How to Care for Christmas Cactus

Christmas Cactus can usually go on sale late in October through December. There are a few different sized plants for sale, and some completely budded, while others have less. It is best to purchase those that are not fully budded, so that they have time to open completely for the holidays.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Christmas Cactus
• Plant food

1. Christmas Cactus are best grown in a pot that has more peat moss than plain earth.

2. 
    

   Keep this plant in bright indirect light, out on the patio or near the window in the home. In the summer if you place them outside, it would be best to put them in shady spot on the patio.

3. Christmas Cactus an not like other cactus which do not need watering often. They are more like a houseplant, so if you touch the soil and it is dry, water them.

4. Add a few drops of Schultz Plant food to the water when watering them. Overwatering will cause them to develop a fungus, as noted by white spots on the leaves and in the soil.

5. 
    

   Stop feeding the plant before it starts to bud. If you are buying a new plant for the first time, then it would be best not to feed it by the end of October.

6. Prune the Cactus after it has completely stopped flowering. Pinch back the last two leaves with your fingers or a scissors. Christmas cactus likes to be crowed in the plant, so it is best not to repot. Pruning should result in the plant having more leaves the following budding season and have the plant grow better.

Tips & Warnings

• If you get a white crud in the plant earth, you have been over watering the plant.
• Replant it by taking the plant and soil out of the pot. Place in the kitchen sink. Remove all the wet and white crud. Add new soil fresh from the bag, and repot the plant.
• Spray the leaves with water once a week or so or wipe the leaves with a damp sponge.
• Do not over water! Do not allow to dry too much! Find a happy medium and stick to it.

Resources

• Buy a Christmas Tree from a Tree Farm

[grimsleygl]

on 11/4/2009 Nice! And very timely as well. Thanks for the step-by-step article. 5*'s

[beautyqueen26]

on 9/23/2009 I'll bet my daughter would love to help me do this. Sounds so easy. Thanks for the info.
Five stars! And, a recommendation!

[SeventhSibling]

on 4/24/2009 It's nice to have a winter flowering house plant. Good advice.

[MarlaineMarie]

on 4/6/2009 You've reminded me of the plants I had that died when I moved because the light wasn't as good. I think it's time to go looking for new ones now. They grow for years under the right conditions and easy to keep going, too! A grow light will be just what the plant will need!

[diggitydogg]

on 11/14/2008 Very good advice. Some of it is also helpful for my other cactuses.