Christmas cactus: How to care for the winter flowering houseplant
When you think of Christmas plants, poinsettias, mistletoe and holly might immediately spring to mind. But there's a much more colourful houseplant that tends to be closely associated with the festive months – the Christmas cactus.
With it coming in eye-catching bright pink, red, purple or white hues, it's the perfect way to brighten up a room over the darker winter days.
But why is it named after the festive holiday? And, more importantly, how do you care for it?
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know...
What is a Christmas cactus?
Even though it's traditionally known as the Christmas cactus, this isn't its official name. Often described as either the Schlumbergera Truncata or Schlumbergera x buckleyi, the vivid houseplant typically flowers from late November through until the end of January, which is where its festive moniker comes from.
Also, perhaps rather unexpectedly, the plant doesn't come from hot, dry deserts – it actually grows in humid Brazilian forests and attaches itself to trees or rocks.
What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
To encourage a Christmas cactus to bloom, it's important to create the right conditions in your home. As the plant does well in environments with long nights and short days, it's a perfect match for the UK's winter. "It’ll need around 4-8 hours of bright, indirect sunlight, followed by a period of continuous darkness: ideally around 13 hours," explains Eflorist’s flower expert, David Denyer.
They key is to keep it in the dark for the majority of the day, to give it the best chance of blooming.
Where to buy a Christmas cactus
Every garden centre and florist has large displays of Christmas cacti available from early November onwards – and red and pink tend to be the most common colours available.
It is, however, important to choose your cacti carefully. Look for healthy plants with plenty of flower buds, which have been kept in a warm, humid atmosphere, rather than close to exits where they experience draughts and fluctuating temperatures. You'll also want to avoid plants that look a bit shrivelled, as this is can be due to root problems caused by over or under watering.
Having made your choice, take care transporting them home too. Christmas cacti are vulnerable to drops in temperature, as you move them from a warm shop out into the cold and being placed in a chilly car. This can even result in a loss of flower buds.
But once they're in their new home, Christmas cacti are quite easy plants to grow.
Where is the best place to put a Christmas cactus?
"The best spot for a Christmas cactus is one that gets bright, indirect light, so places near a window that doesn’t get direct sunlight would be perfect," says Josh Novell, director of Polhill Garden Centre. "Additionally, since these plants like humidity, putting them in a room with higher moisture levels will help them grow better and create more vibrant blooms."
This makes kitchen windowsills and bathrooms a great option. Just keep them away from cold draughts and direct heat sources.
How to care for a Christmas cactus
A Christmas cactus tends to develop long stems that droop, rather than being upright. It flowers abundantly at the end of each stem. Spreading up to 45 cm (18 inches) in diameter, Christmas cacti do best in a wide pot, rather than a deep one, as this stops them falling over.
The plant also needs a humid atmosphere and this is easily achieved by placing the pot on a gravel or pebble filled saucer. Keep the gravel moist at all times but never cover too deeply with water. Put the plant in a warm spot, with plenty of light but not direct sunlight.
When the flowering season ends, reduce the amount of watering and give it just enough to keep the compost slightly moist. The plant needs time to rest and recover after flowering. Move the plant to a cooler room, ideally around 12-15°C/55-59°F.
Care tips:
they flower late November to late January
they are vulnerable to drops in temperature
they need a humid atmosphere when in flower
they like a warm spot (warmest when in flower, less so when resting)
they need plenty of light but not direct sunlight
repot in March
they are best in a wide pot
ensure plant rests in February/early March and late September
How to care for a Christmas cactus in spring and summer
Leave the plant to rest until the end of March when repotting then becomes essential. This marks the start of the new growing season, which will continue until late September. Choose a pot which is just slightly bigger than the existing one, as Christmas cacti like to fit snuggly into their container. Use a cactus compost (we've shared one above). If this is not available, a loam-based compost containing extra leaf mould and grit can be used instead.
Keep the newly potted plant in a warmer spot, enjoying a temperature of around 18-20°C/65-69°F. Water a little more regularly and add some liquid houseplant feed.
When there is no more risk of frosts, your Christmas cactus can be placed in a shady spot outside for the summer, to encourage new growth. Make sure it is protected from slugs, and check the plant’s condition regularly.
With the onset of autumn and days become shorter, reduce watering and move the Christmas cacti to a cooler spot. This is essential since it gives the plant a little time to rest while the flowering buds form. As soon as these can be seen, it is time to move the plant back into the house and keep it at a much higher temperature – around 18-20°C/65-69°F.
Don’t worry if you cannot be exact in terms of temperature levels. The key to guaranteeing your cacti flowers at Christmas is ensuring the plant rests in February/early March and then again in late September. The fluctuations in temperature combined with the varied watering levels encourages flowering.
As the plant gets older, it will become congested and leggy. You can give it a bushier appearance by removing stem tips as well as the oldest and damaged stems.
Does the Christmas cactus like sun or shade?
This depends on what time of year it is. During the flowering season (late November to late January) a Christmas cactus likes plenty of light but not direct sunlight. During the summer months, while the cactus is resting, it can live in a shadier spot.
How often do you water a Christmas cactus?
Christmas cacti need different amounts of water throughout the year. For example, during the flowering season of November to January, the cactus needs humidity. This can be easily achieved by placing a shallow saucer of gravel under the a pot. If you keep the gravel moist, it will in turn keep the cactus' atmosphere humid. Just make sure it is never sat in deep water, though.
During the rest period, which takes place from March to September, water your Christmas cactus less, making sure the compost is slightly moist but not wet.
If you're asking yourself whether you should water it from the top or the bottom, either works, according to Craig Wilson, co-founder and director of Gardener's Dream. "The key, however, is to ensure good drainage and to let the soil dry out slightly between waterings to prevent root rot," he says.
How to propagate a Christmas cactus
Propagating a Christmas cactus is quite an easy task and even little ones can find it fun. All you need to do is cut some of the lower stems in May. Allow them to dry indoors for a few days, until the wound at the bottom dries and begins to heal.
At that point, place the cutting in a pot filled with a 50:50 mix of sharp sand and cutting compost. Gently push the cutting into the compost, keeping it upright. Make sure the bottom of the cutting is no more than 1cm (1/2 inch) below the surface.
Keep at a warm temperature of around 18-20°C/65-69°F and out of direct sunlight. Water and mist occasionally. It can take up to 12 weeks to root and should then be potted on individually.
How long does a Christmas cactus live?
It is believed that, if a Christmas cactus is cared for properly, it can live for up to 20 to 30 years – a decent lifespan for a houseplant.
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