Christmas Cactus Care Guide

Bright, indirect light. Don't put into direct sun or it will bleach out their foliage.

Water your Christmas cactus when the soil is dry on the top inch. Always consider the environment and time of year. If your Christmas cactus is outdoors in a hot, dry climate, they may require watering every two to three days, since they are from a more tropical environment. If you treat them like an indoor plant where they stay in a cool or humid area, they might require water weekly. In the fall and winter months, decrease watering to stimulate blooming. Use filtered, bottled, or tap water sitting 24 hours to release the chemicals and water enough that the water discharges out of the drainage holes. Once the water is fully drained, return the plant to its cachepot or decorative pot.

The plant comes from the tropics and prefers a humid environment. Add them on a pebble tray filled with water but don't let the roots sit in water. Spritz them each day or add a humidifier next to it to maintain higher levels of humidity.

The Christmas cactus does best with days between 70 and 80°F. In fall, nights between 55 and 65°F help it set flower buds. Once it blooms, keep it at a steady room temperature, away from drafts and heat vents.

Hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 9 to 11. Elsewhere, keep it indoors and bring it in before the first fall frost.

Water the plant before fertilizing to avoid fertilizer burn. Use a liquid fertilizer every two weeks throughout the spring and summer months, then stop during the fall and winter.

Wait 6 to 12 months before repotting a new plant. It blooms best a little root-bound, so repot only every few years, in spring, into a pot about 2 inches wider with drainage holes and a succulent and cactus mix. Water the day before, loosen the root ball, trim any dead or mushy roots, set the plant at its old depth, and water thoroughly.

Prune yearly if needed to tame unruly branches. Cut between two leaf segments. You can trim the entire plant down by a third each year if needed.

Take the cuttings from pruning and let the cut ends heal for a few days to callus over. Leave them laid out on a paper towel. Afterward, place cut side down into succulent and cactus soil. Keep the soil lightly moist. Within two weeks, roots will form, and you'll have birthed new plant babies!