@Santanaman9

Fertilizing

I fertilize twice/year in April and June with half-strength Miracle Grow fertilizer. In April, I also sprinkle a little Osmocote slow-release plant food that feeds for 4 months (for vegetables and bedding plants.)

When flower-buds appear, I water to plump up the buds. Spray a mist of water held high over the plant. Increased humidity keeps buds from dropping off. Also the plant sits in a large plant saucer, with an overturned smaller sauce inside it. The saucer catches overflow when watering.

Plants die if they dry out completely in the center. So, I put ice cubes on top of the soil once/month. As ice cubes melt, water trickles down into the heart.

A few years ago, my Christmas Cactus looked like it was dying. So, I lifted the giant plant in its pot and set it in the tub. Ran tepid water until it reached over the top of the pot. At first the plant bubbled like crazy, releasing air. Soaked it for five hours. Then I drained the tub, letting the plant drain overnight.

Soaked, the heavy plant and clay pot weighed a ton. The hardest part was dead-lifting it out of the tub. Staggered to the living room and lifted the heavy pot onto the stand. Hurt my back.

To get it to bloom

Withhold water for three weeks in September. Christmas Cactus are epiphytes that grow high in the rainforest under the canopy in South America.

"When you stop watering, the plant thinks it's dying. It throws out flowers to make seeds, to propagate the species," Pam, a botanist, told me. With a bullwhip, Pam collect epiphytes high in the rainforest of South America.

When the branches grow too long, I give it a haircut.

@LiterateHiker Thank you so much for such a thorough reply. I appreciate you.

@Santanaman9

You're welcome.

@Santanaman9

Succulents like tight feet. I haven't repotted it in over 20 years.

@ml58n2

Christmas cactus are succulents. They store water in their leaves.

That is where I have mine.