You see them everywhere this time of year, don’t you? Christmas cactus. So here is some “need-to-know” info about these beautiful bloomers.
Where They Come From
Christmas cacti are native to the tropical rainforest in Brazil, and, believe it or not, they are epiphytes. Epiphytes are plants that live on other plants. Now, they are not parasites taking food from different plants. They use other plants to lift them up to better light.
How Christmas Cactus Came to Be
The ancestors of what we know as a Christmas cactus were discovered in Brazil in 1819. The first variety to be discovered was what we now know as the Thanksgiving Cactus because it blooms in October/November. Another variety blooms between February and April, hence the name Easter Cactus. These two were hybridized to make the Christmas cactus.
How to Care For Christmas Cactus Plants
The native environment of a plant can tell us a lot about how to care for it. Because the ancestors of the Christmas cactus were native to the tropical rainforest, they like humidity and should NOT go bone-dry, like a desert cactus. However, because they grow on trees, they should also never stay wet all the time. And because they use other plants to lift them where the light is better, they like good light. Because they live on different plants, they need bright filtered light, not beating mid-day sun.
Encouraging Christmas Cactus to Bloom
Putting them outside for the summer in bright, filtered shade under a tree is great. As summer wanes, the combination of shorter days in the fall and cooler nights helps them prepare to bloom. I bring mine inside when night temps fall into the mid-50s.
Taking Care of Your Christmas Cactus in Spring, Summer, and Fall
Feed with a blooming plant fertilizer like African violet food in spring and summer. Don’t feed in mid-winter. Christmas cacti bloom best when they have about 13 hours of uninterrupted daily darkness—as they get in the wild. So, for the winter, put them in a bright spot in a room that you don’t use at night—a spare bedroom, for example. And don’t place them near heating vents—they hate hot, dry air blowing on them.
When to Prune Your Christmas Cactus
One last thing—don’t be afraid to prune them. They prune easily. Right after they finish blooming, you can cut a stem off right where the segments attach. Too-long branches can be removed, or the plant can be slightly shaped. Those segments are rooted quickly so you can give them to family and friends.
The Most Important Thing to Do
Most important of all, enjoy these beauties!