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Christmas Cactus: How To Care For a Christmas Cactus Houseplant | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Christmas Cactus

A Thanksgiving cactus in full bloom.

Photo Credit
Nadezhda Nesterova/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Schlumbergera spp.
Plant Type
Houseplant
Sun Exposure
Part Sun
Bloom Time
Spring
Fall
Winter
Flower Color
Pink
Purple
Red
White
Hardiness Zone
10
11
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How To Care For a Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, or Easter Cactus

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The Christmas cactus is a long-lasting holiday plant (move over poinsettias!) which flowers in winter with colorful, tubular flowers in pink or lilac colors. Learn how to care for a Christmas cactus—how much to water this succulent, how to get a Christmas cactus to bloom, and how to propagate for a gift that will give year after year!

About Christmas Cacti

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) is a popular houseplant which blooms indoors in the winter, so it’s popular at holiday time and makes a great gift, too. Unlike regular cacti, however, this is not a plant from a dry, hot, desert location. Rather, this is a succulent native to tropical rainforests, where they grow on tree branches and soak up the high humidity, dappled sunlight, and warm temperatures.

The bottom line: Don’t treat a Christmas cactus like it’s a run-of-the-mill cactus! It’s important to water these cacti more regularly, but to also be cautious of keeping them too wet. (See detailed care instructions below.)

Holiday Cactus Types

There are three main types of “holiday” cacti out there: the Easter cactus (S. gaertneri), Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata), and Christmas cactus (S. x buckleyi). For simplicity’s sake, we refer to all three of these species as “Christmas cactus” on this page since the care is the same. See our article on the different types of holiday cacti and how to tell them apart.

Planting

Potting Christmas Cacti

  • When selecting a pot for a Christmas cactus, be sure to choose one that has a drainage hole in the bottom. This helps to keep the soil from getting too wet.
  • Christmas cacti grow well in most potting mixes that are formulated for succulents. The important thing is that your potting soil drains well.

Where to Put a Christmas Cactus

  • Plants should be kept in bright, indirect light. An east-facing window or a bright bathroom is ideal. Too much direct sunlight can bleach the sensitive leaves.
  • A daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an evening temperature of 60-65°F (15-18°C) is preferred.
  • Christmas cacti prefer a more humid environment, which makes a bright bathroom or kitchen a good spot to keep them.
  • In the summer, Christmas cacti can be placed in a shady spot in the garden or in an unheated porch until temperatures get below 50°F (10°C). Keep them out of direct outdoor sunlight.
Growing

How to Care for Christmas Cacti

  • Plan to water every 2 to 3 weeks, but only water when the top one third of soil feels dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil, water when the top 2 inches feel dry. (Use your finger to check!)
    • When the soil is sufficiently dry, soak the soil until water runs through the pot’s drainage holes. Place a tray underneath the pot to catch the water. After 10-15 minutes, discard any excess water in the tray so that the pot doesn’t sit in water.
    • It’s especially important to water well while the plant is flowering.
  • From spring through early fall, feed every 2 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. During the fall and winter, feed the cactus monthly to encourage successful blooming.
  • Prune plants in late spring to encourage branching and more flowers. Simply cut off a few sections of each stem; the plant will branch from the wound.
    • If you wish, place the cut pieces in a lightly moist potting soil—they root easily after a few weeks and make for excellent Christmas presents!

Christmas cactus

How to Get Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom

The blooms of Christmas cacti and its relatives are triggered by the cooler temperatures and longer nights of fall. The three main types of holiday cacti generally bloom according to this schedule:

  • Thanksgiving cacti are the earliest and longest bloomers, typically producing flowers from late fall through mid-winter.
  • Christmas cacti tend to bloom from early winter to mid-winter.
  • Easter cacti bloom from late winter to mid-spring.

If your cactus is NOT blooming, it may be receiving too much light or too-high temperatures. Here are some tips to encourage yours to produce flowers!

  • To trigger blooming, nights need to be at least 14 hours long and days between 8 to 10 hours for at least six weeks. If you have strong indoor lighting that’s on at night, you may need to cover your cactus or move it to an area that’s exposed to the natural light cycle.
  • Flower buds form best when the plant is kept in temperatures between 50 and 60°F (10 and 15°C).
    • You can kickstart the budding process by exposing the plant to temperatures of about 45°F (7°C) for several nights in a row.
  • Make sure that you are consistent with watering while the plant is in flower. If the plant dries out too much, it may drop its buds.
  • If the cactus sheds its buds one winter, don’t worry: it should bloom the following year!
Recommended Varieties

There are three main types of “holiday cacti” available:

  • Thanksgiving cacti (Schlumbergera truncata) bloom from late fall to mid-winter and are often mislabeled as Christmas cacti.
  • Christmas cacti (S. x buckleyi) bloom from early winter to mid-winter.
  • Easter cacti (S. gaertneri) bloom from later winter to mid-spring.
christmas-cactus_full_width.jpg
A giant Thankgiving cactus in bloom. Photo by Catherine Boeckmann.
Wit and Wisdom
  • When the buds of a Christmas cactus look as if they’re about to open, make sure you water the plant regularly and keep it cool.
  • Late spring is the best time to propagate cuttings because most holiday cacti emerge from their winter rest and initiate new growth.
Pests/Diseases

Blossom drop: If your Christmas cactus is exposed to any type of stress, the plant will likely drop its blossoms. This could be related to the amount of light, or a sudden change in temperature, as discussed in above plant care section. Also, ensure that your soil doesn’t get too dry while buds are forming.

The plant may be susceptible to mealy bugs and, if over-watered, root rot. If you have problems, cut out infected areas and repot in clean soil.

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Comments

Barbara (not verified)

2 weeks 1 day ago

I have what I believe is a Christmas cactus (could be an Easter one) and it blooms several times each year, including in the summertime! It seems to know the holidays, too, as it blooms around July 4th, among other holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). It bloomed at Thanksgiving and is still producing some flowers. I do need to repot it though as the roots are coming up, though someone once told me that this type of plant likes to be pot-bound. I water it every couple of weeks and it is in a north/east-facing window where it gets the morning sun.

Debra (not verified)

3 weeks 3 days ago

My Christmas cactus bloomed early November this year. I kept on a covered porch here in sunny South Carolina and watered it well. Even split it up for present and it was gorgeous in doors as temps dropped. Now it looks overwatered and wilted blooms. ? I think I need to repot? Maybe set it outside again? Fertilize?

The plant is likely a bit too wet! Indoors with less light, it needs a lot less water than it does outdoors. It may also just need some time to adjust to indoors and bounce back on its own.

madi (not verified)

4 weeks 1 day ago

I jus received a Christmas Cactus - my first ever - so this page was extremely informative I love this plant and do not want to kill it!

Carol Guanella (not verified)

1 month ago

I have a cactus that is at least 100 years old I acquired it in the 80s repotted it then because pot was cracked. Do they get root bound or do I not worry .. looks a little droopy now and leaves just don’t look right. My house is cold. Staring to bloom . So going to make sure it’s watered Any suggestion