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

During the upcoming holiday season, you can receive a Christmas cactus as a gift. You will have to take care of it so that it survives without problems and keeps you company for a long time with its beautiful and colorful flowers, which can brighten 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 cactus family, which usually grows in tropical forests. It is a plant that prefers shade and humidity. Therefore, the indoor environment of our homes in winter, with the heating on, becomes an ideal climate for leafy growth.

1. When does the Christmas cactus bloom?

The Cacraceae can have different flowering periods, but what characterizes the Christmas cactus is that its flowers bloom just when the end of year holidays approach, hence the name of this wild plant from Brazil and other parts of Latin America that was imported to 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-violet. So that the flower buds do not wither before blooming, the Christmas cactus should be kept away from drafts and heat sources. Therefore, the Christmas cactus should 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 the indoor Christmas cactus is 20°C. To prolong the flowering of the cactus in the winter period, you should place it in a bright room. Later in the summer, the Christmas cactus can be placed outdoors in a partially shaded position so that excessive exposure to direct sunlight does not cause leaf burn. In autumn, from the beginning of September, the plant can be moved indoors. The reduction in daylight hours and exposure to the sun causes its flowering to be delayed until the Christmas period.

One of the perfect places to keep Christmas cacti in your home 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 certain parts of the plant can cause diarrhea or vomiting in pets. Therefore, it should be placed in such a way that pets cannot easily reach it. If there is any problem, the veterinarian should be consulted immediately.

3. When to water Christmas cacti?

The Christmas cactus is native to the rainforests of South America and therefore prefers a humid climate. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to irrigation, both in summer and winter. In winter it is advisable to water it regularly, little by little, preventing the saucer from absorbing water, but keeping the soil moist. In summer, the same procedure is followed, with the possibility of spraying a little water on the leaves using a sprayer. In summer, the best time to water the Christmas cactus, which needs small amounts of water at a time, is at night. In particularly dry climates, try keeping it in a room with a small humidifier or other plants.

It is important to avoid stagnation of water 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. Throughout the life of the plant, watering should only be done when the soil appears dry on the surface. It may be enough to water just once or twice a week in winter.

The Christmas cactus likes soils with an acidic pH and, if possible, containing peat. The use of natural fertilizers during the flowering period is optional to ensure plant nutrition. Fertilization should 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 cactus, it is quite 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 it has dried, you can plant it in soil with a sand mixture if possible, burying it at least 3 cm deep in the soil.

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

5. Service life

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