How to grow and care for Christmas cactus, one of the most popular winter plants, so it can continue to thrive well after the holiday season.

This upcoming holiday season, you may receive a Christmas cactus as a gift.

You will have to take care of it so that it can survive without problems and keep you company for a long time with its beautiful and colorful flowers, which can brighten up any room.

First of all you should know that the Christmas cactus is a plant species native to Brazil, botanically called Schlumbergera and belonging to the Cactaceae family, which usually grows in tropical forests.

It is a plant that prefers shade and humidity. This is why the internal environment of our homes in winter, with the heating on, becomes an ideal climate for luxuriant growth.

1. When does the Christmas cactus bloom?

The Cacraceae can have different flowering periods, but what characterizes the Christmas cactus is the fact that its flowers bloom precisely as the end of year celebrations approach, hence the name of this wild plant native to Brazil and other parts from Latin America which was imported into Europe as a houseplant.

You can admire the flowers of the Christmas cactus between December and January. Their colors can vary from pink to red and from purple to red-purple.

So that the flower buds do not wither before flowering, the Christmas cactus must be carefully kept away from drafts and heat sources.

The Christmas cactus should therefore not be placed near a frequently opened door or too close to a fireplace, stove or radiator.

2. Where to place it?

The ideal temperature for indoor Christmas cactus is 20°C. To prolong the flowering of the cactus in the winter period, it is necessary to place it in a bright room.

Later in the summer, the Christmas cactus can be placed outdoors in a partially shaded location so that excessive exposure to direct sunlight does not cause leaf scorch.

In autumn, from the beginning of September, the plant can be moved indoors. The reduction in daylight hours and its exposure to the sun mean that its flowering can be delayed until the Christmas period.

One of the perfect places to keep Christmas cactus indoors during December and January is on the inside windowsill, so that the flowers can take advantage of the daylight to bloom during the winter.

The elevated position of the plant is essential if you have pets such as dogs or cats. Ingestion of some parts of the plant can cause diarrhea or vomiting in pets.

It must therefore be positioned in such a way that pets cannot easily reach it. If there is a problem, the vet should be consulted immediately.

3. When should you water the Christmas cactus?

The Christmas cactus is native to the rainforests of South America and therefore prefers a humid climate. Particular attention must therefore be paid to watering, both in summer and winter.

In winter it should be watered regularly, little at a time, preventing the saucer from absorbing water, but keeping the soil moist. In summer we proceed in the same way, with the possibility of spraying a little water on the leaves using a spray bottle.

In summer the best time to water the Christmas cactus, which requires small amounts of water at a time, is in the evening. In particularly dry climates, try keeping it in a room with a small humidifier or other plants.

It is important to avoid water stagnation and water regularly but not excessively, especially during flowering. Overwatering can cause root rot, which can lead to plant death.

This rot can also be caused by a fungus, unfortunately not visible from the outside until the first damage appears. The flowering of the plant can sometimes last from December to February.

In any case, once flowering is finished, watering can be reduced. For the entire life of the plant, watering should only be done when the soil appears dry on the surface. It may be sufficient to water only once or twice a week in winter.

The Christmas cactus loves soils with an acidic pH and, if possible, containing peat. It is optional to use natural fertilizers during the flowering period to ensure the nutrition of the plant.

Fertilization must be stopped when the flowers fall. If you want to fertilize, it is best to do it in spring and summer, when physiological growth is underway.

4. How to propagate and multiply your Christmas cactus?

– Propagation by cuttings

If you want to propagate your own cactus, it is entirely possible to do so at home using the previous year’s stems that have been dried for a few days before planting. Proceed as follows:

Take a stem of the plant about 10-15 cm long.

Set the cutting aside for at least 48 hours.

Once dried you can plant it in soil with a possibly sandy mixture, burying it at least 3cm deep in the ground.

– Propagation by manual pollination

Another way to propagate your Christmas cactus if you have two or more plants with different colored flowers is to use hand pollination.

Concretely, you have to use a small brush to collect pollen from one and deposit it on the other and wait for the plant to bear fruit. These will have small seeds that can be planted in spring.

5. Lifespan

Christmas cactus plants can have a very long life, up to 20 or 30 years, making them an even more symbolic Christmas gift.