Christmas cactus or Schlumbergera x buckley can be seen around the holidays adding a splash of color to any landscape or holiday table. While it is called a cactus, it does not store water in a main stem. It is a tropical succulent and needs the growing conditions of a succulent rather than a desert thriving cactus.

Description

These plants can be found growing on trees in tropical rainforests soaking up humidity, dappled sunlight and warm temperatures. The leaves are flat, and green with rounded teeth. The branches of the leaves can measure up to three feet. The three-inch flowers can be white, pink, lilac or red and grow at the tips of the leaves. During the holiday season, the flowers will last for as long as two weeks.

While researching for this article, I learned many things that I have been doing incorrectly when taking care of this plant. From the experts, here are directions to take care for Christmas cacti.

Growing conditions

Christmas cacti need soil used for succulents containing a lot of sand in the soil mixture. This soil drains and doesnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t hold the water around the plantòòò½ÊÓƵ™s roots. It thrives best in temperatures that are 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a good source of humidity if the air is dry. Be wary of too much sun that can bleach its green leaves.

You should water when the top third of the soil is dry. In the Fall, reduce watering to initiate flowering.

The fertilizer of choice should contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. You will need to fertilize every two weeks during its active growing period.

Producing flowers

I enjoy having my plants splendid with flowers. The question is: How do you increase the amount of flowers? Be mindful, I am talking about this plant flowering during the holiday season from late November through December.

Starting in mid-October, make certain they are in the dark for 14 hours with 8-10 hours of light during the day. You will need to stop watering around October.

These dark conditions and watering schedule need to extend to 6 weeks at which time flower buds may start to form. Then you increase the light and humidity. If buds do not form, the plant is not close enough to a light source. I am going to have to rethink how I take care of my Christmas cacti plants.

How to propagate

One of my favorite places to work at Victoria Educational Gardens is the greenhouse. One plant we have not propagated is the Christmas cacti. The directions said to cut a section from the branch and stick it into the soil. I usually dust the end in some rooting hormone. Then in a few weeks, they should be rooted. This year I will try to grow some small containers of newly propagated plants in my backyard.

Repotting the Christmas cacti

Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a good idea to repot your Christmas cactus plants every three to four years because this process produces more flowering and stronger growth. If you delay repotting the plant it may develop fewer flowers and buds may drop prematurely.

The pot should be about an inch larger than the previous one. When repotting, gently remove the plant from the existing one looking for white healthy roots. Trim any brown roots. Then you place the plant one inch below the rim of the pot, adding soil to fill in. You will need to keep it in indirect sunlight and water when dry.

Now, my dilemma is where to place my two large Christmas cacti, given to me from a friend moving from Victoria, so they will flower this month.