So I was at a Christmas Party and we did a Dirty Santa gift exchange and I came home with a Christmas Cactus! Has this ever happened to you? Or have you admired someone’s plant and they gave it to you? Or maybe they just gave you a piece of their plant? And now you wonder, just HOW do care for a Christmas Cactus, now that Christmas is over?
I wrote about three easy care plants for pots here , but do you want an easy to care for houseplant with gorgeous blooms? Then try the Christmas Cactus. You can get different varieties if you prefer red blooms, or pink blooms, or white blooms! Some also will bloom earlier, closer to Thanksgiving, and some later, much closer to spring.
So you’ve got your plant home. Now what?
First of all, those pretty papers that they wrap around Christmas plants need to be removed. They hold in too much moisture and don’t allow the soil to breathe. So take the pretty paper off. You will then see an ugly pot. So your next step might be to repot into a prettier pot. Do not plant it in pot that is too large because pot bound plants tend to bloom better. Instead of repotting, you can just sit the existing pot inside of a prettier pot.
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These plants like to be kept moist. So don’t let them dry out, but don’t let them sit in water either because they don’t like soggy.
They do like light, but not direct sun. I am hoping that mine will get enough light, but I have a very dark house so I am not sure. I’ve had mine in the living room and am keeping my fingers crossed, but I may have to move it back to the kitchen where it is much brighter.
About once a month you should feed your plant. I usually stick with Miracle Gro.
In the early fall, say around September or October, you need to quit feeding and take your plant to a dark cool room and only water sparingly to keep it alive. An unused guest bedroom will work, or even the basement. You are creating a dormancy period for your plant which will encourage it to produce buds in about 6-8 weeks. Once you see buds it will take at least another 6 weeks before you have blossoms.
Once it starts to bloom, you can take your cactus back into your living space to enjoy. Be sure to place it in a sunny draft free area, but not in full sun. Resume regular watering and enjoy those gorgeous flowers.
Interested in Houseplants? You might like to read 3 Easy Care Plants for Pots.
Do you have a Thanksgiving Cactus, or an Easter Cactus, or a Christmas Cactus? Find out how to tell in this article by the World of Succulents.
Great tips!!
Thanks for dropping by Aimee! 🙂
I had a Christmas cactus as a present a couple of years ago. It is still healthy but only produces a couple of flowers in December. I will definitely try giving it a dormancy period next year.
Just try setting it off by itself for a few weeks Anne. I bet it works for you! 🙂
So pretty! I know I could follow your tips and still kill it, yes my thumb is not green 🙁
Oh Dee, we can change the color of that thumb!!! haha 🙂
Great tips, I have never seen a Christmas Cactus, so pretty.
Maria, my Daddy used to have HUGE ones that were loaded with blooms. I’ll post a new picture next year when mine has grown some and in full bloom. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I’ve got a Christmas cactus that was started from one my grandmother had. I never knew they bloomed! I’m definitely going to follow your tips and see if I can get the pretty flowers. Any way you could provide printable directions? ????
You know, I meant to include instructions on propagation of this plant! You just reminded me… so I guess I better get to work on that. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll try to get a printable worked up! 🙂
Oh I love these, we call them a “lidroos” in Afrikaans. It basically translates to a “rose with limbs”. So apt. And the poor thing has gone through so many latin name changes over time, from Epiphyllum to Zygocactus truncatus, and back to Epiphyllum again. I believe they’re now called Schlumbergera but Christmas cactus is far easier to remember and say 😉 Ours all grow outside under trees and they’re so easy to propagate too. We’ve found little bitty ones growing between pebbles in our pathways. I think the fur babies knock the leaves off and they just grow where they fall. Have you tried putting yours outside in summer?
Hi Michelle! I just got this one, but ones I’ve had in the past do very well hanging under a tree during the summer. I’d love to live somewhere tropical and see these things growing in the wild! And I meant to include propagation information in this post and forgot to do it! duh! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Nikki, this is perfect timing since I DID buy a Christmas cactus last fall ~ a dark pink one. I was feeling sentimental and picked it up because I was missing my mother. She loved Christmas cactus/Lipstick plants and always had one. 🙂 And, now I do.
It seems very healthy and I think it may be trying to rebloom, which would be kinda cool! I was wondering what kind of plant food to give it. Thank you!
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
That is the same reason that I wanted one Barb! I had planned to buy one when I got this one at the party so I didn’t have to. 🙂
My friend, Rita, kept one alive for years. Green thumb.
Yes!! You can keep these for many years! Daddy’s were over ten years old I bet. 🙂
You’ve reminded me to feed my houseplants and take out the pretty paper on a plant someone gave us. I love succulents. They’re so pretty!
I saw a beautiful bowl of succulents at Lowe’s the other day. I love them! thanks for stopping by Rebecca. 🙂
I bought a gorgeous little light pink one this year. I will heed your advice and maybe it will bloom again. I don’t care when just bloom!
Oh I’d love to have a light pink one! I will begin my search now. Thanks for reading, Haralee. 🙂
Thank you for these tips…I realize mine are very much in need of fertilizing! This also explains why I had fewer blooms this year. Excited to use all of your tips.
Thanks so much Sonja! I do hope you have figured out what your plants need. Let me know if they start to look better. 🙂
Nikki, I have killed so many of these, and I love them! Im bookmarking this post so the next time I get one I can recall all of these great tips! Thanks for linking up with us at the #BloggingGrandmothersLilnkParty 34
Oh I am excited for you to give it another try Sylvia! haha try try again is my motto… 🙂
Great guide! I was thinking about getting a cactus but worried about the care it needs. Now it’s much less intimidating!
Thank you
I am so glad it was helpful Maria! Good luck and if you have any questions, please contact me and I’ll be glad to help. 🙂
This is so timely. I just looked at the Christmas cactus at my office and said “oooh, I need to do something with this!” Thanks for the tips, I’ll be replanting it tomorrow.
I have always wanted to have a plant on my desk. You have just made the decision for me… it’s time! If you have more questions about the Christmas cactus feel free to email me Vanessa! 🙂
I have one that began as a small piece that dropped off of a friend’s larger plant. It is growing but has only bloomed once. I’ve had it for a few years. I may have it in a pot that too large annnnnnd I have never moved it for dormacy. Thank you for the advice. I have a pretty green thumb, but like you, my house is pretty dark so I don’t buy many plants anymore. You make me miss them. 🙂
Ok. I’m revisiting this post. The manager of this campground had a huge red Christmas cactus. She is rooting a start from her plant for me. Gonna leave it in her care till it’s healthy. Then I will take it. Fingers crossed!
Oh thats so nice! I want a pink one and a white one and I’m hoping I can find someone to give me a piece of theirs. Good luck!
I love Christmas Cacti! I have several but my prized ones are at least 8 years old. They at about 24″ across and bloom twice a year, usually in November and March (and sometimes they put out a few blooms in between!)
I used to think limiting the light and watering was necessary, but I have had these for years and they bloom profusely without any special care at all! I think I let one dry out too much and it’s struggling. I love the white flowers especially!
Sounds like you’ve found the perfect spot for your cactus and they are loving it! That is awesome. 🙂