GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Chances are, if you have some houseplants, one of them is a Christmas cactus… or Easter or Thanksgiving cactus.
Take care of them and they will live for decades!
First things first… they aren’t a true cactus. They are native to the rainforest and need regular water. Stick your finger in the pot and when the top inch of soil is dry, give it a drink.
Terra cotta or clay pots wick away excess moisture, provide the best drainage and are recommended.
For soil, a cactus mix or orchid mix is better than regular potting mix. In their native environment, Christmas cactus grow on trees in the rainforest and don’t need soil.
Keep them out of full sunlight. A north or east window is perfect.
In the spring and summer, your Christmas cactus would prefer about 70-80 degrees. But in the winter, a darker and cooler location is best — somewhere that gets at least 13 hours of darkness and 55-65 degrees at night. The dark and cool is a signal to the plant to start forming flower buds!
And last, fertilizer. Fertilize monthly in the spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength. Stop feeding around Labor Day.
With the right preparation, a Christmas cactus is an easy to grow, low-maintenance and very rewarding plant!
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