

Everything You Need to Know About Caring For a Christmas Cactus

They're called "Christmas" for a reason–and not for what you'd think.

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera)

Christmas cacti aren't exactly the kind of plant you'd think they'd be—they don't bloom red and green shades, like their festive name might suggest, but instead produce bright flowers in shades of pink and lilac.

This particular cacti gets its name because it blooms closest to the holiday itself—in early winter. There are also Easter and Thanksgiving cacti, which both sprout close to their respective namesake holidays.

If you're investing in a Christmas cacti to celebrate the holidays with (or just to add a pop of color to your home this winter), here's everything you need to know about taking care of it.

How do I care for a Christmas cactus?

Christmas cacti are native to the rain forests of Brazil, where they grow high up within the tree branches. Because of their native habitat, the plants prefer a more humid climate than other succulents do, so you should be regularly watering your Christmas cactus to keep it in tip-top shape.

If the top inch of soil is dry to the touch, you'll want to water your cactus ASAP. Once the water runs through the pot holes, discard the water leftover in the tray, so the plant isn't left sitting in it.

The Farmers' Almanac suggests feeding your Christmas cactus every two weeks from the spring to early fall using a complete houseplant fertilizer—during the fall and winter, you can scale back to feeding it monthly.

To encourage more flowers to bloom when the time arrives, you should prune the plant in June—all you need to do is cut off a few sections of each stem.

Where should I place a Christmas cactus?

You'll need to keep the cacti out of direct sunlight–while they like bright light, it needs to be indirect. Also, their ideal temperature is around 70 degrees during the day and around 60 degrees at night for optimal growth.


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