Holiday Cactus, or Christmas Cactus, or Schlumbergera are tropical cacti native to Southeastern Brazil, thriving in humid rainforests on rocks and trees. They are most notable for their bright flowers which bloom towards the end of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and even sometimes during April. People love keeping them indoors as houseplants, or out on their front porch or yard. Some can live for over fifty years if cared for properly.

Placement

These plants can’t handle full sun, so put them at a north or east facing window. If outside, put them in a shady location where they can receive indirect light. Since they are tropical, they need steady levels of humidity, so a water tray underneath them really helps to keep the moisture in the air. Don’t place them near air conditioners or heaters as this can dry them out. They usually like a temperature around 60 to 65F except for when they’re blooming, but we’ll get back to that later.


Planting

Christmas Cactus like quick draining, sandy soil. Use two parts regular potting soil and one-part sand, or an addition of peat moss, perlite or compost. They can be susceptible to root rot, so it’s important to make sure the pot you use has drainage holes. They need to be repotted ever two to three years, ideally during spring. Use fresh soil and select a pot that had adequate room for the root system while not being too big.

Watering

Allow the top layer of soil to almost completely dry before watering. If the stems begin to shrivel, then they need more water. Watch the plant carefully to adapt to its needs- during hotter months they might demand more water. This is the part that gets a bit difficult for growers, as you must be sure not to overwater or underwater. You can check by placing your finger into the soil to see if there’s an equal distribution of moisture. Watering by season makes things a little easier. Outdoors when it’s dry, water every two to three days. Indoors when it’s cool or humid, water once a week. During fall and winter, water less frequently to encourage blooming. For October, stop watering completely until November. Once the plant blooms, stop watering for one month to give the plant a break.

Blooming

These plants need very specific conditions to bloom, and if you control all the variables yourself, you can essentially time it. Christmas Cactus are thermos-photoperiodic, and will bud when day time is equal to night time and the temperatures are about 55F. Keep them at this steady temperature from September to October, and during mid-October this is when they should be placed in completely darkness for nights. Move them to a secluded room if you need to, or throw a dark blanket on top of them. If temperatures get any colder, the plant won’t bloom. When you see budding, you can begin increasing light and humidity. If they bud too early, you can lower the temperature to discourage them, and then raise the temperature to encourage them again. After blooming when you’ve allowed the plant several weeks to rest, you can prune the leaves to establish a healthier, robust plant.

Bud Drop

This is when the plant suddenly drops its buds, which can be one of the most irritating problems with Christmas Cactus. Usually this is caused by overwatering or too little moisture or light. When this happens, cut back on the watering and add fertilizer, then try relocating it to a batter space.

Fertilizing

Christmas Cactus can be fertilized up to four times a year with a 20-20-20 balanced blooming fertilizer. Stop fertilizing about a month before the plant blooms.