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.
What do you do with Christmas cactus after it’s done blooming?
After Flowering
Simply cut back the watering and make sure the plant receives 12-14 hours of darkness and average temperatures around 50-55 F. (10-12 C.). Also, keep the Christmas cactus away from drafty areas and avoid sudden changes in moisture, temperature or sunlight.
How do you take care of an outdoor Christmas cactus?
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. Some growers move plants to the shade of a porch or patio for the summer. During summer, water to keep the growing mix moist after it dries on top.
Does Christmas cactus like sun or shade?
Holiday cacti grow best when they are placed in a location with partial shade, such as an east or west facing window, with a temperature between 70° and 80℉.
What is the best care for a Christmas cactus? – Related Questions
Can I use Miracle Grow on a Christmas cactus?
Plant your Christmas cactus in Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix. Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry. Increase humidity around the plant. Feed from after blooming until fall with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food.
Is coffee water good for Christmas cactus?
Its pink flowers blossom in November through February, which explains how it earned its festive name. Since Christmas cactus likes an acidic soil pH hovering between 5.5 and 6.2, coffee grounds are an excellent additive that will provide nitrogen and keep the soil acidic.
How often should Christmas cactus be watered?
How to Care for Christmas Cacti. Plan to water every 2-3 weeks, but only water when the top one third of soil feels dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil, water when the top 2 inches feel dry.
What kind of pots do Christmas cactus like?
ANSWER: Christmas cacti are well suited to clay pots due to their quickly-draining nature. Clay is a porous material, which provides good air circulation and conductive conditions.
What happens if a Christmas cactus gets too much sun?
Full sun can cause the leaf segments to turn dark red as the plants begin to burn. The “trick” to getting Christmas cactus to bloom in the following years after purchase comes down to two things: light and temperature.
Should Christmas cactus be watered from top or bottom?
Experts recommend watering Christmas cactus from the bottom rather than on top. With this method, you can be sure that your plant is getting enough water every time because it will soak into their roots and reach all of them.
When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?
Step 3: Move the Mature Cactus to a Dark Location
In late September or early October, place the mature plant in a dark room or keep it covered (under a box or bag works fine) for at least 12 hours a day.
Should you mist a Christmas cactus?
Instead of watering it like you would a traditional plant, you should be misting your cactus every day. A few squirts from a spray bottle is all you need to keep your cactus happy. The only time you should be watering the base of the plant is when its soil is completely dry to the touch.
Is Epsom salt good for Christmas cactus?
Holiday cacti have a higher requirement for magnesium than many plants. Fertilize monthly during the growing season with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) mixed at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water, but do not apply the same week as the regular fertilizer.
Is cinnamon good for cacti?
The cinnamon will encourage the stem to produce more stems, while helping to prevent the fungus that causes damping-off disease.
How do I make my Christmas cactus bushier?
Pruning. Trim your Christmas cactus to create a fuller, bushier plant about a month after blooming, but never prune a Christmas cactus after late spring. To prune the plant, just pinch off one or more of the sections. Replant them in a separate pots if you want to create new plants.
Are eggshells good for Christmas cactus?
Do Egg Shells Make Good Fertilizer? Definitely. Plants need calcium for growth just as much as they need phosphorus and nitrogen. And eggshells as fertilizer are an excellent way to provide your succulents and cacti with calcium carbonate.
Are banana peels good for Christmas cactus?
There is no doubt that banana peels are a good fertilizer. When dealing with succulents and even cacti, it is important to pay attention to how often (or rather how infrequently) you are adding this fertilizer because they need it less than food plants.
Do Christmas cactus like pebble trays?
Christmas cacti originate in rainforests, so they like plenty of humidity. Use a pebble tray under your pot, or run a humidifier nearby.
Should I put pebbles around my cactus?
The main purpose of placing pebbles on the bottom of the potted succulent plant is to enhance drainage. Succulents and cacti naturally grow in sandy soils that drain quickly. Succulent roots should never be left in wet soil. The rocks help move water through the soil to prevent the roots from rotting.
Do cacti like shallow or deep pots?
Most cacti have shallow roots and grow slowly, so choose a shallow container. You don’t need a deep pot or a very large one.