Christmas cacti are a very popular houseplant. They are known for their beautiful tube-shaped pink flowers, long bloom time and easy care, making them a great plant for beginners. With proper care, you can learn how to avoid common Christmas cactus problems, learn why there are leaves falling off Christmas cactus, and how to make your Christmas cactus bloom.
Christmas cacti are similar to Thanksgiving cacti and Easter cacti, with each plant blooming closest to it’s respective holiday. The three are distinguished by the shape of their leaves:
- The Christmas cactus has teardrop-shaped leaves
- The Easter cactus has very rounded leaves
- The Thanksgiving cactus has very sharp and “claw-like” leaves
Be aware that Thanksgiving cacti are often mislabeled as Christmas cacti. Fortunately, the care for all three types is the same.
Continue reading below to learn the best Christmas cactus care, how to solve Christmas cactus problems and what to do when leaves are falling off your Christmas cactus. For general succulent care tips, click here, and for general cactus care tips, click here.
| Name | Schlumbergera bridgessii Christmas Cactus |
| Sunlight | Moderate, indirect sunlight Needs long nights (14 hours) for blooms |
| Water | Enough to keep the top inch of soil moist (about every 3 to 5 days) |
| Soil | Well-draining soil that is rich with nutrients |
| Temperature | Warm and humid |
| Propagation | Cuttings |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Christmas cactus temperature and humidity
Unlike other cacti, the Christmas cactus does not live in arid environments. They are found in rainforests and prefer warm, humid climates with plenty of moisture. A temperature between 65 °F (18 °C) to 70 °F (21 °C) is ideal. It can’t tolerate temperatures much lower than 50 °F.
If you live in a dry climate, an easy way to increase humidity is by placing a tray of water near your plant. As water evaporates into the atmosphere, it provides the cactus with needed humidity. Humidity can also be increased by putting gravel in a dish and filling it with water before placing the potted plant into it.
Sunlight needs
These cacti enjoy bright, indirect sun. If you want to keep your Christmas cactus outside for the summer, keep it in a shady area and water when the soil is dry. Too much sunlight can burn the plant.
If indoors, keep the plant away from heater vents.
Remember that the more sunlight your Christmas cactus receives, the more often it needs to be watered.
Christmas cactus watering
Since these plants are native to humid areas, they enjoy frequent watering. It is important to water them more frequently than you would with other types of cactus. The Christmas cactus should be watered often during the spring and summer when it is actively growing.
Your climate is going to affect how often your Christmas cactus needs to be watered. Plants kept in hot, dry areas may need to be watered once every 2 to 3 days. Plants in cool or humid areas may only need to be watered once a week. Watering less often during the fall and winter helps stimulate blooming.
Before watering, check the top inch of soil. If it feels dry, soak it with water. The soil should be kept moist.
While Christmas cacti enjoy more humid climates, if they are overwatered they develop rot, which can cause their leaves to drop. White rot is a disease caused by overwatering and recognized by white spots on the leaves. When watering, water the soil at the base of the plant. Do not get water on the leaves because that can encourage rot. If you notice water on the leaves, wipe it off.
Christmas cacti are less tolerant of underwatering than other cacti. If a Christmas cactus is underwatered, it will wilt and its flower buds will drop. Unlike other cacti, a Christmas cactus cannot tolerate completely dry soil.
How to make a Christmas cactus bloom
To trigger blooming in your Christmas cactus, it needs 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness daily. Start the Christmas cacti on this schedule in October. Flower buds appear after 1 to 2 months.
Flowers tend to form at cooler temperatures of around 55 °F (13 °C) at night and 65 °F (18.5 °C) during the day.
Less frequent waterings during the fall and winter also helps stimulate blooming.
Avoid direct sunlight, heater vents and overwatering. These can all cause the buds to drop off.
Fertilizing
Fertilize once a month from April to September. After fertilizing, water thoroughly to avoid having the fertilizer burn the plants roots. Do not fertilize while blooming.
Dormancy
Once the Christmas cactus has stopped flowering, it begins its dormancy cycle. During this time, reduce the moisture, light and temperature the cactus receives. During dormancy the temperature should be around 50 °F (10 °C) and the cactus should receive 12 hours of darkness.
Soil
These cacti do best in well-draining soil that is rich in nutrients. Ensure that your pots have drainage holes to release extra water. A fast-draining, porous soil mix helps prevent some Christmas cactus problems, such as rotting. I like to use a 70:30 ratio of succulent soil to perlite.
Do not repot the Christmas cactus while blooming.
How to Propagate Christmas Cactus?
These plants are easily propagated with cuttings from the stem tips.
While obtaining cuttings, use a clean pair of garden shears or sharp scissors. Choose an area that appears healthy and has plump leaves. Leave about 1.5 inches of stem remaining so that it can be planted easily. Allow the stem tip to callous for 2 to 3 days, then plant the cutting in well-draining soil. Water the cutting a week after planting to give it time to settle into its new pot.
The propagated plant’s soil should be moistened frequently, and it should receive indirect sunlight.
Christmas Cactus Toxicity
This plant is not toxic for humans, cats or dogs.
Leaves Falling off Christmas Cactus? Here’s why:
There are several reasons why your Christmas cactus could be dropping it’s leaves. Some of the most common include the following:
Common Christmas cactus problems:
Watering:
Leaves drop due to both underwatering and overwatering. While Christmas cacti require more water than traditional cacti and enjoy humid climates, they should still be watered sparingly.
In general, this means watering once a week, but could be more or less depending on how much light the plant receives and the humidity of its environment. The main thing to remember is water when the top inch of the soil feels dry.
Mushy brown/yellow leaves or brown spots on the stem are signs of root rot due to overwatering. This can be difficult to fix. Allow the soil to dry out and decrease how often you water your plant. If the damage is extensive, you may have to cut away the healthy parts of the plant and focus on growing those. To learn more about how to fix root rot in detail, check this guide.
Soil:
Like other succulents, Christmas cacti require well-draining and porous soil. If the soil does not drain well, repot the cactus in a succulent soil mix.
Lighting and heat:
The Christmas cactus requires bright and indirect sunlight. If the Christmas cactus is suddenly moved to an area with harsh, direct sunlight, it could drop leaves.
Furthermore, temperatures that are too high or too low can result in leaves falling off. In the summer aim for a temperature around 70°F (21°C), and in the winter a temperature of around 55°F (13°C).
Christmas cactus leaves turning reddish?
This Christmas cactus leaves could turn red if it has had too much sun or not enough water. Try moving your Christmas cactus to a shadier spot and watering more often.
These were some common Christmas cactus problems and how to solve them. Overall, Christmas cacti make a great addition to any garden and their beautiful blooms make them a hit!
Learn more about general cactus care here:
How to Take Care of a Cactus in 7 Easy Steps: Cactus Care Guide
