Christmas cacti are beautiful when in bloom, with their large, brightly-coloured flowers. Many Christmas cacti become a tropical houseplant after they have finished blooming as they are easy to grow and care for.
It may be a little early to think about Christmas cacti, but if you have a Christmas cactus from last season, this is the time of year to start getting it ready to bloom again for this Christmas season. The trick is getting them back into bloom. It is not hard to get a Christmas cactus to re-bloom if a few simple steps are followed.
For a Christmas cactus to set buds it needs to be given the cool, dark treatment. The cactus plant needs to have 12 to 14 hours of uninterrupted light every night. It can be placed in a spare room, or basement window, as our days are getting shorter and we are naturally receiving 12 hours of darkness every night.
If this is not possible, place a black plastic bag or a box over the plant every night. During the day the plant is placed in a window where it receives enough light. It also needs to be placed in cooler temperatures. The temperature should be between 10 to 12 C.
Watch the watering, as this should be cut back. Only water the plant when the top two centimetres of soil is dry to the touch. When cutting back on the water, don't keep it too dry. If the stems become shrivelled, the plant is too dry.
After six to eight weeks the tips of the branches will begin to grow, then darken as the new buds form. Once the budding has started the plant is moved to a warmer, well-lit area away from drafts. Keep it away from heating vents, outer-opening doors or areas where the temperature changes quickly. Place it in a spot where it will stay, and don't move it anymore as it does not like changes.
Change in light and temperature will cause it to drop its flower buds. Pick up on the water, keeping it slightly moist.
A Christmas cactus is a member of the Zygocactus family, which is a forest cactus. The forest cactus is different from the desert cactus as it is an epiphyte and grows in the forests of South America. It can be found growing in the nooks and forks of trees and enjoys a high humidity and lots of bright indirect light.
If all goes well, the cactus should be blooming around the Christmas season. After it has finished blooming, place it in a cooler location and cut back on the water. Around March, prune it back to keep it compact and encourage branching. The more branches, the more flowers, as the flowers grow on the branch tips. When snipping the branches back, make cuttings. Allow them to air dry for a few hours and place them in soil. Keep the soil slightly dry and after four to six weeks the cuttings should take root and there will be more plants.
Over the summer months treat the Christmas cactus as you would all your tropical houseplants. A Christmas cactus is a long-living plant and will give years of enjoyment and blooms if treated properly. A Christmas cactus prefers to be slightly root-bound in order to bloom and only needs to be re-potted every 2-3 years.
