How to Care for a Christmas Cactus and Keep It Blooming All Season Long
The Christmas cactus is the holiday houseplant we all need—beautiful, resilient, and full of personality. With its stunning flowers and unique, cascading stems, this plant makes any space feel festive and cozy. Best of all, Christmas cacti are surprisingly easy to care for if you know what they like. Here’s how to keep yours thriving and blooming through the holiday season and beyond!
1. Choose the Healthiest Plant
When picking out a Christmas cactus, look for one with plump, glossy green stems and no signs of wilting, drooping, or spots. If the plant already has buds or flowers, make sure they’re firm and not falling off. A healthy start makes all the difference!
2. Find the Perfect Spot
Christmas cacti love bright, indirect light. A sunny windowsill that gets morning light is ideal, but avoid spots with direct afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves. These tropical beauties also hate cold drafts, so keep them away from open windows, heaters, and frequently opened doors.
3. Water the Right Way
Unlike actual desert cacti, Christmas cacti need more moisture. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and be sure to let the excess drain out—no one likes soggy roots! During their blooming period, they like slightly more frequent watering, but let them dry out a bit between waterings to avoid root rot.
4. Keep the Humidity High
Since Christmas cacti are native to tropical rainforests, they thrive in higher humidity. If your home gets dry in winter, place a tray of water with pebbles under the pot or run a humidifier nearby. Bonus: your skin will love the extra moisture, too!
5. Cool Nights for More Blooms
Want even more flowers? Christmas cacti love cool nights (around 60-65°F) in the fall and early winter, which encourages blooming. If possible, place your plant in a cooler room at night to trigger more blooms just in time for the holidays.
6. No Fertilizer During Blooming
Skip the fertilizer while your Christmas cactus is in bloom—it’s already busy putting on a show! After it finishes flowering, you can feed it every month with a balanced houseplant fertilizer to keep it strong and ready for next season.
7. Post-Holiday Care
Once the holidays are over, trim back any leggy stems to maintain the plant’s shape. In spring and summer, move your Christmas cactus outside to a shaded spot (avoiding direct sun). It’ll love the fresh air! Come fall, start reducing watering and giving it cool nights again to encourage new blooms for next year.
With these simple tips, you can keep your Christmas cactus looking fabulous year-round. Who knows? With a little love, your plant could become a cherished holiday tradition for years to come. Happy growing!
