Christmas Cactus

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This is my first Christmas cactus. When I got it, the woman said to keep it in mostly dark and don't water it and it would bloom in November. It's starting to bloom. Now what? Do I move it now to a lighter area and do I start watering it again. If so how much/often? How do I care for it during the year. It's gonna be really pretty:-) Thanks.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), November 08, 2000

Answers

Hi Cindy, You're right that the Xmas Cactus is beautiful! I have been growing them for years. Move your plant to a bright, not direct sunlight area, now or within a few days. Water with a addition flowering plant fertilizer and keep evenly moist-but not wet! Dryer is better. Try not to move again until it stops flowering. Pinch old flowers to encourage new buds. Enjoy!

-- Kathy (catfish@bestweb.net), November 08, 2000.

I have some christmas cactuses inherited from my great-aunt that are probably 80+ years old. I have noticed that they will do much better if you keep them on the cool side (60-65 degrees at night, 65 upper limit day). They bloom like mad (often twice a year) without having to have any strict daylight/dark requirements. If they're setting buds now, fertilize (they say to start in October for Christmas) -- I prefer organic fertilizers to chemical, it keeps the soil healthier. After it has bloomed, continue to water it when the surface dries out, don't let it sit in a puddle of water, and let it rest a while. Mine are in a western window now, altho they used to have a southern one. My grandmother kept hers in a southern window, and my greataunt kept hers in an east window. I think southern or western are better if you're in a northern latitude, if you're more southerly, east or north might be in order. Avoid cold drafts when they've set buds, or moving them around a lot -- it tends to shock them and they drop the buds. They will rebloom other years, but that will be it for the current year.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), November 08, 2000.

I have another question about Christmas Catus for you folks. I inheritated (boy I can't spell tonight)my mom's which came from her grandfathers house. Mom was 83 when she died so it's really old. It's in a wooden pot that it has been in since I can remember that looks gross. I'd like to repot it. When should I do it, do I need to put it in a bigger pot (already in a pot as big as a 1/2 bushel basket) and do I fertilize it on a regular basis. Mom never said if she did or not. Thanks for your help.

-- (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), November 08, 2000.

I wouldn't repot a christmas cactus as long as it looked healthy and blooms. They actually like being root bound. If you must repot, do so in early spring.

-- Kathy (catfish@bestweb.net), November 08, 2000.

wait until after the blooms have finished, then pot it up. You may not have to put it in a bigger pot. You can divide it, or take leaf cuttings. Allow the leaf segments to callus for a day or so, then plant in potting soil at a depth of half the leaf. Don't overwater and don't fertilize until it begins to put on blooms next year. I found one that the previous owner had left in the garage when they sold the house. The garage was full of junk and we didn't find it for a couple of months (this was spring and early summer). I put it outside in a partial shady spot for the rest of summer, then brought it in when frost threatened in the fall. By Thanksgiving, I had gorgeous blooms. They thrive on neglect.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), November 08, 2000.


As soon as frosts have finished in the spring my Christmas cactus is placed outside on the north side of the house. There it flourishes all summer until signs of frosts in fall and taken inside to a cool bedroom upstairs on the east side of the house. I water seldom thru the summer and after bringing it in only every once in a while-just so the soil isn't completely dry. For many years now it has bloomed beautifully. When I see buds starting I caefully bring it downstairs so we can enjoy the beautiful display. After it finishes blooming it goes back to the cool east bedroom upstairs until spring and we start over again. Miracle grow is the fertilizer I use while it's blooming. Good luck. They are well worth the effort.

-- Clare Baldwin (clare_baldwin@hotmail.com), November 12, 2000.

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