A Christmas cactus is a great present to give during the holidays. It is becoming just as popular as the Poinsettia, however it isn’t as dangerous. The Christmas Cactus is actually the second most popular out of all the plants passed out during this time. Many of these hybrids today are man made, and grow upright and others tend to go in any direction they choose.
This Christmas Cactus is unlike so many that come equipped with their own sharp spines, this one is full of green leaves which bloom large flowers at the tips. This is a perennial and will only bloom one time during the year, the best time is Christmas. The blooms will last longer in cooler temperatures.
This beautiful Christmas Cactus is easy to maintain. Water it every couple of days, making sure not to let it dry out. Even though this plant is a succulent it came originally from Brazil, which is a tropical area. This is not a desert cactus and can’t go weeks without water. Feed your Christmas cactus a liquid plant food diet every other month, not just water. Most cactus plants enjoy a fresh drink of cactus juice, which does have them stay healthy looking.
This plant will need to be repotted every three years, to keep it from getting over crowded. One way to tell if your Christmas Cactus is ready to transfer pots is if the leaves start wilting or the soil is constantly dry. Make sure the pot has proper drainage, or take off any excess water you see.
When not in bloom keep them in the sun, but not direct sunlight. Try placing them on a window sill so they get plenty of sunshine, but make sure not to keep them there too long. This will help them grow bigger, if one side seems to growing bigger than the other than turn it so that she shaded side will be in the sun more. Remember, a plant is just like a human, if left in direct sunlight without protection it will burn.
You can make your Christmas Cactus bloom during any time of the year but the best time is Christmas. By sticking them in a cooler area for 6-8 weeks, you‘ll help them restore their buds. But don’t place them where they will freeze. To make your plant branch out more, prune them back after they’ve bloomed. To get full blooms you must keep the plant in uninterrupted darkness for about 14-16 hours, it will take about two weeks for it to bloom once brought back into the light. Start the dark treatment in October so they’ll be in full bloom in December.
Make your holidays colorful with a Christmas Cactus, or get one for a friend. They are easy to take care of and hard to kill, making it the perfect cactus for your home. The Christmas cactus look beautiful once they bloom and will last a long time and your friend will remember you gave it to them.