Advice For Christmas Cactus Care

Avoiding Problems With Christmas Cactus Health

1. Maintain the correct light/dark schedule. ...
2. Don't water too much. ...
3. Don't water too little. ...
4. Make sure the plant gets enough indirect sunlight but keep it out of direct sunlight. ...
5. Keep the plant away from direct heat sources, like a fireplace or heating vent.

1. How often do you water a Christmas cactus?
2. How do I keep my Christmas cactus healthy?
3. Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?
4. How do I keep my Christmas cactus blooming?
5. What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
6. Do Christmas cactus like coffee grounds?
7. How long do Christmas cactus live?
8. When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?
9. How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is overwatered?
10. How do you care for a Christmas cactus indoors?
11. Why is my Christmas cactus limp?
12. Do Christmas cactus like to be outside?
13. Should I deadhead Christmas cactus?
14. Should I prune my Christmas cactus?
15. How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom?
16. Why is my Christmas cactus not flowering?
17. When should I feed my Christmas cactus?
18. Can you root a piece of Christmas cactus in water?
19. Is coffee grounds good for succulents?
20. Why do Christmas cactus leaves turn yellow?
21. How cold is too cold for a Christmas cactus?

How often do you water a Christmas cactus?

How to Care for Christmas Cacti

1. Plan to water every 2-3 weeks, but only water when the top one third of soil feels dry to the touch. ...
2. From spring through early fall, feed every 2 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. ...
3. Prune plants in late spring to encourage branching and more flowers.

How do I keep my Christmas cactus healthy?

Temperature: Maintain an optimal climate of 65 degrees. Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist while your plant is blooming, misting it frequently. Light: Place the cactus in an east-facing window for moderate light and some direct sun. Fertilization: Apply a high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks once buds form.

Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?

In general, water a Christmas cactus when the top inch or 2 of soil is dry. To help increase the humidity around your plant, fill the pot saucer with pebbles and add water to just below the tops of the pebbles (the pot shouldn't be sitting directly in water).

How do I keep my Christmas cactus blooming?

Christmas cacti produce flowers in a cool, environment-short day cycle. To initiate the production of flower buds, there needs to be at least eight days of 16 hours of dark and eight hours of light each day. Wherever the plant is placed, do not turn on the lights at night, even for a short period of time.

What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?

To get the Christmas Cactus to bloom you need to place it in darkness for 12-14 hours a day (overnight), and when I say darkness… I do mean dark – as little indirect light as possible is best. For the rest of the day it is OK to place the plant in bright, indirect light.

Do Christmas cactus like coffee grounds?

The answer is simple, yes! Coffee grounds can work on almost any type of cactus or succulent. ... Most water has an alkaline pH of around 8, whereas cactus like between 5.8 – 7 pH. This means that each time you water your Christmas cactus or succulent, you are actually feeding it a higher pH than what it likes.

How long do Christmas cactus live?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when properly cared for, Christmas cacti can live for 20 to 30 years. If you provide long nights starting around October 1st, you can force the Christmas cactus to bloom year after year. Cool night temperatures can also encourage it to bloom.

When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?

Put your forest cactus in a dark closet for 14 hours a night, starting six to eight weeks before you want it to bloom. Bring it back out into a bright location during daylight hours. Once buds begin to form, the closet treatment is no longer needed, and the plant should bloom beautifully for the holidays.

How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is overwatered?

In case you didn't remember to do this, one of the first overwatering symptoms on Christmas cactus will be limp leaves, which will start to drop off. Then the stems and branches will soften and get mushy. Severe cases will manifest with a foul odor and the stem will rot completely off.

How do you care for a Christmas cactus indoors?

Avoiding Problems With Christmas Cactus Health

1. Maintain the correct light/dark schedule. ...
2. Don't water too much. ...
3. Don't water too little. ...
4. Make sure the plant gets enough indirect sunlight but keep it out of direct sunlight. ...
5. Keep the plant away from direct heat sources, like a fireplace or heating vent.

Why is my Christmas cactus limp?

Wilted or limp Christmas cactus is sometimes caused by a lack of water or too much direct sunlight. If you've neglected to water the limp Christmas cactus, begin by giving the plant a limited drink. Continue to water sparingly every few days until the soil is lightly moist.

Do Christmas cactus like to be outside?

Christmas cactus can be moved outdoors in summer but should be kept in a partial to full shaded area. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves. ... During summer, water to keep the growing mix moist after it dries on top.

Should I deadhead Christmas cactus?

While not necessary for all cacti since some cactus flowers drop from the plant once they are spent, deadheading cactus flowers can promote additional blooms and encourage growth while also tidying up the cactus. ... Deadheading can be done throughout the growing season while the Christmas cactus is in bloom.

Should I prune my Christmas cactus?

Pruning a Christmas cactus, large or small, will help it to grow fuller and bushier, which in turn results in more blooms in the future. The best time to prune a Christmas cactus is right after it has bloomed. At this time, the Christmas cactus will be entering a growth period and will start to put out new leaves.

How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom?

Christmas Cactus are extremely popular when November and December roll around. I happen to like them even when they're not in bloom and think they make fine houseplants. But wait, did you know that they can repeat flower? Mine started re-blooming in February, so yes, Christmas Cactus do flower more than once a year.

Why is my Christmas cactus not flowering?

Non-flowering could be due to the day length not shortening or/and the temperatures not dropping to mimic autumn. For example, if the plant is near an artificial light source after dark and the temperature doesn't drop below 18°C. Flower bud dropping is usually cause by fluctuating temperatures.

When should I feed my Christmas cactus?

Christmas cactus feeding takes place monthly during the growing season, generally April through October. This will keep your plants in tip-top condition to form buds and eventually that fully bloomed look in time for Christmas. If you don't want to keep your cacti gift, you don't necessarily need to fertilize it.

Can you root a piece of Christmas cactus in water?

To root a piece of Christmas cactus in water, you will need a few cuttings from a healthy Christmas cactus, a glass jar, and some pebbles or stones. ... If water levels evaporate, fill the jar back up to the appropriate level. Once you see roots form, it is okay to move the cuttings into soil.

Is coffee grounds good for succulents?

As the used coffee grounds break down, they'll add nitrogen to the soil, which is a vital nutrient for succulents. They'll also help aerate the soil and improve drainage, and may even suppress weeds and keep pests away. ... Brewed coffee grounds have a lot less caffeine, so they're safe to use.

Why do Christmas cactus leaves turn yellow?

Improper watering – Yellow Christmas cactus leaves may be a sign that the plant has a disease known as root rot, which is caused by excessive watering or poor drainage. ... Decrease watering after blooming, and provide only enough moisture to prevent the plant from wilting.

How cold is too cold for a Christmas cactus?

They may tolerate short periods of temperatures below 50 degrees, but they cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. All of the cacti are short-day plants. They require 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness daily to produce blossoms.