The Christmas cactus is a popular houseplant that blooms around Christmastime.Native to Brazil, the Christmas cactus is a member of the cactus family. The plant gets its common name from its blooming season, not its physiology. The Christmas cactus can bloom indoors any time of year with the proper care.
In most areas, Christmas cactus can stay outdoors year-round. If you live in an area that experiences freezing temperatures, however, you’ll need to bring your plant indoors before the first frost.
What temp is too cold for Christmas cactus?
The Christmas cactus is a beautiful plant that does best in warm temperatures. Unfortunately, it is not frost tolerant and will suffer permanent damage if exposed to temperatures below 50°F for long periods of time. If you live in an area with colder winters, it is best to keep your Christmas cactus indoors where it will be protected from the cold.
Christmas Cactus prefer moist soil, but not soggy. Bring plants back inside before the first frost. Water plants regularly, and fertilize monthly.
How long can Christmas cactus stay outside
Christmas cactus can be grown outside, but only in warm climates. In USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and above, the plant can survive year-round. Christmas cactus is not cold hardy and will not survive in colder climates.
If you’re looking for a festive way to spruce up your outdoor space, why not try moving your Christmas cactus outside for the summer? These plants love humidity, so they’ll be right at home in your garden or on your patio. Just be sure to keep them in a shady spot where they won’t be exposed to too much direct sunlight. And after a heavy rain, make sure to empty any water that’s collected in the pot so that the roots don’t rot. With a little TLC, your Christmas cactus will thrive all summer long!
How do you winterize a Christmas cactus?
Christmas cacti are easy to care for and make great houseplants. They like humidity, so if your house is dry indoors in winter, put the plant on a tray of pebbles, or place it near other plants. Water when the top surface feels dry, and never let the plant sit in water. Christmas cacti prefer daytime temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees, and evening temperatures of 55 to 65 degrees.
Succulents and cacti are generally best suited for temperatures between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. While small deviations from this range can often be tolerated, larger swings of 5 degrees or more can cause irreversible damage.
How long do you keep a Christmas cactus in the dark for it to bloom?
To get your forest cactus to bloom for the holidays, put it in a dark closet for 14 hours a night, starting six to eight weeks before you want it to bloom. Bring it back out into a bright location during daylight hours. Once buds begin to form, the closet treatment is no longer needed, and the plant should bloom beautifully.
To get your Christmas cactus to bloom, you need to mimic its natural bloom cycle. This means cutting back on watering in late fall, from October to the middle of November. Let the top two or three inches of soil dry out between waterings. During this time, also make sure the plant is getting plenty of light and the temperature is cool but not freezing.
Where is the best place to put a Christmas cactus in your house
To ensure that your holiday cactus grows best, place it in a location withpartial shade, such as an east or west facing window. The optimal temperature for growth is between 70° and 80℉. With proper care, your holiday cactus will thrive and provide you with many years of enjoyment.
To encourage bud set, provide bright light, temperatures between 55 F and 65 F, and 13 hours or more of continuous darkness each day. For flowers during the winter holiday season, long nights should be started in late September or October and continued for eight weeks.
How many years does a Christmas cactus live?
Christmas cacti are actually fairly easy to care for and can thrive indoors with minimal maintenance. However, they do require a bit of special care during the holiday season to ensure that they bloom beautifully. With a little TLC, your Christmas cactus can provide you with years of enjoyment.
If you live in an area with cold winters and lots of snow, you can still grow cacti! These plants are actually quite tolerant of cold weather and can survive in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you live in an area with harsh winds and temperatures but little snow, cacti can become frostbitten. To prevent this, carefully cover the plants with burlap as late in the season as possible.
Do Christmas cactus like to be crowded
If you have a Christmas Cactus, you may have noticed that it seems to do best when its roots are crowded. This can be a struggle for plant parents, as it can be difficult to prevent the plant from becoming root bound. However, it is actually best for the Christmas Cactus to have its roots crowded, as this is what it is used to. So, if you can, try to keep your Christmas Cactus in a pot that is crowded, and it will likely do best.
This darkness treatment is to help promote bud set on Thanksgiving cactus. Start the treatment around the middle of September and keep it up for at least eight weeks. You may see buds in three to four weeks. Be careful about keeping the Thanksgiving cactus in the dark before flowering; even as little as two hours of interrupted lighting will suppress flower bud set.
Should I keep my Christmas cactus inside?
If you want your Christmas cactus to bloom, you need to give it a period of darkness for about 12 hours each day. This can be done by putting it in a closet or covering it with a box. Once the buds start to form, you can remove the cover.
One of the most important things to remember when caring for a Christmas cactus is to water it regularly. During the spring and summer months, water the plant every one to two weeks. In the fall and winter, water it every three to four weeks. In warmer zones, the plant may need to be watered daily. Always make sure the soil is completely dry before watering again.
Warp Up
When to bring in Christmas cactus from outside really depends on the climate. If you live in an area with a warm climate, you can bring your Christmas cactus inside as early as October. If you live in a cooler climate, you should wait until November or December to bring your Christmas cactus inside.
The Christmas cactus does best when kept cool, so it is best to bring it in from outside a few weeks before the temperature is expected to drop below 50°F.
