this variety have white flowers, but each has a bit of pink in the center as well as pink stamens.

• How to Make Your Christmas Cactus Bloom

  In order to make your Christmas cactus bloom, you will need to send it into dormancy in October or early November. It should receive reduced water, light, and temperature for 6-8 weeks until buds begin to form.

• When Should You Fertilize Your Christmas Cactus?

  In the spring, fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer after it has finished flowering. Continue to fertilize it every second watering or every two weeks through the summer. When autumn arrives, cut back on the fertilization to once per month (or forgo it altogether). 

  When your Christmas cactus begins to bud, feed your plant a high-potassium fertilizer until the plant has finished flowering again.

• What Kind of Soil Should You Keep Your Christmas Cactus In?

  The best kind of soil for a Christmas cactus is a well-drained, sandy potting mixture. As it is a succulent, you can use a commercial mix, such as the Black Gold Cactus Mix. Alternatively, you can mix a one-third portion of sand or bark with two-thirds of regular potting soil.

• Should You Keep Your Christmas Cactus in a Pot?

  Yes, you should keep your Christmas cactus in a pot! The plant loves to have its roots crowded together, so when you repot the plant, make sure the new container is only slightly larger than the previous one. It is an interesting fact that roots that are snuggled together will produce better blooms. Avoid repotting when the plant is flowering. 

  Make sure that there is proper drainage below the pot to avoid root rot. While Christmas cactus likes moist soil, too much moisture can cause problems. 

• How Much Light Should a Christmas Cactus Get?

  While your Christmas cactus will like sunny spots, you shouldn’t place it in direct sunshine. Make sure that all light is indirect. It will need less light during dormancy than it would usually get. East or west-facing windows are perfect, so long as they don’t have direct sun as too much will burn the leaves. 

  If you don’t have good lighting, your Christmas cactus can adapt to a darker environment, though it is likely to not bloom as well during the holiday season. 

• What Temperature Should a Christmas Cactus Be Kept At? 

  When the Christmas cactus is in dormancy, keep the area an average of 50-55°F (10-13°C). Otherwise, it is quite comfortable at 70°F (21°C) during the day and 60-65°F (15-18°C) at night. Don’t let the coolness drop beneath 50°F (10°C) regularly.

• The Humidity of Your Christmas Cactus

  As the Christmas cactus comes from the tropical rainforests of Brazil, they prefer to be kept in humid environments. Your plant will prefer to be kept in 50-60% humidity. To help with this, you can set your plant on a tray with pebbles and pour water onto the tray. As the water evaporates, it will create a humid environment around the Christmas cactus. 

  You can also mist the Christmas cactus frequently to artificially create humidity. 

• How Often Should You Water Your Christmas Cactus?

  Make sure that the top 1 (2.5 cm) of the soil is dry before you water the plant while it is in dormancy. Otherwise, try to keep the soil moist without allowing the roots to rot. Do this by thoroughly soaking the soil once it is dry to the touch, then drain the water to ensure that there is no sitting water at the bottom of the container.

Unfortunately, you may encounter a few problems with your Christmas cactus. Here are a few that you should watch out for:

• Root Rot

  One of the common problems with these plants is root rot, caused by overwatering and not allowing the soil to dry properly. Remove the rotted portion of the roots as soon as you are able and replant in clean soil in a suitable pot.

• Stem Rot

  Stem rot is caused by damp soil. If this happens, cut portions of the stems and create new plants to start over. Act quickly before it spreads to the rest of the plant.

• Mealy Bugs

  If you notice these small, white bugs (often mistaken for mold) on your plant, isolate them from other plants immediately. Use an organic pesticide to kill the pests. You can also clean the plants gently with rubbing alcohol.

  

  Mealybugs

  Remove Mealybugs

  With a length of only 1/8 inch, mealybugs are white, soft-bodied insects that enjoy feeding on the photosynthates (plant juices) of your houseplants. As their bodies have a powdery-white substance on their bodies, they are often described as “looking like snow” when you have a larger infestation on your leaves. They will coat the leaves with a sticky substance that is covered by greyish-white bumps that resemble mold. While it does take some work, you can remove mealybugs so long as the issue hasn’t become too overwhelming for the plant at the time of treatment.

  

  Typical Signs

  • White spots on leaves
  • Suffering plant
• Botrytis Blight

  If you find this grey mold early enough, you can treat it by removing (and destroying) infected parts. Be sure to clean up any parts that fall onto the soil below. Spray with an organic fungicide that offers protection against the mold.

Many people easily propagate their Christmas cactus every few years in order to create more plants, either for themselves or to give away as gifts. The process is very easy and simply requires you to root cuttings.

When Should You Prune a Christmas Cactus?

The best time to prune a Christmas cactus is in the spring after the plant has finished its bloom cycle. Propagating the plant at this time allows it to settle before its growth season.

Preparing Your Cuttings as Gifts

When you approach the holiday season, decorate the containers with ribbons or bows to give them a festive look. Give them out to your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers.

The following are a couple of plants that work well as companions for the Christmas cactus:

Some similar plants to the Christmas cactus include the following:

1. Can a Christmas Cactus Be Moved Outside?

   A Christmas cactus can be kept outdoors in late spring through early autumn as long as it is kept in a shady area with no direct sun. Make sure to continually water and fertilize it. Bring it indoors before you start the budding process. If temperatures drop to below 50°F (10°C), bring the plant inside.

2. What Type of Container Should You Use?

   You can use any kind of small container for your Holiday cactus as long as it has proper drainage. The plant is prone to root rot without a proper draining system. Try to keep the containers small, as the plants prefer their roots to be snug.