If there is a typical plant of the coldest time of the year, it is undoubtedly the  Christmas cactus  , or  Schulumbergera  . Although it flowers during the Christmas season, it is important to take good care of this plant so that it gives us many flowers.

In this article we suggest the main  cures for the Christmas cactus  , and we explain how to propagate it to obtain many other plants.

The  Christmas cactus  is a relatively easy plant to care for. If it is placed in a bright location, away from direct sunlight that could burn the leaves, and kept at a temperature between 18 and 24 ºC, the plant should grow healthy and strong.

The plant should not be moved at all during flowering, as this could cause the buds to fall off.

Propagating a Christmas Cactus

Propagating this plant is as simple as it is practical. During spring, take the parts of the stem that have two or three leaf sections and let them dry indoors for 1 or 2 days.

Place the removed parts into a mixture of seed compost and fine sand. Insert the bottom of the parts about 1 cm deep so that they can stand up. Water well and make sure that excess water runs off.

Place the cuttings in a bright location, but protected from direct sunlight. Water sparingly and spray the leaves periodically.

After 1-2 months the first roots will have formed, you can check this by moving the cuttings slightly. If they have roots, transfer them to individual pots to allow them to grow.

Caring for Christmas Cactus

During spring and summer, water only when the top layer of soil is dry and make sure the plant has good drainage.

Christmas cactus suffers if the soil is too cold and wet. Water sparingly during winter.

It is important to repot the Christmas cactus every 1-2 years, preferably in spring and immediately after it comes out of its dormant period.

Repot the Christmas cactus into a larger pot and use a cactus fertilizer to encourage growth and flowering.