Move an indoor plant outdoors in summer to a shady location. It is best to keep your cactus in a normal house temperature range, about 65 to 75°F (18 to 20°C). That being said, cooler night temperatures can be used to initiate blooming. We’ll discuss getting it to bloom in a later section. If your cactus is in a north or east-facing window, you won’t have to worry about light. But if it’s in a south or west-facing window, diffuse the light with semi-transparent curtains.
Make sure to not let the pot touch the water when it is sitting on the gravel; otherwise the pot will pick up water and make it easier for the roots to rot. You can also mist your plant 2-3 times a week to give it a humidity boost. 50 to 60% humidity is the ultimate goal. If your environment is close to that, you should be fine.
Use a combination of 3 parts potting soil to 1 part sand for the potting medium. An alternative is 1 part potting soil, 2 parts peat moss or compost, and 1 part sharp sand or perlite. Pour about 2 inches (5. 1 cm) of room temperature water into the outer container and set the basket container inside. After about 12 hours, pour out any remaining water. Repeat this as often as the plant needs water, which will vary based on your home environment. Monitor your cactus with a moisture prod and adjust accordingly.
Fertilizing is important to keep the plant in good condition; the joints are fragile and can break apart if the plant descends into poor health. Generally, it should be fertilized 2-4 times a year with a 20-20-20 feed, but stop feeding about a month before the buds appear (this usually means stopping by the end of October).
Once you water the plant, let it dry about three-quarters of the way before you water it again. [7] X Expert Source Harmony CorelitzPlant Specialist Expert Interview. 4 December 2020. Too much watering will cause spots from white rot to appear on the leaves, and the leaves will likely fall off. The soil should be evenly moist for best growth. The rule of thumb is less water is better than too much water. When watering, thoroughly water the plant. Before attempting to water the plant again, check to see that the top inch of soil has dried thoroughly first. Mist leaves as well as watering the soil.
Dry climate, outdoors: Water every 2-3 days when warm and sunny Humid, cool or indoors: Water every week During the fall and winter months, the plants should be watered less frequently in order to promote blooming.
The only other time you should stop watering is after the plant blooms. At this time, cease watering for about 6 weeks to let the plant rest. New growth will still appear–and that’s when you can start watering again.
If this starts happening, water the plant less and add some fertilizer to the pot. Move it to an area away from a hot radiator or vent and try a new spot where it can get a bit more sunlight.
Because this plant is thermo-photoperiodic, it will set buds when day length is about equal to night length and when the temperature drops to 50 to 60 degrees F for several weeks. If the temperature drops further, the plant will not bloom. If you keep your plant outdoors, bring it inside if the temperature is going to drop below about 50 °F (10 °C). [12] X Expert Source Harmony CorelitzPlant Specialist Expert Interview. 4 December 2020. From September and October, the Christmas cactus should be kept in a cool room where temperatures will remain around 50-55°F (10-12°C), give or take a few degrees. Don’t expose the plant to freezing temperatures. Plants should be blooming for the holidays if cool treatments are started by early November.
Begin the dark treatments in about mid-October to have plants in full bloom by the holidays. Place the plants in a dark area from about 12 or more hours each night for 6-8 weeks or until you see buds forming. A closet or unused bathroom are ideal places. Be especially careful with watering at this time. Reduce the watering slightly. Do not soak the soil after a dry period; only moisten the top few inches, since buds, flowers and even leaves can fall off if the roots are suddenly saturated. Avoid turning on lights in the dark room, even for brief periods of time.
If the buds form too early, you can lower the temperature to stunt them. When you’re ready, up the temperature and they should resume their progress.
Christmas cactuses don’t require a lot of pruning, but you can remove dead material and overgrowth. As mentioned before, cease watering for 30 days post-bloom. When you see new growth forming, you can begin watering again.
Treat the cuttings as mature plants. In about four to six weeks, the cuttings should have rooted and will begin to show some new growth. They grow quickly, and should take in about 2 or 3 weeks. You can fertilize after the cutting has grown one new segment.
When replanting or repotting, use new, fresh soil. It’s worth the few extra dollars since it will probably be sitting in that soil for a long time. Your plant is a living thing like you, so it deserves the best. The best time for repotting is between February and April, about once every three years. Just be sure not to give it a pot that’s too big–the Christmas cactus flowers best when it’s pot-bound.
