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Do Christmas cactus need full sun?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

The cactus can live in areas of low light, but it will blossom far more often if it is exposed to more light.

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Question

How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

It can bloom multiple times per year. Typically, it will bloom in November or December and again in February. But it can depend on whether the plant is indoors or outdoors as well as the amount of sun, water, and humidity it is exposed too.

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Question

How often do you need to water a Christmas cactus?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

If you are growing the cactus indoors or in a cooler environment, you should water every week. If growing outdoors or in a humid and hot environment then water every two to three days. You should also water less in the fall and winter.

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Question

Do you fertilize Christmas cactus?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

You can, but you should use a houseplant fertilizer with a 20-20-20 ratio and it should be applied monthly during the spring and summer.

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Question

Why are the leaves on my Christmas cactus limp?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Generally leaves a Christmas cactus are limp due to excessive sunlight and inadequate water supply.

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Question

How do I avoid overwatering my Christmas cactus?

Harmony Corelitz
Plant Specialist
Harmony Corelitz is a Plant Specialist and the Ecommerce Manager at Crimson Horticultural Rarities, Inc, a boutiue offering rare plants, flower arragements, and handmade goods. Harmony grew up helping her parents run their family business in plant maintenance and interior plantscaping. Harmony specializes in indoor plant care and interior plant design. Prior to her workwith Crimson Horticultural Rarities, she started her pop-up plant and vintage home goods shop called Younger Child and helped her former employer, Plants and Friends, grow and expand to two locations. She holds a BA from the University of San Francisco.

Harmony Corelitz

Plant Specialist

Expert Answer

Let the plant dry up about three-quarters of the way to all the way out in between waterings.

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Question

Can a Christmas cactus tolerate cold weather?

Harmony Corelitz
Plant Specialist
Harmony Corelitz is a Plant Specialist and the Ecommerce Manager at Crimson Horticultural Rarities, Inc, a boutiue offering rare plants, flower arragements, and handmade goods. Harmony grew up helping her parents run their family business in plant maintenance and interior plantscaping. Harmony specializes in indoor plant care and interior plant design. Prior to her workwith Crimson Horticultural Rarities, she started her pop-up plant and vintage home goods shop called Younger Child and helped her former employer, Plants and Friends, grow and expand to two locations. She holds a BA from the University of San Francisco.

Harmony Corelitz

Plant Specialist

Expert Answer

If you're keeping your Christmas cactus outside, it's best to bring it inside if the temperatures are going to dip below about 50°F.

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Question

Should I deadhead the wilted blooms on my Christmas cactus?

Community Answer

To keep your plant looking nice, deadheading should be done.

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Question

Is it better to water from the top, or place it in a bowl of water and let soak for a while?

Community Answer

It all depends on the soil you are using. Darker potting soil typically absorbs and holds onto water longer. If you're using fast-draining soil like the article says, then you should water from the top and let the water trickle down.

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Question

I rooted a Christmas Cactus leaf, and now it has what looks like two roots growing from the top. What does this mean?

Community Answer

You did everything right. These cacti are epiphytes, which means they grow on trees, so their roots show above the ground as well as below. What you are seeing is a good thing as these are roots looking to grab onto something. It will take some time for the cutting to bloom though (probably 2-3 years).

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Question

Why is my plant turning yellow?

Community Answer

Your plant may be getting too much light or not enough water. Try adjusting both to see if it helps.

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Question

My cactus has bloomed, and now it has round pink 'bulbs'. Why?

Community Answer

These are called fruits: the plant flowers have fertilized each other...very special when this happens.

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Question

Why doesn't my plant grow? I have had it for 2 years.

Community Answer

Mine wasn't growing so I fertilized it and now it's getting lots of new growth and looks great.

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Question

How do I trim my Christmas cactus? It is too big, and it's hard to find a spot for it in the house.

Community Answer

Christmas cacti are easy to prune -- just cut it where a leaf joins the next. Or, you can simply pull pieces off. The leaves you've just cut off can be used for cuttings.

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Question

A big stalk/branch broke off my Christmas cactus. How can I save it? Thanks

Community Answer

Put the part that has broken off into potting soil. Give it the same conditions and care as the parent plant and it should set roots and thrive.

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Question

Why are my Christmas cactus blooms white when they have been deep pink in prior years?

Community Answer

It's the genetics of the plant.This happens with hybrids and genetics in many plants. You get an unstable color hybrid, so it's reverting from deep pink to white.

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Question

What are the dark pink balls that form on the ends of my Christmas cactus? Do I need to trim them off?

Community Answer

Don't trim them! The pink balls you see forming on the ends of the leaves are buds. These will bloom into beautiful flowers (generally around Christmas and Easter time).

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Question

Why do some of my cactus get weak and limp?

Community Answer

The plants may be too wet and too cool cool which leads to rot and fungus. If your plants are kept cooler you have to decrease the humidity and water them less. Check the plants for mold and rot symptoms.

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Question

Should I use cactus potting mix? My cactus has mushrooms on the surface of the soil.

Community Answer

If you are getting mushrooms, I'd say your soil is staying too wet. Mushrooms like dark and moist areas to grow in.

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Question

My plant's roots come to the top of the pot and harden. What is causing this?

Community Answer

It sounds like your cactus is root-bound, meaning it's reached the limits of its pot. Christmas cacti tend to do best when slightly root-bound, but this is a bit extreme. Repot in a larger container as described in this article.

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Question

Why does my cactus develop hair-like roots on its leaves?

Community Answer

It does this when it is getting ready to make a blossom.

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Question

Why does my plant only get buds on one side?

Community Answer

Christmas cacti are picky about temperature. If one side of the plant is near a heater or oven, it might be too warm to bud.

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Question

How long does it take for a new plant to bloom?

Community Answer

It can take one to two year. Depending on conditions, most will take two years.

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Question

My Christmas Cactus bloomed great in December, and now it is full of buds in March. Is this common?

Community Answer

Yes, under ideal conditions my plants often bloom 2 to 3 times a year, usually about 6 months apart.

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Question

Can you divide a Christmas cactus? I have a huge 15 year old plant that is way too big.

Community Answer

Yes, you can divide the Christmas cactus in spring. This is risky, so you may want to plant a few cuttings first so you have a backup plan if the main plant dies.

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Question

If part of the plant starts to break, can you cut it off and try to root it in water?

Community Answer

If it's already breaking off, don't bother cutting it, but just remove it from the parent plant with your fingers. Also, put the removed piece directly in potting soil and give it the same treatment as the parent plant. Christmas cactus isn't like an avocado seed that needs constant water to grow. Too much water could actually kill the cutting.

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Question

Do I snip off the wilted blooms?

Community Answer

Yes, or you can probably just use your fingers to pinch off the faded blooms to keep your plant looking nice.

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Question

Why are the ends of the leaves so thin?

Community Answer

If they are thin and translucent, then you are might be over-watering it. Just try to minimize the amount of water you are giving it and see if the issue improves.

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Question

Can a Christmas cactus live in incandescent light?

Community Answer

No, but it can live near a full-spectrum florescent light.

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Question

How do I get rid of spider mites?

Community Answer

Apply insecticidal soap periodically and keep the plants clear of webs and dust. You may want to quarantine your Christmas cactus so the mites don't spread to other plants.

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