Along with poinsettias and Norfolk Island pine trees, the Christmas cactus is a favourite plant during the winter. The Christmas cactus, also known as the holiday cactus, is overflowing with bright blossoms, despite its unusual-looking appearance, making it a welcome sight in the dead of winter. The plant’s flattened leaves are slightly serrated on each side and are split into fleshy stems. On the terminals of each stalk, tubular blooms emerge in the late autumn or early winter.
All Christmas cactus variations can be started indoors at any time of the year as houseplants until the summer when you can replant or relocate it outdoors. They are native to the Brazilian rainforest.
Care Guide
Planting
Terra cotta or clay pots work well for cactus plants. Due to the porous nature of these pots, water from plants that can be injured by overwatering is wicked away. There should be numerous drainage holes in the pot or one substantial one at the bottom.
Select a container for repotting that is just 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter than the existing one. Oversized pots can harbour pests and plant diseases or retain too much moisture.
Light
A Christmas cactus enjoys both shade and sunlight, but you must be careful not to give it too much of either. Holiday cactus need diffused sunshine or moderate shade, while they can grow in other environments. If you do expose them to full sunlight, make sure to do it in the winter rather than the spring or summer when too much sunlight might make the plant turn pale and yellow.
Soil
The Christmas cactus can thrive in various types of soil and does so naturally as an epiphyte in its native habitat, therefore soil is not a crucial element. Yours can flourish in cactus mix, loamy, sandy, perlite, or all-purpose potting soil. It prefers a pH of 5.5 to 6.2 for optimum growth; peat moss is a useful addition for a more acidic environment.
Water
Despite being a cactus, this plant craves more water than most due to its tropical origins. Thoroughly water the plant, letting extra water drain through the drainage holes. In between waterings, let the soil almost fully dry out. When the leaves begin to pucker and shrivel, the soil is too dry.
Give the plant two to three weekly waterings during the hot, sunny summer. In the winter, if the plant is in a sunny window, it could only require weekly watering. Put your finger 2 inches into the soil to test the moisture level; if it feels dry to the touch, water deeply. It may only require watering once every two to three weeks if you keep the plant in a cooler spot away from a window throughout the winter.
Temperature and Humidity
Particularly when grown in the dry circumstances of heated homes during the winter, the Christmas cactus requires plenty of humidity. To increase the humidity in the plant, spray it or put a pebble tray with water underneath the container.
The Christmas cactus is a little finicky about temperature. It enjoys warm temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the months of peak growth (April to September). Low nighttime temperatures (between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit) and at least 13 hours of complete darkness are necessary for the development of flowering buds once the buds have been established. This plant does not like to be exposed to rapid draughts or temperature fluctuations, and if it is, it will drop its buds or blossoms. Keep it away from heating vents, often opened doors, and draughty windows.
Fertilizer
In the early spring and summer, give your Christmas cactus a monthly feeding of a water-soluble balanced fertilizer that has been diluted to half strength. Stop feeding after blossom buds start to appear, which is often in late summer or early autumn. You can start monthly feedings again after the plant blooms.
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