There are lots of different flowering plants available this time of year including the beautiful flowering ‘Christmas Cactus’.

 

The long tubular flowers are found on the tips of the smooth, flattened, scalloped segmented leaves. Flowers come in a variety colours such as the popular pink, red, white, and salmon.

 

Christmas cactus is an easy to grow plant that is disease resistant and, if cared for properly, will grow and come back into bloom for many years.

 

The Christmas Cactus is a member of the Zygocactus family which is a forest cactus, and it has different growing requirements than the desert cactus. Native to the forests of South America, the Christmas Cactus is an epiphyte and can be found growing in the nooks and forks of trees. They enjoy an organic rich soil, lots of indirect light and  high humidity.

 

Place it near a south facing window during the winter months as the sun is not very hot over the winter. During the spring/summer, an east or west window would be better. Too much hot sun can cause poor growth and burnt leaves. Keep the plant away from drafts, heating vents, and sudden temperature changes, such as a door that opens and closes to the outside.

 

Forest cacti are used to growing in a higher humidity than desert cacti. If the humidity is low in your home place the cactus on a pebble tray filled with water just below the surface of the pebbles. The rising water as it evaporates will raise the humidity around the plant.

 

Once you have placed your blooming Christmas Cactus in its spot, try not to move it. Sudden changes such as temperature, low light, low humidity, or too much or too less moisture can cause the blooms to drop. When a Christmas Cactus is in bloom it should be kept slightly moist but not wet. When the top of the soil feels dry to the touch, give the plant a thorough watering, using lukewarm water. Treat it more like a tropical plant than a desert cactus which can go without water for weeks during the winter months.

 

When purchasing a flowering Christmas Cactus, choose one that has lots of unopened buds and only one or two buds that have opened as this is a sign that the plant is just beginning to bloom, which will give you 4-6 weeks of blooms, if cared for properly.

 

When it has finished blooming give the plant a rest by placing it in a cooler room of the house and cut back on the amount of water the plant receives. When you begin to see new growth the plant is pruned back to encourage branching out. The pruned off segments can be used to propagate new plants. Each piece should have 2-3 joined segments. Allow the piece the air dry for a few hours before placing it into the soil. Push the bottom half of the first segment into soil. It should take root and show signs of new growth within 4-6 weeks.

 

During the spring and summer months treat the Christmas Cactus as you would any other tropical plant. It can be placed outdoors in a shaded area, after all risk of frost has passed during the summer and brought in again before the first frost.

 

To get a Christmas Cactus to re-bloom again treat it as you would a poinsettia, giving it 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness and 12 hours of light. Place it in a cooler area of the home such as a spare room and cut back on the water. The tips of the plant will begin to grow, and then darken, and buds will form. When the buds have formed the plant is ready to be placed in an area of the home where it can bloom and be enjoyed.

 

The Christmas Cactus is a low maintenance plant. They prefer to be slightly root bound in order to bloom. Only transplant them every 3-4 years when it is needed, and plant into a pot that is one size larger than the plant is currently in, using a good quality indoor potting soil. They are a long living plant if given the correct growing conditions that will give the homeowner years of enjoyment.