Christmas cactus · Thanksgiving cactus · holiday cactus
A Christmas cactus is one of the few plants that gets passed down through families. Some are fifty years old or more. With a little attention in the fall, it blooms every year around the holidays.
It is not a desert cactus. It comes from the cool, misty mountain forests of Brazil, where it grows on trees. That means it likes more water and less sun than the cactus you are picturing. Most holiday cactuses sold today are the Thanksgiving type, which blooms a few weeks earlier, but they are cared for the same way.
Don’t move it while it has buds
Once you see buds, leave it in one spot. Moving it, turning it, letting it dry out or putting it near a heat vent is the number one reason buds drop before they open.
Water when the top inch of soil is dry, a little more often while it is blooming, and always let it drain.
Finding the right spot
Bright, but not baking. The light through an east window is ideal.
- Near an east or north window, or a few feet back from a south one.
- Direct afternoon sun turns the segments reddish and limp.
- Keep it away from heat vents, fireplaces and drafty doors, especially when it is in bud.
- It likes it cool: 60–70°F in the day is perfect.
Everyday care
Christmas Cactus
Schlumbergera
- Light
- Bright, indirect light. A little gentle morning sun is fine.
- Water
- When the top inch is dry, usually every week or two. Water a bit more often in bloom, a bit less right after.
- Humidity & temperature
- 60–70°F. Cool nights in fall are what set the buds.
- Feeding
- Half-strength houseplant food once a month from spring through summer. Stop in September.
- Potting mix
- A light, fast-draining mix. It likes being snug in its pot.
- Shaping
- Right after it blooms, twist off a segment or two at the joints to make it bushier.
Christmas cactus is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, though eating a lot of it can still cause vomiting. If any part is eaten, call your veterinarian.
Getting it to bloom again
A holiday cactus sets buds when the nights get long and cool. Our Johnston County fall usually does most of the work if you let it:
- From mid-September, keep it somewhere cool, around 55–60°F at night, with no lamps on it after dark. A spare room or an enclosed porch (brought in before frost) works well.
- Or give it 12 to 14 hours of darkness every night for about six weeks, starting in early October.
- Water a little less during this time, and stop feeding.
- When buds appear, move it to where you want it to bloom, and then leave it there.
The eastern North Carolina year
What to do through our Johnston County seasons.
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| SpringMarch–May | A rest after blooming, then new growth. Start monthly feeding and repot if needed. |
| SummerJune–August | It can spend summer on a shaded porch once nights stay above 55°F. |
| FallSeptember–November | Cool nights and long dark nights set the buds. Bring it in before frost and stop feeding. |
| WinterDecember–February | Bloom time. Steady spot, no drafts, water when the top inch is dry. |
Repotting
Repot only every three years or so, in spring, after it has finished blooming. It flowers best when it is a little root-bound, so go up just one size.
Quick fixes
Buds dropping before they open
Moved, drafts, heat, or dry soil. Pick a spot and keep it steady.
Limp, wrinkled segments
Either too dry or roots rotted from too much water. Feel the soil before you water.
Reddish or purple segments
Too much direct sun, or it needs a little plant food in spring.
No buds this year
Too warm or too much light at night in the fall. Give it cool, dark nights next fall.
Segments falling off
Usually overwatering, or a sudden temperature change.
Mushy base
Root rot. Twist off healthy segments and root them in fresh mix.
Common questions
How do I get my Christmas cactus to bloom?
Give it cool nights (55–60°F) or 12 to 14 hours of darkness each night for about six weeks in the fall.
Why are the buds falling off my Christmas cactus?
Moving it, drafts, heat vents and dry soil are the usual causes.
How often do you water a Christmas cactus?
When the top inch of soil is dry, usually every week or two.
Can I grow a new plant from a piece?
Yes. Twist off a piece two or three segments long, let it dry a day, and set it in moist potting mix.
More plant care guides
Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Keep it warm, bright and out of drafts, and the color lasts well past New Year.
Read the guide →Amaryllis
Hippeastrum
Bright light, a little water, and turn it so the stem grows straight.
Read the guide →Succulents
Echeveria, jade, aloe, haworthia and more
Lots of sun, a deep drink when bone dry, and then leave it alone.
Read the guide →About pets and plants: The pet notes in this guide are general plant knowledge from our florists, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet chews or swallows any part of a plant, contact a licensed veterinarian right away, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. If a person swallows any part of a plant, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”1 Corinthians 3:7
Questions about your plant?
Call or text us. We are always glad to help, whether you bought it from us or not.
Call or text (984) 250-7771 Clayton Florist · 11440 Clayton Blvd, Clayton, NC 27520claytonncflorist.com