Is It Time For Feeding My Christmas Cactus?

Is it time to feed your Christmas Cactus? Yes it is.  Right now my cactus is getting ready to go settle down and get a little fertilizer in order for it to start budding in Late Novermber. I have started several smaller plants from peices that have been broken off due to a few cats around here that just love the window sill where my Christmas Cactuses  are sitting. 

For the smaller cactuses that have some growth on them I will give them a weaker dose of fertilizer the liquid type is what I like to use this time of year.  But in the spring and summer I tend to use granulars that are time released as you water. That way I just water once a week and forget about them.   I will check to make sure all the dirt around them looks fresh and top any plant that needs some at this point.  I will also repot anything that needs repotting also that I may of missed in the late spring.  Doing this now will let me Cactus rest before it has to get ready for the winter bloom in all its glory.

My neighbor recently passed away last month and her granddaughter that she raised  is living in the house now.  I want to place one of the new baby Christmas Cactuses in a Red Pot and give to her for the holidays. As this summer she was asking me how to take care of different plants outside in their yard. Angela is 23 and was helping raise her cousin that is only 15 now. She has alot of responsibility on her keeping him under control. For Angela I will make sure she has something living for Christmas one beautiful Christmas Cactus.

How To Purchase A Christmas Cactus

When you go to purchas your Christmas Cactus you want to make sure you look for shiny green leaves on your plant. Your Christmas Cactus should have small buds or small blooms on the plant before you take it home to where you will be placing it inside your home. You can find them from late October till December just before Christmas Time. The best time to purchase one is in Mid November as it takes 6 weeks to bud and begin to bloom for Christmas. You can purchse your Christmas Cactus from a grocery store, Walmart, Home Depot, Loews or any garden store. If you check the stores just after Christmas alot of stores will have them marked down or ready to trash. Ask you store manager if you can purchase one that is ready to be discarded. You can pick it up for a buck or two this way and get yourself a differnt color. They come in many different colors as they bloom. Just look around a grab one. You may not be able to tell what color it will be until next year since the blooms will have fallen off or died up. Best day to pick they up is about the 27 of December if you want one for just about nothing. You will have a wonderful time watching it bud before it opens into blooms next Christmas and be surpised by all its glory and the color you chosen for your buck or two Christmas Cactus. I hope when you purchase your Christmas Cactus you will love it as much as I do.

Fall Is Now Here Soon My Christmas Cactus Will Begin To Bud.

Fall is now here, Soon my Christmas Cactus will begin to bud. The weather is getting cooler and there is a crisp feeling to the night air. This year several peices of my Christmas Cactus has been broken off by one of my cats. I had picked them up and placed them in a small pot in hopes that they would take off and begin to grow. I had sever die and some take and root in the potting soil I place them in. I had to baby them quiet a bit in order for them to grow and be healthy. I beleive I now have about 6 small pots of cuttings that have taken off thanks to my cats. They seem to love them more then me. Dusty loves to try moving the large pot where my Christmas cactus is and sit in the window in the back of the house. The back of my house is a room where its a bookcase and ledge all around the back wall. This is where I have my Christmas cactus. It was my moms but when mom passed in 2000 my dad gave it to me. I had always loved them and moms always bloomed at Christmas Time. She has a green thumb for sure, I got that from her. As I love playing in the dirt and gardens around my house when I am able to do it. An during the winter and late fall you will see me playing with my Christmas Cactus making sure its fine before its time to bloom in all its glory. I will soon begin to keep a eye on my plants and see if they need new soil and give them one last feeding or two. As soon they will begin to show signs of budding. My baby Christmas Cactus may not do much this year but they sure will next year as they will be a little more mature and able to give me some blooms. I am planning on giving each of my sisters something they don't have for Christmas this year one Christmas Catcus that was Moms . I have already started my Christmas gifts as I am making both of my sisters crocheted afgans for the back of there sofa's. Linda my baby sister just got married and they have a small appartment and not alot of money for extra things. I know she loved home made gifts the best as they are from the heart. Dorene my younger sister is just 2 years younger then I am and she will love the gifts too. She is single and is now learning what home made gifts from the heart are all about. She's always loved bought things till recently.

My Christmas Cactus Is Now Forming Nubs

Its about 2 weeks now before Thanksgiving and I just noticed there are nubs that are forming on my Christmas Cactus. To see if you Christmas Cactus has any nubs just rub you fingers over the very ends of you cactus. You should feel them begin to form just before they start to bud and pop out of the ends of the cactus.

With in a few short days I will be seeing the first of this years buds coming out soon. What I need to do now before the nubs break out into small buds I need to give it a little bit of plant fertilizer. Once they come out you don't want to feed them or water your Christmas Cactus to much as it can cause your plant to lose its buds and flowers. I also need to see what the dirt around the top of the plant looks like can it use a little fresh potting soil if so add it now before your plant beings its beautiful show of flowers it will begin to produce for you in the next 6 weeks.

If any of your Christmas Cactus happens to get busted off don't toss them into the trash put them on the side and be sure to replant them if they look healthy.

Christmas Cactus Reviews

I just wanted to give you some review on how some people like their Christmas Cactus. If you have a Story About your Christmas Cactus please let me know so we may share it with others. I will be placing on the site how you can order your own Christmas Cactus soon.



Customer Reviews

Wonderful plants5
I love these plants. They arrived in good shape. They are so easy to take care of. A little water and they turn dark green. I only regret not getting the salmon colored one and the pink star variety. Take my advice once you get one you love the easy care for them and the spectacular blooms (they have pedals that extend down a couple of inches to the center of the flower. They are literally 3D.) and the vivd colors.

A Must have..great gift idea too.5
My three arrived in fine condition, and very well packed, in only 3 days from date of my order. And, I'm across the country. Good job getting the order out right away by Hirts, and kudos to the Post Office.

These plants make a very nice gift especially before the holiday season, so they will be in bloom when Thankgiving and Christmas time rolls around. I've had these before when living in Northern California, but first time trying them here in the Desert Southwest, was last year, and I still have those plants.

These will stay indoors during summer months here like now, but should be fine outside sheltered most of the rest of the year, as we get cool nights here which these like, 6-7 months out of the year.

I ordered the Fuscia, Orange, and Peaches and Cream this time. Too soon for buds yet, but looking forward to these colors .

I am ordering again today from this vendor, as I need a couple more for gifts.

Nice and healthy5
Ordered 3 plants of different colors last weekend and promptly got it this week. This one is nice and healthy with several branches. Looking forward to seeing it grow to the size in the pictures with the nice flowers.

My Christmas Cactus Is Now Starting To Drop Blooms

My Christmas Cactus Is now starting to drop its blooms that was so beautiful this Christmas. Its showing signs that the blooming time is almost over as its has begun to drop its flowers that had just been hanging at the end of each section of my big beautiful Christmas Cactus. As the blooms die and being falling off I know its all most time for me to let it rest for a few months. I will then move it to a new resting place where I will let it rest till its time to begin to fertilize it for the new growth to begin in the spring. I will still water my cactus not letting it remain dry all the time. Around the end of February I will start to feed it so that the new growth is health.

I lost a piece of my Christmas Cactus recently and I want to show everyone how to replant it. I will be making a small movie and display it on the site. But for now if you have a piece drop off do not trash it if the piece of the Christmas Cactus is in good health. Place it on a zip lock bag and use a small spray bottle to mist inside the bag and zip the bag up, but remember every 2 days or so you will have to reopen the bag and remist it till you get it planted. To plant please pick up some Christmas Cactus Potting Soil, a small pot with a drain hole on the bottom and a saucer to let the plant excess water to run off in it.

Christmas Cactus at Christmas Time

My Christmas Cactus is still blooming as its Christmas time. With the snow falling outside and we expect 10 to 20 inches in the next few days. My Christmas Cactus will add color to my home. With its beautiful blooms and buds still showing its beauty. I will move it away from the window just a bit. This way I am sure the Christmas Cactus will not get any cold drafts for the harsh weather we are having.

I will soon let my Christmas Cactus rest after its finished blooming by placing it in a darker area and cutting back on the water I give it for a few weeks. Once the Christmas Cactus looks up from its nap I will begin watering it again and add plant food. At that same time I will check my pot I have it in and make sure the pot is not to small or cracked. Then I will add a little fresh dirt to the pot and watch signs of new life. With in just a few weeks you will see small leaves begin to pop out. I will return it to the table where it gets more light from my window.

I hope your Christmas Cactus is giving you great pleasure as it blooms for you this holiday season.

Christmas Cactus At Home Depot.

The Christmas Cactus at Home Depot were very beautiful this year. Recently We went to pick a few things up at Home Depot to decorate our home when I spotted them just at the door to go into their garden center. A large display of Christmas Cactus sitting on a 3 tear table. The colors were just fantastic as they were in bloom reds, pinks, whites,rose and other shades also. They have large pots and smaller pots and even hanging pots of this beautiful holiday plant. There were also poinsettia there but my eye went to the cactus as always. Some already in full bloom while others just in bud.

While I admire all the pots and inspected them I could not decide which one I wanted. There was a pot that must of fallen and a broke several of the stems off, it looked beat up and placed in a cart where a employee was removing it off the shelf where it had been sitting. I asked her what would she do with it and she told me they discard it and put it in the trash that "no one will buy it" she said. I asked what they would sell it for and she said she was not sure that she would have to find out. About 10 minutes later she found me in the Christmas Decoration isle and she asked me if I still wanted it. Sure I replied how much, she told me her manager said 25 cents as it was all broken and they would of just trashed it any way. She had tagged it mark down and I placed it in my cart to bring home.

I went over to the bags of potting soil and grabbed a small bag of soil for my Christmas Cactus. I picked up a nice red pot that would look nice for next year when it will bloom again for me. I picked up a few more odds and ends for the tree for this year and checked out paying for my Christmas Cactus and other items I had placed in my cart.

After I got home I took the broken pieces and put on the side, then I put the main part of the plant in the new pot and pressed it down adding more potting soil around it. I made a small hole with my finger and placed the broken pieces in the dirt hoping that they will root. I water my Christmas Cactus and placed a clear bag over the top of it and placed it in the back room where my other Christmas Cactus are. Giving it a new home. I will keep checking on it to see if with in a few weeks if it has begun to root. I love my new Christmas Cactus.

How To Get Your Christmas Cactus To Bloom

One of the most popular flowering plants around the holidays is the Schlumbergera bridgesii also know as The Christmas Cactus. These plant are from the Zygo- cactus family. They are a native to Central and South America. This plant is also called cacti but they are truly different then the common desert cactus with which we are familiar. These plants are called epiphytes and are found in the same environments as orchids. Like the orchids they are found in the branches of a tree that has been decaying with leaves and other natural debris. They are a tropical Cacti, their cultural requirements are very different from a true Cacti.

Hybridization had created resulted in new varieties of the Cactus, The Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus and Easter Cactus all bloom at different times of the year.

To get your Cactus to bloom during Christmas you will need to take these steps in September and October. Begin by moving them to a cool room where temperatures will remain around 50 to 60 degrees during the night. They should not be exposed to freezing temperatures. Keep them in a room where it will remain dark at night. Make sure there is no lamp left on as this is artificial light and will effect the budding process of your Cactus.( Turn off Computer Monitor if you have it on as it to will effect your budding process.

During September and October cut back the water you give your Christmas Cactus. You need to water it once a week when it is dried out. Never water from the top as it causes the plant roots to rot. Do not let it sit in a lot of excess water. Water only from the bottom. Let your plant soak up the water and remove any left. During the Spring and Summer months water your cactus like you would any other house plant. ( A good rule of thumb is to water the plant thoroughly and then as the soil dries out about a inch down in the soil its time to water it again.)

The Christmas Cactus needs indirect bright light during the day time and darkness at night. It requires about 60 percent humidity. You can get a small tray place gravel or stone in it fill the tray 1/4 of the way up with water. Now place your plant on the tray and let your Christmas Cactus get the humidity as the water begins to evaporate. Just let the plant use what it needs this is a easy way to give it the humidity it will must have.

Keep your Christmas Cactus away from fireplaces, heaters, door ways to the out side and drafty areas. As these changes in temperature can hurt your blooming process.
It can be very flustrating if the buds form and begin to develop and the begin dropping off this is caused by several things, to much water, not enough darkness, insufficient light or the lack of humidity.


You may fertilize The Christmas Cactus in late October and again in Feb using a liquid fertilizer 0-10-10. During the growing season fertilize the plant with a all purpose liquid house plant fertilizer. The nitrogen in your fertilizer should be no more then 10 percent ( its also the first number given on the bottle of fertilizer 0-10-10) someone once told me at the nursery.

After the Christmas holiday, the Christmas cactus should be given 30 days to rest keeping it back in a cool room with a small amount of water once again. It may loses a few leaves or the joints may appear weak during the resting period. Don't worry it will be alright.

Do not prune your Christmas Cactus at this time. The best time to prune the cactus is when the new growth begins in early spring around March or April. If your plant needs repotting its best to do around February, March and April.

The Cactus also loved to be crowded in a pot and will flower the best if kept in a container that lets it be root bound. If the Christmas Cactus is kept in the proper place with the proper care it is not unusual for it to flower more then once a year.

Christmas Cactus come in many colors and shades of reds, yellows, pinks, whites. I hope you have a chance to get one of The Christmas Cactus this holiday season. They also make great gifts.

My Christmas Cactus

Yes The Christmas Cactus Is Blooming

Recently I seen the first bud start to form on The Christmas Cactus and ran to get my 4 year old granddaughter Erica. Showing her the tip of the bud as it popped out of the dark green plant.

I remember my mom showing me the same thing every year around this time. Just after Thanksgiving we would start to watch the plant for signs that it would begin to bud up and bloom. Mom would feel the tip of the plant just in the middle and say to me "not yet hon soon though". As we waited for it to start I was always so excited as mom would sometimes let me feel the end of the plant. She would ask me is it budding yet and I would shake my head no. My mom would feel another leaf of the plant till she felt 3 or 4 of them and tell me "give it time it will bloom" She was always right to, it did bloom. The Christmas Cactus was moms favorite plant.

I can say I do love my Christmas Cactus as I am teaching Erica to watch for the buds. Erica has become a great little gardener at the age of 4. I think its about the same age I was when mom began to teach me about it. This article is dedicated to my mom that passed away August 23, 2000. The picture on my site is my own Christmas Cactus as it blooms.

Welcome To The Christmas Cactus

Welcome to The Christmas Cactus . This site provides tips and techniques for growing and caring for The Christmas Cactus.If you have questions not covered please feel free to email your questions to me about your Christmas Cactus.