Along with poinsettias, Christmas Cactus is a popular holiday gift. There are three different popular variety of these “holiday” cacti: Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus with the main difference being blooming time.

Even though the plants are true cacti, they are actually native to the rain forests which should tell you they like humid environments but ironically, they also like well-drained soil. If you take care of your Christmas cactus, it could live up to 100 years.

Christmas cacti are what we call “short day plants” meaning that the reduced length of daylight hours in the fall is what helps trigger the plants into knowing it’s time to bloom. Plants that are kept indoors all year long are less likely to pick up on these cues which is why it’s a good idea to let your Christmas cacti spend their summers outdoors.

Cooler temperatures also help trigger blooming so if you keep your house toasty during the winter, you might want to consider moving your Christmas cactus to the garage for a few weeks to encourage blooming. They also like complete darkness for about 12 hours a day during this time as well.

If you have accomplished all of these steps correctly during the year, you should see some flower buds on your plant at the appropriate time. However, drafts or sudden changes in temperature can cause your plant’s buds to drop. Also, if it has a lot of buds, it may “self-prune” some of the buds, but this is no cause for concern.

Well drained soil is also important for your Christmas cacti. Even though it is a succulent, that doesn’t mean it’s drought tolerant. So, keep it in a well-drained pot and water regularly, letting it dry out between waterings. Repotting every three years is also a good idea although they seem to tolerate cramped conditions for a while. Fertilization is a good idea using a half-strength houseplant fertilizer monthly from June through August.

After the plant’s blooms have fallen off at the end of their season, let the plant rest about 6 weeks by withholding water. After 6 weeks you can resume watering as normal.

Another good thing about Christmas cacti is that they are fun to share through plant propagation. All you need to do is cut off a small branch at the point where it joins the stalk, dip that cutting in water, and then dip it into a rooting hormone. Next, place the cutting in a small pot filled with potting media and locate it in a brightly lit spot. In about 2 weeks it should be starting to send out some roots. Good luck.

You can get answers to all your gardening questions by calling the Tulsa Master Gardeners Help Line at 918-746-3701, dropping by our Diagnostic Center at 4116 E. 15th Street, or by emailing us at mg@tulsamastergardeners.org. Photo: Pixabay