CHRISTMAS CACTUS

Next to the poinsettia, the Christmas cactus is one of the most popular Christmas flowers. It is hard to beat a Christmas cactus in bloom; it is quite sensational with pink, white or red blossoms. If you received a Christmas cactus this holiday season this article should help you keep it all year long.

The ideal soil for a Christmas cactus is a light, well-drained potting soil. The cactus should be re-potted every two to three years or whenever the pot is filled with roots. If the soil starts to change colors and loose it's characteristics it is probably depleted of nutrients and should be re-potted in fresh potting soil. Christmas cactus should be re-potted in the spring but an unhealthy plant can be re-potted at any time of year to try to rejuvenate it.

Christmas cactus does not like direct sunlight. When grown in a south or west window you will need to diffuse the light with a shade from May to September. If placed in a north or east window no shading is necessary.

Unlike the prickly cactus, Christmas cactus need moisture and will die quickly if neglected with lack of water. Do not let the stems get flabby with too much water. If the house is dry, place the Christmas cactus on pebbles in a dish with water. Remember do not let the water touch the bottom of the container. After blooming, withhold water for six weeks. When new growth appears re-pot and top-dress with fresh potting soil. Resume watering to keep soil moist. In the spring start applying a liquid houseplant fertilizer every 2 or 3 weeks.

Christmas cactus prefers a cool night temperature of 60 to 65 degrees F from October through blooming.

A common problem of Christmas cactus is bud dropping. This can be caused by over watering, exposure to cold drafts, positioned to close to a hot draft such as a heater vent or lack of nutrients in the soil.

Enjoy your Christmas cactus now and keep these handy suggestions to get it to bloom next Christmas.

Date Created: 12/29/2003.