How to Care for a Christmas Cactus

Christmas cactus is the popular name for Schlumbergera, a plant native to the coastal mountains of Brazil. Different types of this succulent flower bloom around popular holidays, like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

Here’s how the leaf shape can tell you the type of Schlumbergara cactus you have.

• Thanksgiving cactus has very pointed, claw shaped edges.
• Christmas cactus has softer scalloped notches.
• Easter cactus has rounded notches that are symmetrical on the leaf.

Learn more about how to grow a Christmas cactus.

Look for Christmas cactus and its relatives in garden centers during the winter holidays. Bring a Christmas cactus home and keep it in its nursery pot until after it blooms, and then repot it. This plant likes its roots crowded.

Place Christmas cactus in a warm spot in your home where it will get plenty of sunlight.

Caring for Christmas cactus means learning that these types of cactus are short day plants. You need to create a cycle of dark light and cool temps to stimulate blooms again.

Knowing how to care for a Christmas cactus means knowing it doesn’t like extremes. It performs best in indirect light. It adapts easily to low light, but brighter light is preferred during its blooming cycle. Exposure to full sun can damage the leaves.

Some recommend placing it near a widow that faces east. Keep temperatures moderate as well. Ideally place it in a spot that stays about 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep it far from drafts.

Tip: Make sure your plant isn’t near a vent, heater or fireplace. Dry, hot air can prevent it from thriving.

Unlike a true cactus, this plant prefers moist, not dry, soil. Water your plant when the top layer of soil is dry to the touch. It may require more water during the spring and summer months.

Too much water, however, will cause root rot. Christmas cactus care also involves providing a lot of humidity. Mist it often.
After its seasonal blooming, fertilize the plant once a month. Use a diluted or mild fertilizer made for houseplants or use cactus food. Follow the instructions on the package for specifics.

Once a year, you should repot your Christmas cactus. The best time is right after its blooming cycle in the spring. Most plants sold during the holidays are a 4-inch Christmas cactus or a 6-inch Christmas cactus.

Choose a planter size larger to give the plant room to grow. You can also propagate or grow new plants from the leaves.

Whether you’re propagating or repotting, start with the right Christmas cactus soil. Choose a mix of peat moss and sand. It drains well and releases moisture. Select pots or planters with drainage holes. Fill the saucer underneath with stones or pebbles. This will help prevent the roots from getting too wet. Here’s how to propagate a new plant.

• Use shears to cut from the end of the leaf stem of a mature plant. Count down to four or five healthy segments and cut where the last one joins.

• Keep the cutting in a cool, dry place. About a day or two later, plant an inch of the cutting deep into the soil.

• Water sparingly. The soil should stay moist but not wet.

• Christmas cactus plants like humidity. If the room air is dry, consider using a humidifier.

One of the most important aspects of Christmas cactus care involves the blooming cycle. Traditionally, Christmas cactus bloom only if kept on a restricted light schedule.

About six to eight weeks before you want blooms, put your plant in a dark area for about 14 hours a day. You can place it in a closet or cover it with a box. Just make sure the temperature of the area is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

In about three or four weeks, you’ll notice small buds appearing. Once the buds develop a bit more, you can place your plant in a spot with indirect sunlight. If you want blooms for the holiday season, start this process in early October.

Tip: As the plant adjusts to the light, you may lose a few buds. This is normal.

Here’s how to care for a Christmas cactus all year long.

• December, January, February: Dry, heated air can deplete moisture. Spritz often to keep the plant hydrated.

• March, April, May: When blooming is over, fertilize the plant. Make sure you keep it out of direct sun.

• June, July, August: Maintain a consistent water and fertilizer routine.

• September, October, November: Stop fertilizing and start the blooming cycle. Rotate the plant between dark and light spaces every 12 hours or so.

Christmas cacti's most common pests are microscopic spider mites, fungus gnats, mealybugs and scale insects. An insecticide spray made for houseplants will work for all of these pests. Here's how to recognize them.

• Scale insects make leaves look waxy.

• Spider mites leave tiny webbing on the leaves.

• Mealybugs resemble bits of cotton balls.

• Gnats are easy to see. Gnat infestations are often caused by water-logged soil. Replanting may be the best option for getting rid of them.