Christmas Cactus

This flowering Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) is grown for the flamboyant flowers which emerge from the end of the leaves. These blooms should last several weeks and with a little care will treat you with another show next year.

Naturally these plants grow in a jungle attached to the trees. An ideal position would be well-lit yet out of direct sunlight with a humid atmosphere. You could add humidity by placing your plant on gravel-filled saucers keeping the water level in the saucer lower than the gravel, you do not want to get the soil water logged.

While flowering the plant will thrive in a cool sunny room. Try and keep the temperature steady. The cooler the room, the longer the blooms will last. Just after flowering the plant will rest, place your plant in a cooler darker room until early March, and reduce the watering. In late March your plant will start to put on new growth, it will need to be moved back into a spot just out of direct light and the watering will increase.

Although it is called a cactus it does need regular watering while flowering but like all cacti do not allow the pot to stand in water.

If you want to encourage your plant to grow and flower next year it is a good idea to repot your plant in free draining compost at the beginning of the growing season (April until September), only go just a couple of centimetres larger as they like their roots quite pot bound. Feed once a month with a balanced general-purpose feed through the growing season. With the right care these plants can last for years and years.

Problem Solving:

If your cactus starts to look sorry for itself and/or the leaves start to droop, try switching to rainwater for watering and misting the leaves every few days to help it recover.