As the holiday season approaches, one can easily spot a plethora of Christmas cacti blooming in stores. These beautiful plants showcase a vibrant array of colors ranging from red, pink, yellow, orange, white to purple. It’s no surprise that most gardening enthusiasts can’t resist buying one or more of these exotic plants and rushing to the counter to make their purchase.
However, eventually, you come to realize that simply keeping it alive is not enough. You want your Christmas cactus to thrive and bloom for many years to come. Who knows, perhaps one day you may even pass down a stunning and grand Christmas cactus to your descendants.
The Christmas cactus is also known by several other names such as Thanksgiving cactus, holiday cactus or crab cactus. The term “crab” comes from the leaf-shaped stem segments that have pointed teeth or claws along the edges. Meanwhile, the Easter cactus (Schlumbergera Buckleyi) has rounder edges on its leaf segments. These plants are native to the southeastern coast of Brazil and thrive in shady, humid forests. They belong to the family of epiphytes since they grow above the ground on trees, typically in places where branches intersect and fallen leaves and moss accumulate.
Despite its name, the Christmas cactus does not require the same care as its desert-dwelling relatives. This type of cactus is actually classified as a forest cactus and its care is based on its place of origin. To help it thrive, it is best to keep the plant in a small container for as long as possible before transferring it to a slightly larger pot. The soil should be rich and organic, and it should not be allowed to dry out completely. When the Christmas cactus blooms, the amount of water it receives should be increased. It prefers bright but indirect light, as full sun may cause the leaf segments to turn dark red and burn.
To ensure that the Christmas cactus blooms again in subsequent years, two things are crucial: light and temperature. These factors play a key role in the production of flowers. The plant needs a cool environment and a short-day cycle to produce blooms. To initiate the production of flower buds, there must be at least eight days with 16 hours of darkness and eight hours of light each day. It is important not to turn on lights at night as this disrupts the dark cycle required for flower production. The ideal temperature for the Christmas cactus is around 61 degrees, and it should not be placed where it will receive cold or hot air.
To ensure your Christmas cactus blooms, place it on a cool windowsill without turning on any lights. If the plant is exposed to too much light, the side facing the window may develop buds while the other side will not. However, if the plant drops its buds after forming them, it could be due to over or under watering, or lack of air. Luckily, Christmas cacti are generally easy to re-bloom as long as they are provided with the right temperature and light conditions.
