Christmas cactus care instructions

If you are looking for a beautiful addition to your festive décor but you want something other than fresh flowers, you should consider a Christmas cactus. Here are some of the most important points to keep in mind when caring for this unique potted plant.

Water needs

One of the main needs of any plant is water and your Christmas cactus is no exception. When you think of the word cactus, you most likely think about plants that thrive in arid conditions. Despite its name, the Christmas cactus is actually a tropical plant. This means that it will need a fair amount of water. That said, you will need to monitor the moisture of the soil before watering. Your watering schedule will differ based on the weather conditions. When it’s warmer, water will evaporate faster which means that you will need to water more frequently than in the winter.

Sunlight

Plants also need to sunlight in order to produce food. Of course, the Christmas cactus needs more indirect sunlight rather than direct sunlight. The latter can cause damage to this plant. In addition, you need to make sure that the temperature in your home is moderate – not too hot or cold.

Humidity

As previously mentioned, the Christmas cactus is a tropical plant which means that it enjoys a more humid environment. You do not need to make your entire home humid just to keep this plant happy. All you need to do is place your plant on a tray of pebbles with water. The water will evaporate and the area immediately around the plant will be more humid than other parts of your home. This will help keep your plant happy and healthy.

Cultivating more plants

Why have one Christmas cactus when you could have more? These plants can be cultivated by simply cutting off a section and replanting it. Just make sure that the piece you cut off consists of at least two sections. You should also wait before it’s dry before planting and always use the same soil as the main plant when planting the shoot.

With these Christmas cactus care tips, you will be able to keep the plant happy and even grow more! Once they take root and you are sure that they are growing, you could either keep these additional plants or present them to a friend or family member as a gift.