Learn how to care for Christmas cactus and poinsettias
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Misting houseplants is often a very simple and effective way to boost humidity, reducing the risk of overwatering at the same time. However, according to a houseplant expert, owners of the Christmas cacti should “avoid” doing this. Indoor plant specialists Exubia have shared top tips on looking after a Christmas cactus houseplant, also known as Schlumbergera bridgesii.
The houseplant is part of the cacti family, although it couldn’t be further apart in terms of physical characteristics.
The experts explained: “Whereas most cacti come from arid, desert environments, the Christmas cactus is native to the Brazilian rainforest, a humid environment with vast quantities of water and nutrition for plants to thrive.
“As a result, it is best to water your houseplant at least once or twice per week.” To test if the plant needs water, stick your finger into the soil and if the first centimetre is dry, it needs a top up.
Usually, houseplant owners can mist their indoor plants to boost their humidity levels and help them to thrive. However, the experts said: “You should avoid misting the plant.
“The plants tend to catch and hold water which can lead to root rot. In the rainforest, lots of insects crawl around the base of the plant creating tiny holes for water to flow freely.
“Indoors however, soil often clumps together, which can prevent water from reaching the roots of your plant.
“To replace this so that water reaches the root of your Christmas cactus, it is best to use chopsticks or another sharp instrument to create small air pockets.”
Doing this even once a week will mean the plant can and will receive an adequate amount of water where it is needed. Beyond water, the pros also recommended fertilising this plant.
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They explained: “Although it may seem counterintuitive to fertilise a plant in December, this is actually the active growing season of the Christmas cactus so it needs a bigger quantity of nutrients to support flowering.
“It’s very similar to how most gardeners begin to fertilise their outdoor plants in spring, just before they start flowering.
“It’s best to opt for a fertiliser with an NPK ratio 3:2:1 in a liquid form as this will give the plant the best chance of immediately absorbing the nutrient it needs.”
Although it may seem like this plant is incredibly high maintenance, it actually doesn’t require a huge amount of light to thrive, perfect for those dreary winter days.
This is because, in its native habitat, the Christmas cactus lives deep under the rainforest canopy which is very unlike other cacti which are often exposed to sunlight for long durations.
The houseplant experts noted: “In turn, you can set it slightly back from a window and it will have no problems surviving.
“Post-Christmas, it’s best to trim any wilting or dying flowers as this will allow the plant to conserve energy and nutrients which it can direct to more essential functions.
“As most Christmas cacti’s can live for over a decade with the right care, doing a small amount of pruning in January can be a really worthwhile investment.”
Houseplant experts at Essential Living have shared their top tips on propagating a Christmas cacti and when the best time to do so is.
While it is pretty easy to propagate this houseplant, it is best to do it during the spring months, when it is not in active flower.
The pros explained: “You can regrow a Christmas cactus in three different ways including, upright in soil, flat in soil, and in water. However, first things first, you need to ensure you get a healthy cutting.”
Every cactus branch is made up of several sections linked together. At the very bottom of the pad is where you can get roots to grow.
The difficult part is separating them without tearing the bottom of the pad, and the best way to do so is to gently twist the top pad.
The experts continued: “Carefully take cuttings of one to four segments from your existing cactus and let them sit in a cool, dry place for two to four days.
“Then plant an inch deep into new soil, preferably an organic potting mix and water sparingly until new roots or growth develops.”
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