Christmas Cactus

The Christmas cactus plant is a hybrid of two different species of schlumbergera (s. truncata and s. russelliana). It was first developed in England about 150 years ago. It is popular around the holidays because it generally blooms at about Christmas-time. Being a tropical rain forest plant, it is not hardy in our area, so it is raised as a house plant.

Christmas cactuses can be placed outside in the summer months but need to be protected from sun scorch. They can live for years – even generations – with simple care. This distinctive plant is a forest cactus, a true cactus, but is less drought tolerant than many cacti. Your Christmas cactus thrives in soil that will drain quickly and does not like “wet feet.” Yet, balance is important: they can suffer and ultimately die from overwatering as well as underwatering.

For the correct dampness, feel the soil around the plant before watering. It should feel like a damp, wrung out sponge most of the time, with the top inch of soil drying out a bit from time to time.

Tips for Care:

• Avoid extreme temperatures and drafts. Blossoms will last longer in cool temperatures.
• Water thoroughly when needed; not too frequently, no wet feet, but do not let it completely dry out. Too wet or too dry can cause buds to drop or lead to other problems.
• Take care to not damage the plant when moving it or watering; the branches and especially the joints are flat and fragile.
• Let the plant rest after it has bloomed. Keep it cool and water infrequently until approximately the end of March.
• Once active growth resumes in spring, prune by removing a few sections from longer branches. This encourages branching and gives you cuttings to plant.
• Fertilizer is only recommended when the plant is actively growing. A typical houseplant food can be applied every two weeks during that time.
• Repot occasionally. Every three to five years repot your plant in fresh, potting soil.
• Provide enough sunlight. They do best with lots of indirect light.
• Since it is a tropical plant, it prefers humid conditions. You can raise the humidity by placing the pot on top of a saucer full of pebbles. Keep the saucer filled with water to just below the top of the pebbles.
• To have blooms again for the holidays, your plant will need special treatment starting in about mid-October. Keep it cool (about 55-65 degrees) and provide enough darkness by covering it or moving it to a closet or other completely dark room for 12 hours or more each night. Be sure to move it back to a bright spot during the day.

Propagation
You can start new cuttings of Christmas Cacti by taking a 4 inch cutting (or about 2-3 segments) off one on the branches and sinking about 2 inches into a sandy soil (about 50% sand and 50% soil). Keep in direct sunlight and water regularly.

After a few weeks the cutting should be rooted and you can remove it from the sandy soil and plant in good quality potting soil.