When to Transplant Christmas Cactus
Christmas cactus is a beautiful and popular holiday plant. While it is possible to keep your Christmas cactus healthy and happy in the same pot for many years, eventually you may need to transplant it. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding when to transplant your Christmas cactus.
In the northern hemisphere, Christmas cactus should be transplanted in late spring or early summer, after the last danger of frost has passed.
What is the best way to transplant a Christmas cactus?
If you want to divide a cactus plant, cut through its thick roots with a sharp, clean knife. You can divide it into two to four pieces, depending on the size of the plant. Replant the divisions in a well-drained cactus potting mix. These new plants may look a bit lopsided, but wait to prune or shape them until after they bloom.
If your holiday cactus is wilting, it may be time to repot it. These plants like to be root bound, but eventually they get too constricted to stay healthy. Try repotting your cactus into a new pot with a drainage hole one size bigger, using cactus soil. Your plant should perk up within a few days.
What kind of potting soil does a Christmas cactus need
The ideal potting soil for cactus will contain a high proportion of organic matter such as peat or well-decomposed compost. Addition of coarse sand, or even aquarium gravel, will provide the necessary drainage and aeration. There are commercially available cactus potting soils that are designed to be well-drained soils.
If you need to move your Christmas cactus, do so carefully and with as little stress to the plant as possible. These plants do not like to be moved frequently, and the stress that this can cause may prevent them from blooming.
Do Christmas cactus like tight pots?
Give your Christmas Cactus a new pot every 3-5 years, depending on how it is doing. Remember, they like to grow slightly tight in their pots, so only go up one pot size.
A Christmas cactus is a beautiful plant that can brighten up any home during the holiday season. To keep your Christmas cactus healthy and thriving, be sure to plant it in Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix and water it when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry. You may also need to increase the humidity around the plant if the air is too dry.
Is it better to root Christmas cactus in water or soil?
For Schlumbergera, the best and fastest method of propagation is directly in the soil. While roots may develop faster in water, you still need to plant them once they develop, and as we’ve already discussed, Christmas cacti are delicate and break easily. The less handling they receive, the better.
Christmas cacti are best suited for small pots as they don’t have an extensive root system. They like to be slightly potbound and snug in their pot, which helps them to bloom best.
When should I not repot my Christmas cactus
Most plants are best repotted when they display new growth in spring, but Christmas cactus repotting should be done after blooming ends and the flowers have wilted in late winter or early spring. Never attempt to repot the plant while it is actively blooming.
If you are growing a holiday cactus, it is best to place it in a location with partial shade. An east or west facing window is ideal, with a temperature between 70° and 80℉. This will help your cactus to thrive and produce beautiful blooms.
What does a Christmas cactus need to thrive?
If you want your Christmas cactus to bloom every year, you need to give it a rest period after it flowers in late winter. Move it to a warm, bright spot out of direct sun and mist it a few times a week. Then, in September, give it another rest period with lower temperatures and less watering.
Experts recommend watering Christmas cactus from the bottom rather than on top. With this method, you can be sure that your plant is getting enough water every time because it will soak into their roots and reach all of them.
How do you winterize a Christmas cactus
Christmas cacti are a type of cactus that thrive in humid conditions. If your house is dry indoors during the winter, you can place your Christmas cactus on a tray of pebbles or near other plants. Water your Christmas cactus when the top surface of the soil feels dry. 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.
To care for Christmas cacti, water every 2 to 3 weeks, but only water when the top one third of soil feels dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil, water when the top 2 inches feel dry.
How do you stimulate a Christmas cactus to bloom?
If you want your forest cactus to bloom for the holidays, start the process six to eight weeks before by putting it in a dark closet for 14 hours a night. Bring it back out during daylight hours, and once buds begin to form, the closet treatment is no longer needed. Enjoy its beautiful blooms!
To propagate a Christmas cactus, take cuttings of one to four segments and let them sit in a cool, dry place for two to four days. Plant an inch deep in new soil, preferably a sand/peat mix. Water sparingly until roots or new growth develop, then water as normal.
Conclusion
When to transplant Christmas cactus, also known as Schlumbergera bridgesii, depends on the plant’s size. If the plant is pot-bound, orhas outgrown its current pot, it should be transplanted to a pot that is one size larger. Be sure to use a pot with drainage holes to prevent the plant from becoming overwatered.
Christmas cactus can be transplanted at any time of year. However, the best time to transplant is in the spring, when the plant is actively growing. Transplanting at this time will give the plant the best chance to establish itself in its new home.
