Which Christmas cactus is best?

Christmas cacti prefer a more humid environment, which makes a bright bathroom or kitchen a good spot to keep them. In the summer, Christmas cacti can be placed in a shady spot in the garden or in an unheated porch until temperatures get below 50°F (10°C). Keep them out of direct outdoor sunlight.

What time of year can you buy a Christmas cactus?

Christmas cactus are usually purchased in late fall and winter months already in bloom, or at least budded. When taking your Christmas cactus home, avoid extreme temperature changes as this may cause some buds to drop off. Place in a bright window for best results, and keep the soil slightly moist.

What are the three types of Christmas cactus?

Holiday Cactus Varieties: What Are The Different Types Of Holiday Cactus. The three common holiday cacti, named for the time of year the blooms appear, include Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, and Easter cactus. All three are easy to grow and have similar growth habits and care requirements.

How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is real?

The true Christmas cactus will have stems that dramatically arch downwards with a closed habit. The margins of the stems will be rounded with small visible points or nubs. True Christmas cactus flowers will be more rounded than the imposter and will follow the direction of the stem and point down.

Is Epsom salt good for Christmas cactus?

Christmas cacti have a higher requirement for magnesium than many plants. Fertilize monthly during the growing season with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) mixed at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water, but do not apply the same week as regular fertilizer.

Do Christmas cactus only bloom once a year?

Your Christmas cactus plant bloomed abundantly in November or December, and now you’re wondering if you have to wait a whole year before it flowers again. The surprising answer is: Nope! Given the right (and somewhat punishing) conditions, holiday cactus can bloom again after the holidays are over.

Which Christmas cactus is rare?

Schlumbergeras Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata ‘Rare Yellow’)

Is there a purple Christmas cactus?

Temperature fluctuations can also cause the foliage on Christmas Cactus to take on a purple tinge or even turn purple altogether. Christmas Cactus does best when temperatures range between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 60 and 65 degrees at night.

What colors do true Christmas cactus come in?

You can find Christmas cactus in a wide variety of colors, including pink, red, scarlet, orange, gold, cream, and white — as well as bicolors where an individual flower shows multiple shades at the same time. This flowering houseplant is a cinch to grow, which has made it a popular holiday plant for generations.

What does a Christmas cactus symbolize?

Symbolism. Schlumbergera does not have any official meaning, but because this succulent can live for 20 to 30 years as a houseplant, we think it makes a good symbol for loyalty.

Are Christmas cactus fast growers?

CHRISTMAS CACTUS BASICS Origin: Native to rainforests and coastal mountains of southeast Brazil; found in nature attached to trees and rocks, not growing in soil. Growth rate and size: Can reach a spread of 2 feet within just a few years.

Are coffee grounds good for Christmas cactus?

Your Christmas cactus will enjoy a coffee as much as you do! Coffee grounds are a good source of potassium and nitrogen, two things the cactus needs to keep it healthy. Don’t use the grounds straight away, as moist grounds can go moldy, so you need to dry them first by spreading them out.

Can you use Miracle Grow on Christmas cactus?

Plant your Christmas cactus in Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix. Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry. Increase humidity around the plant. Feed from after blooming until fall with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food.

Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?

bottom
Water the Christmas Cactus from the bottom so the water can get down to the plant’s roots. Keep pouring water into the soil until water is dripping through the holes in the bottom of the pot. This soaks the soil. Once the soil is completely soaked, make sure that there’s no standing water underneath the pot.

Is yellow flower Christmas cactus rare?

While most people are familiar with the pinkish-to-magenta flowers, white, orange, and yellow are also common — yellow being among the rarest available varieties. Yellow is more common on the Thanksgiving cactus, Schlumbergera truncata.

What is the most popular color for Christmas cactus?

Purple and Pink Most Christmas cacti varieties are pink and purple, and the colors range in hue from a very pale pink to the deepest dark purple.

Is Miracle Grow good for Christmas cactus?

Fill the new container ⅓ full with Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix, which provides excellent drainage and a little bit of food to help your Christmas cactus thrive right off the bat.