Caring for your Christmas Cactus and How to Make It Bloom

Your Christmas Cactus is a succulent. It stores water in its leaves. These plants are neglectable. That said, succulents have specific requirements:

1. Bright, indirect light. A north-facing window is best. NO direct sun. Direct sunlight burns the leaves.

2. Water thoroughly until water runs out the bottom of the pot. Don’t let the plant sit in water; this causes root rot. Let the soil become dry before watering again.

3. To make the plant bloom, withhold water and extra light during the first 3-4 weeks of October. “The plant thinks it’s dying and throws out flowers and seeds to propagate the species,” a botanist explained.

4. When buds form, fertilize with ½ strength Miracle Grow to plump up the flower buds. In the Spring, fertilize once in April (½ strength Miracle Grow) and once in June to encourage new growth.

5. During the winter, succulents grow dormant. They like a bright, cool spot (without freezing). Don’t water as often when the plant is dormant. If the leaves shrivel, the plant needs water. Increase watering in the Spring when new growth forms.

6. When roots get crowded, re-pot in the Spring. Use a mixture of ¼ sharp sand (not beach sand that compresses) and ¾ potting soil. Put a layer of broken pot shards in the bottom of the pot to improve drainage. Keep the soil mixture on the dry side. Succulent roots are fragile and easily damaged. Trickle soil lightly around the roots; then firm in the plant. During the first week, lightly mist the soil around the roots with water. After a week, you can begin watering as usual.

In the Brazilian Rainforest, Christmas Cactus grow high underneath the canopy in tree crotches. They like tight feet. I haven’t repotted my big Christmas Cactus in 25 years. Repotting a huge plant is a major job that takes two people.

A pot-bound plant can dry out in its heart. This ultimately kills the plant. To fix this, soak the plant in a tub or bucket, with water over the pot rim. Let the plant soak for several hours, until bubbling completely stops. Drain thoroughly.

Another trick is to put ice cubes on the soil around the plant. This waters it slowly as ice melts. Ice cubes also help hanging pots that easily dry out in the heat.