Christmas Cactus: Here’s How to Grow and Maintain It So It Lasts a Long Time

How to grow and care for Christmas cactus, one of the most popular winter plants, so it can continue to thrive after the holiday season.

During the upcoming holiday season, you may receive a Christmas cactus as a gift. You will need to take care of it so that it can survive without any problems and keep you company for a long time with its beautiful and colorful flowers, which can brighten up any room.

First of all, you should know that the Christmas cactus is a plant species native to Brazil, botanically called Schlumbergera and belonging to the Cactaceae family, which usually grows in tropical forests. It is a plant that prefers shade and humidity. For this reason, the interior environment of our homes in winter, with the heating on, becomes an ideal climate for lush growth.

1. When does the Christmas cactus bloom?

The Cacraceae can have different flowering periods, but what characterizes the Christmas cactus is the fact that its flowers bloom just as the end of year holidays approach, hence the name of this wild plant from Brazil and other regions of Latin America that was imported to Europe as a houseplant.

You can admire the flowers of the Christmas cactus between December and January. Their colors can range from pink to red and from purple to red-purple. To ensure that the flower buds do not fade before they bloom, the Christmas cactus must be carefully kept away from drafts and heat sources. Therefore, the Christmas cactus should not be placed near a frequently opened door or too close to a fireplace, stove or radiator.

2. Where to place it?

The ideal temperature for the indoor Christmas cactus is 20°C. To prolong the flowering of the cactus during the winter period, you should place it in a bright room. Later in the summer, the Christmas cactus can be placed outside, in a partially shaded position, so that excessive exposure to direct sunlight does not cause leaf burn. In autumn, from the beginning of September, the plant can be moved indoors. The reduction in daylight hours and its exposure to the sun mean that its flowering can be delayed until the Christmas period.

One of the perfect places to keep Christmas cactus in your home during December and January is on the inside windowsill, so the flowers can take advantage of the daylight to bloom during the winter.

The elevated position of the plant is essential if you have pets such as dogs or cats. Ingesting some parts of the plant can cause diarrhea or vomiting in pets. Therefore, it should be placed in such a way that pets cannot easily reach it. In case of problems, the veterinarian should be consulted immediately.

3. When to water the Christmas cactus?

The Christmas cactus is native to the tropical forests of South America and therefore prefers a humid climate. It is therefore necessary to pay special attention to watering, both in summer and winter. In winter, it must be watered regularly, little by little, avoiding that the saucer becomes soaked with water, but keeping the soil moist. In summer, the same procedure is followed, with the possibility of spraying a little water on the leaves using a sprayer. In summer, the best time to water the Christmas cactus, which needs small amounts of water at a time, is in the evening. In particularly dry climates, try to keep it in a room with a small humidifier or other plants.

It is important to avoid water stagnation and to water regularly but not excessively, especially during flowering. Excessive watering can cause root rot, which can lead to the death of the plant. This rot can also be caused by a fungus, unfortunately not visible from the outside until the first damage appears. The flowering of the plant can sometimes last from December to February. In any case, once flowering is over, watering can be reduced. Throughout the life of the plant, watering should only be done when the soil appears dry on the surface. It may be sufficient to water only once or twice a week in winter.

Christmas cactus likes soils with an acidic pH and, if possible, containing peat. It is optional to use natural fertilizers during the flowering period in order to ensure the nutrition of the plant. Fertilization should be stopped when the flowers fall. If you want to fertilize, it is best to do it in spring and summer, when physiological growth is underway.

4. How to propagate and multiply your Christmas cactus?

• Propagation by cuttings

If you want to propagate your cactus, it is quite possible to do so at home by using the stems from the previous year that have been dried for a few days before being planted. Proceed as follows:

Take a stem of the plant about 10 to 15 cm long.

Set the cutting aside for at least 48 hours.

Once it has dried, you can plant it in soil with a sandy mixture if possible, burying it at least 3 cm deep in the soil.

• Propagation by hand pollination

Another way to propagate your Christmas cactus if you have at least two plants with flowers of different colors is to use hand pollination. In practice, you must use a small brush to collect the pollen from one and place it on the other and wait for the plant to bear fruit. The latter will have small seeds that can be planted in the spring.

5. Lifespan

Christmas cactus plants can have a very long lifespan, up to 20 or 30 years, making them an even more symbolic Christmas gift.