Christmas cacti are undoubtedly one of the least understood houseplants. They have a bad reputation for being difficult to bloom or blooming at the wrong time.
However, once their secret is discovered, these wonderful plants will produce colorful blooms every year.
Although it is a succulent, caring for the Christmas cactus is more like a tropical plant. It is native to Brazil and grows in moist and tropical undergrowth.
Light and temperature
Christmas cacti need lots of indirect light. They need a mild temperature, never cold, ideally between 15 and 23 degrees.
You can also keep it outside if you live in a place that doesn’t have very cold winters. If you choose this option, remember to place it indoors during the coldest season and avoid frost at all costs.
irrigation
The Christmas cactus should be treated like a tropical plant: water it generously and allow the soil to dry completely between waterings.
It is important to allow the soil to dry out and avoid waterlogging so that the roots do not rot.
This plant prefers a humid environment. Therefore, if you live in a dry house, place the pot on a saucer filled with water and pebbles. The water evaporates and provides the plant with the moisture it needs.
potting soil and compost
In their natural habitat, these plants do not grow in the ground, but rather in places where dirt and debris accumulates, such as the hollow of a tree or a depression in a rock where natural debris accumulates.
Christmas cacti prefer succulent soil that drains well.
After the flowering phase, feed the Christmas cactus with a good fertilizer.
Blossom
These cacti have beautiful flowers with pale pink, fuchsia, orange or white petals. But what needs to be done for them to thrive?
Christmas cacti bloom after a dormant period of about four weeks. You can help this process by giving the plant what it needs to bloom: longer, cooler nights.
Keep the plant in the dark for about 12-14 hours a day. If you don’t have a dark place, you can cover the Christmas cactus with a cloth or box.
The plant also needs cooler temperatures, between 10 and 12 degrees.
Once the Christmas cactus forms buds at the ends of its segments, you can replace it.
Christmas cacti have a tendency to drop their buds if disturbed too much. Be sure to water the plant regularly, keep it away from heat sources, and avoid moving it.
If the plant ensures its vegetative rest period, it produces beautiful flowers every year
