A favorite holiday plant, Christmas cactus are succulents that are usually grown as houseplants. Readily found in garden centers and stores in mid-fall, Christmas cactuses get their name from the time of year they bloom. They do require special attention to encourage blooming, but otherwise are fairly easy to care for.
Is a Christmas cactus actually a cactus?
The plant is not a true cactus and is not quite as drought tolerant as the name infers. However, it is a succulent plant and can store a reasonable quantity of water in the leaves. Christmas cacti are not only popular holiday gift plants, but they are also the subject of frequent debate among gardeners.
What is special about Christmas cactus?
1. It’s called a cactus, but thrives in cool temperatures. Christmas cacti need to be kept away from heat sources. Purdue University Extension Service, states that a Christmas cactus will blossom longer when exposed to only cool temperatures.
How do you make Christmas succulents?
Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?
In general, water a Christmas cactus when the top inch or 2 of soil is dry. To help increase the humidity around your plant, fill the pot saucer with pebbles and add water to just below the tops of the pebbles (the pot shouldn’t be sitting directly in water). The air will become more humid as the water evaporates.
Should I put my Christmas cactus outside in summer?
Growing Christmas Cactus Outdoors: Can Christmas Cactus Be Outside. … The answer is yes, but you can only grow the plant outdoors year round if you live in a warm climate because Christmas cactus is definitely not cold hardy. Growing Christmas cactus outdoors is possible only in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and above.
How many times will a Christmas cactus bloom?
Christmas Cactus are extremely popular when November and December roll around. I happen to like them even when they’re not in bloom and think they make fine houseplants. But wait, did you know that they can repeat flower? Mine started re-blooming in February, so yes, Christmas Cactus do flower more than once a year.
Can Christmas cactus go outside?
Christmas cactus can be moved outdoors in summer but should be kept in a partial to full shaded area. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves. … Place the Christmas cactus in a sunny location like it was before it went outside for vacation. High light intensity is important to flower development.
How many years can a Christmas cactus live?
The Christmas cactus is everywhere during the holiday season, with good reason. It’s a blooming succulent that is easy to care for, has gorgeous blooms, and when properly tended can live up to 100 years! That’s right!
Is a Christmas cactus a houseplant?
The Christmas cactus is a very popular houseplantand for good reason! When they bloom, they produce colorful, tubular flowers in pink or lilac colors. Their beautiful flowers, long bloom time, and easy care requirements make them a wonderful plant.
When should I pinch my Christmas cactus?
Trim your Christmas cactus to create a fuller, bushier plant about a month after blooming, but never prune a Christmas cactus after late spring. To prune the plant, just pinch off one or more of the sections. Replant them in a separate pots if you want to create new plants.
What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
Christmas cacti produce flowers in a cool, environment-short day cycle. To initiate the production of flower buds, there needs to be at least eight days of 16 hours of dark and eight hours of light each day. Wherever the plant is placed, do not turn on the lights at night, even for a short period of time.
How many succulents do you need to make a succulent Christmas tree?
Keep on reading. The most important part of making a great-looking succulent tree is preparing the materials. You will need: – Around 30-40 succulent clippings of all sizes.
How do you water a succulent Christmas tree?
Fill a container with lukewarm water. Add the moss and soak it until fully saturated. Drain the water and squeeze out excess water from moss. You want damp moss, not drippy.
What is the most common succulent?
Keep reading for the top 10 most popular types of indoor succulents.
- Burro’s Tail (sedum morganianum) …
- Crown of Thorns (euphorbia milii) …
- Flaming Katy (kalanchoe blossfeldiana) …
- Aloe Vera (aloe vera) …
- Panda Plant (kalanchoe tomentosa) …
- Pincushion Cactus (mammillaria crinita) …
- Roseum (sedum spurium)
Should I mist my Christmas cactus?
Instead of watering it like you would a traditional plant, you should be misting your cactus every day. A few squirts from a spray bottle is all you need to keep your cactus happy. The only time you should be watering the base of the plant is when its soil is completely dry to the touch.
How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is overwatered?
In case you didn’t remember to do this, one of the first overwatering symptoms on Christmas cactus will be limp leaves, which will start to drop off. Then the stems and branches will soften and get mushy. Severe cases will manifest with a foul odor and the stem will rot completely off. Prevention is simple.
Do you deadhead Christmas cactus?
Keep your cacti looking its best during and after the Christmas season by deadheading all the spent blooms. This also encourages the plant to continue blooming. Once Christmas is over you can continue to enjoy your cacti until it finally stops producing flowers. But don’t get rid of it once it does!
What is the lowest temperature a Christmas cactus can tolerate?
50 degrees They may tolerate short periods of temperatures below 50 degrees, but they cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. All of the cacti are short-day plants. They require 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness daily to produce blossoms.
What temperature is too hot for Christmas cactus?
Temperatures above 90 F can harm Christmas cactus, especially when flower buds are forming. The buds drop off in high temperatures, so avoid placing the cactus in overly warm, sunny spots or near heat vents. Temperatures below 50 F also cause bud drop and slow down the cactus growth.
Why has my Christmas cactus gone limp?
Wilted or limp Christmas cactus is sometimes caused by a lack of water or too much direct sunlight. If you’ve neglected to water the limp Christmas cactus, begin by giving the plant a limited drink. Continue to water sparingly every few days until the soil is lightly moist.
Should I water my Christmas cactus while it’s blooming?
Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist while your plant is blooming, misting it frequently. Light: Place the cactus in an east-facing window for moderate light and some direct sun. … Transplantation: Repot your cactus each year after flowering.
Why does my Christmas cactus bud but not bloom?
Other issues that may result in a Christmas cactus dropping flower buds are incorrect moisture, drafty conditions, hot or cold temperatures, and an excessive number of buds. Outside of root rot, bud drop on Christmas cactus is the most common problem. … Keep temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F.
Do Christmas cactus only bloom once a year?
Does Christmas Cactus Bloom More Than Once A Year? Yes. Unlike many other succulents, Christmas cactus can bloom again in spring if given the short days condition. … Make sure that your succulent receives dark and cool treatment for at least six to eight weeks or until the buds emerge.
Where should I put a Christmas cactus?
Holiday cacti grow best when they are placed in a location with partial shade, such as an east or west facing window, with a temperature between 70 and 80.
When should I stop watering my Christmas cactus?
In general, water a Christmas cactus when the top inch or 2 of soil is dry.
How old is the oldest Christmas cactus?
They discovered the cactus was actually 111 years old. Bohnet, Miller’s great-grandmother, gifted the plant to Jacquie Biloff’s mother-in-law Gladys Biloff in 1952 after the then 50-year-old plant became too large for her home.
Can Christmas cactus grow in low light?
The Christmas cactus will adapt to low light conditions, but the plant will produce blooms more readily if exposed to brighter light. That being said, too much direct sunlight can burn its leaves, so keep the Christmas cactus in an appropriate area to avoid this. Christmas cactus moisture is important as well.
How do you take care of a 100 year old Christmas cactus?
Proper care of old Christmas cactus includes cutting back overgrown branches and, sometimes, repotting the plant. One of the first steps in the care of old Christmas cactus is a good trim of the branches. When the branches become too long and heavy, they are likely to break off, so it’s better if you trim instead.
