When should I put my Christmas cactus in the dark?
Never put a Christmas cactus in darkness. Leave it outside until beginning of fall. Afterwards, place in a sunny window so that it will bloom between mid November til December. You can force Christmas cacti to bloom at any time of year or more than once a year. Shorter daylight hours and longer periods of darkness are key to getting Christmas cactus blooms. Pinch back stem tips in summer to encourage new branching and more blooms during the winter.Too Much Light. Holiday cacti need at least 12 to 14 hours of darkness each night. Christmas cacti are triggered to bloom by a combination of temperature and day length. If this plant doesn’t receive the correct cues, it doesn’t begin a bloom cycle.Watering Christmas Cactus from the top and bottom are both effective methods. However, bottom watering is better for even hydration of the root system. It also reduces the risk of overwatering or flower breakage. It ensures the roots are properly hydrated without making the upper soil soggy.Light. The Christmas cactus has very specific lighting needs when it comes to blooming. For best results, place the plant near a window where it receives bright, indirect light. The light should be filtered so you don’t risk causing discoloration.
How long do Christmas cacti live?
Some of the best plants to share are those that are easy care and long lived. Holiday cactus are among those that are passed from generation to generation and are perfect for sharing because they are easy care, easy to divide and propagate, and can live to be over 100 years old. The fix here for a dying Christmas cactus is fairly straightforward. You’ll need to move your plant into the sunlight at certain times of day, or permanently change the location of your plant so it gets better sunlight, which will then stimulate growth.However, it is easy to spot the difference between a healthy and distressed plant. Healthy plants have lush, verdant leaves and are able to flower, while a sick Christmas cactus will be lackluster, off-color, limp, and possibly dry and wrinkled.He notes: During the active growing season, a Christmas cactus will tolerate a couple of weeks without any water — potentially a week or so longer during dormancy. After this period, the plant will start to wilt quite rapidly.Pinching back stem segments during the growing season encourages Christmas cacti to branch and gives plants a fuller, bushier look. Improved flowering. Pruning Christmas cacti in spring can also help these plants flower more the following winter.
What months do you not water a cactus?
You do not need to water cacti every day. In Summer, through Fall, you should water them once a week. In the winter, you do not need to water cacti, unless it never rains or snows. If there is zero rainfall in Winter, then you can water cacti once a month only. Bottom watering (placing the plant in a dish of water and allowing its soil to soak up water through the bottom drainage hole) is an excellent method to water any cacti because the dry potting media often prevents water absorption when top watering. This phenomena is referred to as hydrophobic soil.The easiest way to determine whether a Christmas cactus is overwatered is, of course, to look at the soil. If it’s soggy or there is standing water present, then the plant has probably been overwatered. Other signs include limp leaves, as well as discoloration, including black spots on the leaves.Provide your cactus plant with a cool environment of around 50°F to 55°F for about 6-8 weeks in the fall. This temperature drop helps trigger bud formation and blooming. Keep the soil slightly moist but avoid overwatering. Water your cacti when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.Christmas cacti do like to be snug in their pot. Remove the pot to check on root development – if there’s little or no sign of new growth, gently remove the excess compost and put the plant into a smaller pot.
When to stop watering Christmas cactus in winter?
After your holiday cactus stops flowering for the year, typically in late winter for Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti and early spring for Easter cacti, reduce the amount of watering. Allow the top 3-4 inches of soil to dry before the next watering. The pot should feel lighter when it’s lifted up. Instead of sugar for Christmas cactus, it’s better to focus on providing a well-draining potting mix, regular watering, and appropriate fertilization during the growing season to ensure your Christmas cactus remains healthy and blooms beautifully.Leaves may turn brown and drop from the plant. If you touch the leaves, they will feel flat, not plump and fleshy as a healthy Christmas cactus would.Christmas cacti prefer bright, indirect light, which can be obtained in an east or west-facing window. Avoid placing them in a dimly lit area or in direct sunlight, as this can cause their leaves to turn yellow or brown.Christmas Cactus plant care discussion about pot size and type for optimal growth. Wide and shallow. Deep can encourage water accumulation and root rot.Coffee grounds are not a necessary ingredient for Christmas cactus care, but they can perk up the plant during its bloom time. The grounds give a boost of nitrogen and potassium and lower the acidity of their soil, which they like. Be careful not to overdo it!
What does an overwatered Christmas cactus look like?
Signs that your Christmas cactus is overwatered are black or red spots, yellow leaves and if your plant is turning limp. Christmas cacti are succulents, so they tend to not need a lot of water. Cacti don’t need frequent watering. In the spring and summer, during the actively growing season, water your cactus only when the soil is dry or every 2-4 weeks. In the fall and winter, during their dormant season period, reduce watering significantly to once a month or even less.If you’re unsure whether you should water a cactus, it’s best to touch the top soil. If it’s completely dry, a little watering may not hurt. Cacti that aren’t getting enough water will look a little pale, while those that are getting too much will look plump.If it feels dry, time to water. Give it a little water at a time to soak up and be evenly moist. Too much water will cause spots and make the roots rot. It is a tropical cactus, not a desert cactus however, too much water will do damage.If you’re concerned about the quality of your tap water, you can let it sit out for 24 hours to allow any chlorine to dissipate before watering your cactus. Alternatively, you can use rainwater, filtered or distilled water to ensure the best care for your cactus.
What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
Blooms requires two things: cooler temperatures and long nights. These cacti are short-day plants, which means that blooms are triggered by long dark cool nights. They need between 14-16 hours of uninterrupted darkness and 8 hours of daylight for between 3 – 6 weeks to set flower buds. To encourage blooming, give your Christmas cactus 12-14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night for about six to eight weeks, starting in late September or early October,’ she says.Your Christmas Cactus can bloom without fertilizer, but the right nutrients definitely help. I use a water-soluble African Violet fertilizer, which mine seem to like. I feed monthly from mid-February through mid-September, then stop. They don’t need fertilizer during the dormancy period.Christmas cacti bloom best under cool temperatures. Maintain air temperatures between 60°F and 68°F during bud development and aim to provide similar conditions in the display location. These plants are sensitive to disturbance and may drop buds in response to sudden temperature changes.Where to Grow a Christmas Cactus. Given its native climate, it won’t surprise you that Christmas cacti thrive in bright, indirect light and humid conditions. Growing your Christmas cactus in a north- or east-facing window is ideal, but wherever you end up putting it, make sure to keep it out of direct sunlight.Christmas Cactus are extremely popular when November and December roll around. I happen to like them even when they’re not in bloom and think they make fine houseplants. But wait, did you know that they can repeat flower? Mine started re-blooming in February, so yes, Christmas Cactus do flower more than once a year.