Christmas Cactus care

The Christmas cactus, known by its Latin name Schlumbergera x buckleyi, is a hybrid plant belonging to the cactus family. The original hybrid was created by crossing Schlumbergera russelliana and Schlumbergera truncata plants and was named in honor of R.C. Buckley, who is believed to have created it in the mid-19th century. The "Buckleyi" refers to the specific hybridization that led to the creation of this plant.

Schlumbergera cactus varieties, from which the Christmas cactus was created, are native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil, where they grow as epiphytes (plants that grow on trees without being parasitic) on trees and rocks.

Description of Christmas Cactus

Christmas cactus is a popular succulent houseplant. It has flat, segmented, bright green stems with toothed or zigzagged ends. The plant sometimes also called as xmas cactus or holiday cactus. Despite its name, Christmas cactus is not a prickly or stingy plant.

Christmas cactus typically blooms during the Christmas holiday season, which is reflected in its name. Its flowers are tubular, elongated, and can be of various colors, mostly pink, red, white, purple, and orange shades. The flowers of the Christmas cactus appear in clusters at the ends of the stems, and the blooming period can last for several weeks.

It is a slow-growing plant but can live long with proper care. It typically grows to a height and width of (12-24 inches (30-60 cm).

The name "Christmas cactus" is due to its blooming during the holiday season, making it a popular decorative element for festive decoration. It creates a pleasant atmosphere in homes during the holiday season.

Christmas Cactus flower buds - Schlumbergera x buckleyi

Christmas Cactus care

Caring for a Christmas cactus: keep it in a bright place but protected from direct sunlight. The plant thrives at temperatures between 59-75 °F (15-24 °C), needing warmer conditions in summer and cooler ones in winter. It requires moderate watering. Allow the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings. During the growing season, fertilize it once a month.

Light requirements for Christmas Cactus

Christmas cactus requires a bright location but should be protected from direct sunlight. It needs light for growth and flowering, but direct sunlight can damage it and burn its leaves. It is important to place the plant where it receives little or no direct sunlight.

It also does well in shadier places, but prolonged low light conditions can reduce its growth and lower the intensity of its flowering.

However, longer dark periods in the autumn promote the blooming of Christmas cactus. Before Christmas, it is advisable to keep it in a dark place for 12-14 hours a day for 6-8 weeks.

Temperature requirements for Christmas Cactus

Christmas cactus prefers a cooler environment but can relatively well adapt to room temperature. The optimal temperature for the plant is between 59-70 °F (15-21 °C). Avoid high temperatures above 75 °F (24 °C), as the plant may grow weakly and fail to bloom.

To promote blooming, it is advisable to keep the nighttime temperature a bit lower, around 54-59 °F (12-15 °C). This can be achieved by placing the plant in a cooler location at night. This helps in the formation of flower buds.

Ideally, keep it in a place protected from drafts and sudden temperature changes. Do not place it near a heater or in the direction of air blown by an air conditioner or fan.

Watering Christmas Cactus

Christmas cactus requires moderate watering; overwatering can lead to root rot. Its soil should always be slightly moist but not overly wet. Water it when the top layer of soil (1 inch or 2-3 cm) has dried out. Then water thoroughly until the water starts to drain from the bottom of the pot.

In summer and during the blooming period, it usually needs more frequent watering, while in winter, it requires less water. Of course, the home's humidity level could also affect the watering frequency.

It's important to plant it in a pot with drainage holes to allow excess water to drain out and not stay around the roots. Pour out any excess water from the saucer under the pot.

If possible, use soft water (such as rainwater or filtered water) for watering, as the salts in hard water can harm the plant. If this is not possible, let tap water sit for at least one night before using it. Use room temperature water to avoid stressing the plant.

It prefers moderate to high humidity since it originates from tropical rainforests. It's recommended to occasionally mist its leaves with water to increase humidity. Instead of misting, you can also place it on a humidity tray.

Fertilizing Christmas Cactus

Christmas cactus benefits from regular fertilization during its growing season. For healthy growth and blooming, the plant needs regular but moderate nutrient supplementation.

Use a balanced fertilizer that contains equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, such as 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula. You can use fertilizer for general flowering plants or one that made for cactuses, but avoid fertilizers with too high nitrogen content, as these can cause elongation and weak blooming.

Fertilize Christmas cactus during the growing season, which typically lasts from spring to the end of summer. During this period, water it with fertilized water once a month. In autumn, reduce the frequency of fertilization, and do not fertilize at all in winter.

Dilute the fertilizer to half the strength indicated on the packaging, as Christmas cactus is sensitive to over-fertilization, which can burn its roots with too many nutrients.

You can also protect its roots by watering it with plain water first to moisten the soil, then following up with fertilized water.

Planting and repotting Christmas Cactus

Repotting Christmas cactus may be necessary every 2-3 years when its root system has outgrown its pot or if the soil has become too compacted and depleted. Repot in the spring or, at the latest, early summer, when its active growing season begins. Do not repot before or during blooming.

Choose a pot that is only slightly larger (about 1-2 inches / 2-5 cm in diameter) than the previous one. If the pot is too large, the soil may remain wet, leading to problems associated with overwatering, such as root damage. The pot should have drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to drain away after watering.

For repotting Christmas cactus, use well-draining soil. You can buy specialized soil for cacti and succulents or mix general potting soil with peat, sand, and perlite to improve drainage.

It is advisable to water the plant one or two days before repotting to ensure it is hydrated and to make it easier to remove from its pot. When repotting Christmas Cactus, handle the roots carefully to avoid damaging them. If necessary, gently clean off the old soil from the roots. This also allows you to inspect the roots. Remove any damaged or dead roots you see.

When planting a Christmas cactus, first put a layer of fresh soil at the bottom of the new pot, then place the plant in the center of the pot. Ensure that the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface; do not plant it deeper than it was in the previous pot. After, fill around the roots with fresh soil, then lightly press the soil down. Press only lightly to ensure adequate aeration around the roots.

After repotting a Christmas cactus, water it only moderately. Its soil should be moist, but not soaked. Allow the top layer of soil to dry out before the next watering. Also, wait a few weeks before fertilizing. Give the plant time to adjust to its new soil.

Winter care for Christmas Cactus

Caring for Christmas cactus in winter involves less frequent watering, in the resting period the watering of Christmas Cactus should be reduced. Water the plant only when the top layer of soil has completely dried out to avoid root rot caused by overwatering. Do not fertilize during the winter, it doesn't need it, not even during blooming.

If the air in the home is dry, it is essential to maintain adequate humidity for the plant. This can be achieved by misting or placing the pot on a humidity tray. If you have a humidifier, you can use it as well.

Although natural light is generally less in winter, it's important to keep the plant in a bright location, but protected from direct sunlight. The most ideal if you can keep a constant temperature between 59-70 °F (15-21 °C). The plant doesn't like sudden temperature changes. It must be protected from drafts, so do not place it near doors or windows, as well as heating or cooling devices.

Blooming of Christmas Cactus

The blooming period for Christmas cactus is usually between November and January, which is why it is often associated with the Christmas season. The length of the blooming period can vary depending on the plant's environment and care, typically lasting several weeks.

The flowers of Christmas cactus can be of various colors. Its most common colors are pink, magenta, various shades of red, and white. Rarer varieties include orange and yellow flowers, with yellow being the rarest. The Schlumbergera truncata (Thanksgiving cactus) more commonly has yellow flowers. This cactus typically begins blooming in November, while Christmas cactus tends to bloom in December, during the holiday season.

Christmas Cactus starting to bloom - Schlumbergera-x-buckleyi

The flower buds appear at the ends of the plant's stems. Once the small flower buds appear, it is advisable not to move the plant, as this can cause the buds to drop off. The flowers are elongated, tubular, with petals layered in several tiers.

The pollination of Christmas cactus flowers can occur naturally or by hand. After pollination, there is a chance that the flowers will produce tiny fruits, although this is uncommon for houseplants.

How to get Christmas Cactus to bloom

To get Christmas cactus to bloom, it needs longer dark periods during the autumn months. Keep the plant in a dark place for 12-14 hours a day for 6-8 weeks, however during the shortened daylight hours it still needs bright, but not direct sunlight. This simulates the autumn / winter conditions of its natural habitat.

You can ensure the longer dark period by covering the plant with a black cloth or covering it with a box in the evening during these weeks. Once the buds appear, it is no longer necessary to extend the dark period.

Until the buds appear, also reduce the frequency of watering, allowing the soil to dry out a bit more than usual.

For Christmas cactus to bloom, it is best to maintain nighttime temperatures between 50-59 °F (10-15 °C) and daytime temperatures between 59-70 °F (15-21 °C) until the flower buds appear. Similar conditions are recommended during blooming to prolong the flowering period.

Spring care for Christmas Cactus

If the roots of Christmas cactus have outgrown its pot or the soil is depleted, spring is the best time for repotting. As the plant enters its growing season in spring, you can start fertilizing and increase the frequency of watering.

Pruning and thinning Christmas Cactus

Pruning and thinning a Christmas cactus helps keep the plant healthy, promotes new growth, maintains a pleasing shape, and encourages abundant blooming. It is best to prune Christmas cactus shortly after blooming, in winter or early spring, so the plant has enough time to recover during the active growing season.

For pruning use sharp and clean scissors or pruning shears to prevent any infections. Make cuts at the junctions where the small leaf segments meet, avoiding cutting the leaves in half, also you can simply pinch them off by hand.

The primary goal of pruning is to maintain the plant's health. Examine the plant and remove any old, damaged, diseased, or yellowing segments. This can be done at any time of the year if necessary.

If the plant has become overcrowded or the foliage is very dense, removing a few segments can improve air circulation and allow light to reach the central parts of the plant.

You can also shape the plant through pruning, if some of the stems are longer than others, or grow in different directions, or if you simply want a more compact, well-shaped plant. Pinch off these segments at the junctions of two leaves. Pinching or cutting back the stem tips can encourage the growth of side shoots and make the plant bushier.

Do not throw away the healthy cuttings! These can be used for propagation, just like the broken-off Christmas cactus stems can be used for propagation.

Propagating Christmas Cactus

Propagating Christmas cactus is a relatively simple process and is usually done with stem cuttings. The plant roots easily whether you plant it in soil or rooting Christmas cactus in water. Feel free to root the healthy cuttings from pruning, and you can even make your plant bushier by planting the new cuttings next to the parent plant. Accidentally broken-off Christmas cactus stems can also be rooted and propagated without hesitation.

Propagating Christmas Cactus from cuttings

To propagate Christmas cactus, choose healthy, firm, vibrant green, mature, but not too old stems, consisting of at least 2-4 leaves and about 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) long. Carefully pinch or cut off the selected stems. You can also separate the chosen stem from the parent plant by gently twisting it while holding the lowest leaf.

Then, let the cuttings air-dry for a few hours, or up to a day, so that their cut ends slightly dry out. This reduces the risk of rot when planting the cuttings.

Fill a small pot with well-draining soil meant for cacti or succulents (or prepare a soil mix as described in the planting section), moisten the soil, and then press the cut end of the cutting into the soil about 1 inch (2-3 cm) deep. Gently press the soil around the cutting to ensure it stands firm in the pot.

After planting, water it only moderately. The soil should be slightly moist but not waterlogged. While the cuttings need water to develop, too much water in the soil can cause rot. It’s beneficial to create a higher humidity around the small cuttings. Occasionally mist them or place their pot on a humidity tray.

Alternatively, propagating Christmas cactus in water is also possible, allowing you to see the root development. Based on experiences in home environments, the cuttings tend to root faster this way. If you choose this method to propagate Christmas cactus, fill a glass or cup with room-temperature water, then place the cut end of the cutting into the water. Do not fully submerge it; the water should reach no higher than halfway up the bottom leaf. Change the water every few days.

Place the cuttings in a bright location, but protect it from direct sunlight. The recommended temperature is between 64-79 °F (18-26 °C), as a warmer environment is better for rooting. The cuttings will begin to root in a few weeks. Once they have strong enough roots, if needed, you can transplant them into an appropriately sized pot and care for them as you would with the adult plants.

Of course, the cuttings rooted in water must be planted in soil eventually. Once the roots grown in water are about 1 inch (3 cm) long, you can plant the cuttings in a pot.

Christmas Cactus with red flower - Schlumbergera x buckleyi

Christmas Cactus varieties

The Christmas cactus, i.e. the Schlumbergera x buckleyi, belongs to the genus Schlumbergera, which is part of the cactus family (Cactaceae). The Schlumbergera genus includes several varieties that share similar characteristics with Schlumbergera x buckleyi.

Schlumbergera truncata, also known as the Thanksgiving cactus or autumn cactus. This is the most common Schlumbergera species, recognizable by its distinct notched leaves and bright, showy flowers. Its blooming typically begins in the fall, around Thanksgiving. It is one of the parent species of Christmas cactus.

Schlumbergera russelliana, another parent species of Schlumbergera x buckleyi (the Christmas cactus). This species also produces colorful flowers and shares similar characteristics with Schlumbergera x buckleyi.

Schlumbergera opuntioides, a rarer variety with leaves and flowers that may look different from other varieties. This plant is smaller, and its flowers can also be different.

All species of the Schlumbergera genus have similar care requirements, such as moderate watering, adequate light conditions, and protection from excessive heat or cold. Differences between the species are evident in their blooming periods, flower colors and shapes, as well as in the shapes and sizes of their leaves.

Diseases, pests and main causes of Christmas Cactus decline

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) is a relatively low-maintenance and resilient plant, so it's able to withstand various improper treatments. However, certain diseases, pests, and environmental factors can cause problems or even lead to the plant's death.

Christmas Cactus diseases

Overwatering can cause bacterial infections, leading to root rot. Signs of this include wilting, yellowing leaves, a soft texture, and a foul smell near the soil. The best prevention is to avoid overwatering the plant.

If the plant is already severely affected, try saving it by cutting off the healthy parts and using them for propagation, essentially starting over. Another option is to remove it from the soil, let it dry out for 1-2 days, and then replant it in new soil. However, if the roots are dead, this probably not be effective.

Gray mold (Botrytis blight) is a fungal infection that appears as gray, fuzzy growth on the plant. Remove the infected parts of the plant immediately and treat it with a fungicide. Gray mold develops mainly due to high humidity and inadequate air circulation around the plant, so reduce humidity around the plant in the home and place it in a location with better air movement.

Christmas Cactus pests

Scale insects are small, flat bugs that suck the sap from the plant. When they proliferate, the leaves of Christmas cactus dry out and turn yellow. Their presence results in a sticky coating on the leaves. They are usually very small, but can grow up to 3/64 - 5/64 inch (1-2mm) in size, which is visible to the naked eye.

The faster solution is to spray the leaves with an insecticide. With persistence, you can also manually remove the insects from the leaves using a damp cotton swab. Afterward, it's recommended to wash the leaves thoroughly with soapy water. Unfortunately, this treatment is not always 100% effective, so it may need to be repeated several times.

Aphids, similar to scale insects, also suck the sap from the plant and also leave behind a sticky residue. The difference is that aphids are more mobile and easier to spot. They can be green or black. The plant requires the same treatment as with scale insects.

Mealybugs are white, fuzzy pests that, like scale insects and aphids, suck the plant's sap and produce a sticky substance. If you see white, powdery or cotton-like substance on the leaves, it's likely mealybugs. You can remove them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or use an insecticidal wash.

The appearance of white woolly aphids indicates a too-dry environment. Manual cleaning and soft water spraying usually eliminate them.

Spider mites are tiny pests that create fine webs on the plant while sucking its sap. They prefer dry air, so increasing the humidity is the primary method of defense against them. Insecticidal washing can be applied to treat the pests.

Environmental factors, incorrect care for Christmas Cactus

It is very sensitive to rot, do not overwater it, always pour out the excess water from its saucer. Due to rot caused by overwatering, Christmas cactus may wilt and its leaves may become soft.

Underwatering can cause the leaves of Christmas cactus to fall off and wilt, the entire plant looks dry, not succulent and fresh. If you notice this, water the plant to help it regain its strength.

Too much direct sunlight can burn its leaves, causing the leaves of Christmas cactus to turn red, pink, or purple and dry out. It does not like direct sunlight very much, so place the plant in a bright spot but protected from direct sunlight.

With too little light, its growth slows down, and the plant becomes weaker. It's important for it to be in a bright place, but it should receive minimal or no direct sunlight.

Too low humidity, too dry air can also cause the leaves of Christmas cactus to fall off and dry out. If you have ruled out other possible causes, increase the humidity around the plant by misting it with water or using a humidity tray.

Excessive fertilization can cause the leaves of Christmas cactus to turn yellow, brown, fall off and result in weak growth of the plant. If you notice this, stop fertilizing and do not use fertilizer until you see improvement.

Is Christmas Cactus toxic?

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) is not toxic to humans or animals. Therefore, it can be a safe choice for homes with small children or pets. However, if consumed in large quantities, it may cause stomach discomfort, such as vomiting or diarrhea, but it is generally not toxic.