Christmas Cactus

Christmas Cactus is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Christmas Cactus thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Christmas Cactus may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Christmas Cactus is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Christmas Cactus prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Christmas Cactus is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Christmas Cactus grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

It’s common for Christmas Cactus to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

Christmas Cactus is native to Southeastern Brazil.

Christmas Cactus grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

USDA Hardiness Zone
Christmas Cactus can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Christmas Cactus can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

• Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
• To get the cutting to root, you can either:
  
  • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
  • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Christmas Cactus. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!