Officially known as Schlumbergera russelliana, the Christmas cactus is a gorgeous houseplant for the winter season.
It’s more delicate and subtle than a garish red Poinsettia but has the same brightening effect on any room.
The plant thrives naturally in jungle-type woodlands, often attaching itself to trees. Unlike traditional cacti, Christmas cactus prefers partial shade indoors. It favours humidity, making a well-lit bathroom an ideal location.
If your home lacks a naturally humid spot, placing the plant atop some gravel in a saucer or tray can do the trick—but more must be done to help the plant thrive.
Watering can be a tricky aspect of Christmas cactus care. Despite not being a typical desert-dwelling cactus, it only requires light watering during winter.
Gardening gurus from Baby Bio, a popular plant food brand, have offered their wisdom on watering Christmas cacti, including how to get the plant to re-bloom.
They warned that overwatering is “one of the biggest killers” as these plants only need watering “once a month” in the cold season.
The Baby Bio team advised: “Like all cacti, overwatering is one of the biggest killers of the Christmas cactus and they only require watering once every couple of weeks during the summer, and as little as once a month during winter.”
When watering, look for indicators that your cactus is ready for a drink. The gardening experts urged: “Only water when the top two inches of soil are completely dry, so use your finger or a pencil to test its moisture levels before each watering.”
If the soil feels dry, it’s a good idea to aerate it to allow for an even distribution. The Baby Bio team also shared another tip: only use tepid water and consider watering the plant from the bottom up if the pot has drainage holes.
Bottom watering is easy. Just fill a tub with lukewarm water and place the potted plant in it, ensuring it almost reaches the top of the pot.
Leave your Christmas cactus to soak for 10 minutes to an hour. Carefully drain the water and let the plant drip dry before returning it to its saucer.
A healthy Christmas cactus should be in its peak blooming season right now and the flowers should survive until late January – though that’s no surprise given it’s festive moniker.
However, don’t despair if your plant isn’t blooming as it should be. The Baby Bio team said “the key” to encouraging the plant to bloom is fertilising it regularly with cactus food.
The experts suggested using five to 10 drops per half a litre of water every time the plant needs watering during its growing season – from spring to autumn. Reduce watering during the plant’s resting period from September to November.
During this time, plant owners should also reduce temperature and lighting to force the plant into dormancy. When the plant is resting, it typically needs around 12 hours of darkness per day to flower.
The experts added: “Once buds begin to appear, you can move the plant to a brighter, warmer area in the home but be mindful of placing it in direct sunlight or draughts.
“Prune your Christmas cactus after it has bloomed, which will encourage more stems to grow and increase the likelihood of it blossoming the following year.”
