Christmas cactus thrives in bright, but indirect sunlight. Keep it near a window when indoors or shaded by trees if kept outdoors in warmer months. Despite its name, the Christmas cactus is not a desert plant, but rather has its origins in the tropical rain forests of South America.

Can a Christmas cactus live outside?

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.

Do Christmas cactus need a lot of sun?

Christmas cacti produce flowers in a cool, environment-short day cycle. To initiate the production of flower buds, there needs to be at least eight days of 16 hours of dark and eight hours of light each day. Wherever the plant is placed, do not turn on the lights at night, even for a short period of time.

How do you care for a Christmas cactus indoors?

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.

Can Christmas cactus live indoors?

Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a popular, winter-flowering houseplant that makes a great addition to nearly any indoor setting. It is not only easy to care for but propagates easily, too, making it an exceptional candidate for holiday gift giving.

Where should I place my Christmas cactus?

The key to keeping a healthy plant is making sure it is placed in the right location and only watering when the soil mix is dry. 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℉.

Where should I put a Christmas cactus indoors?

Given its home climate, it won’t surprise you that Christmas cacti thrive in indirect light and humid conditions. Growing your Christmas cactus in a north- or east-facing window is ideal, but wherever you end up putting it, make sure to keep it out of direct sunlight.

How often should I water my Christmas cactus?

every 2-3 weeks

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.

When should I bring my Christmas cactus outside?

During summer months place plants outside in a shady location. Bring plants back inside before the first frost. Water: Christmas Cactus prefer moist soil, but not soggy. After flowering, stop watering for 30 days.

When should I stop watering my Christmas cactus?

Stop watering around October.

This watering schedule will prep your plant to bloom around Christmas. The only other time you should stop watering is after the plant blooms. At this time, cease watering for about 6 weeks to let the plant rest. New growth will still appear–and that’s when you can start watering again.

Can I put my cactus outside?

Yes. While cacti plants tend to thrive in indoor environments, many varieties can also do well when planted outside. No matter the climatic conditions of the region where you live, you can always find an ideal cactus species that can thrive outdoors.

How do I keep my Christmas cactus blooming?

Unlike many other succulents, Christmas cactus can bloom again in spring if given the short days condition. Placing Christmas cactus into the east-facing window that receives abundant amounts of sunlight during the day and 12 hours of darkness each night can encourage the plant to flower again.

How do you get a Christmas cactus to bloom indoors?

In order to further force a Christmas cactus to bloom, you’ll need to move the plant where it will receive about 12 to 14 hours of darkness. Bright, indirect light during the day is fine, however, Christmas cactus requires at least 12 hours of darkness at night in order to encourage bud development.

How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom?

Regardless of which one you have, they can re-bloom more than once a year. Some Of Our General Houseplant Guides For Your Reference: Guide To Watering Indoor Plants. Beginner’s Guide To Repotting Plants.

How long does a Christmas cactus live?

100 years

The Christmas cactus is everywhere during the holiday season, with good reason. It’s a blooming succulent that is easy to care for, has gorgeous blooms, and when properly tended can live up to 100 years! That’s right!

Is Epsom salt good for Christmas cactus?

Christmas 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 regular fertilizer.

Are coffee grounds good for Christmas cactus?

Your Christmas cactus will enjoy a coffee as much as you do!

Coffee grounds are a good source of potassium and nitrogen, two things the cactus needs to keep it healthy. Don’t use the grounds straight away, as moist grounds can go moldy, so you need to dry them first by spreading them out.

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.

Can you change the color of a Christmas cactus?

Hybrid plants often mutate back to the dominant color of the species. Fortunately the flowers are still pretty just not the color you purchased. Continue to grow it in a sunny location. Starting October 1st cut back on water, move to a cooler dark location at night and wait to be rewarded with flowers.

Do Christmas cactus like to be root bound?

ANSWER: Christmas cactus grows well with crowded roots, so your friend isn’t totally wrong. Christmas cactus can do ok when it has become rootbound, but you should still repot your holiday cacti every four years, increasing the size of the pot by two inches each time you repot.

Should you deadhead a Christmas cactus?

Keep your cacti looking its best during and after the Christmas season by deadheading all the spent blooms. This also encourages the plant to continue blooming. Once Christmas is over you can continue to enjoy your cacti until it finally stops producing flowers.

What does it mean when a Christmas cactus leaves turn purple?

Location – Christmas cactus requires bright light during fall and winter, but too much direct light during the summer months may be the reason for Christmas cactus leaves turning purple on edges.

Should I remove purple leaves from Christmas cactus?

However, even though the purple coloration is a sign that the plant may be struggling to survive, Christmas Cactus can usually be revived if the conditions causing the purple foliage are addressed.

Should I fertilize my Christmas cactus?

After blooming, fertilize the plant every month beginning when you see new growth at the end of winter or the first of spring. Feed a Christmas cactus with a 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 plant food diluted with water to 50% strength.

What soil does Christmas cactus need?

The easiest medium requires three parts regular potting soil mixed with two parts perlite. This will provide perfectly adequate drainage. If you’d like to take it a step further, mix equal parts compost, perlite, and milled peat.

How do you know when to repot a cactus?

You will know when to repot a cactus plant if you see roots coming out the bottom of the container. This indicates it is overly root bound. Most cacti find small spaces very cozy and can stay in their container for years. The sight of roots will let you know it has expanded too much and will need repotting.

Is Christmas cactus a succulent?

A favorite holiday plant, Christmas cactus are succulents that are usually grown as houseplants. Readily found in garden centers and stores in mid-fall, Christmas cactuses get their name from the time of year they bloom. They do require special attention to encourage blooming, but otherwise are fairly easy to care for.