How to grow Christmas Cactus

Schlumbergera truncata · Schlumbergera, Holiday cactus, Thanksgiving cactus

Epiphytic forest cactus with flat, segmented stems and showy tubular flowers from late November to late January; a popular winter-flowering houseplant.

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Family	Cactaceae
Light	Partial shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for sowing	from 10 °C
Where it grows	At home

When to plant

Sow straight into the bed after your last spring frost, once the soil has warmed.

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 10 days	18…27 °C	balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 44 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 74 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 104 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 134 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 164 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 21 days	12…20 °C	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright but indirect or filtered light. A few hours of morning sun are fine, but long spells of strong direct sun can scorch or yellow the stems.

Soil

Free-draining cactus compost, or loam-based potting compost with added leafmould and grit; it likes a slightly acidic mix rich in organic matter. Use a pot only slightly larger than the old one.

Care

Water regularly in spring and summer so the compost stays moist but never waterlogged, and feed monthly with a liquid houseplant feed from April to September. Give two cooler, drier rests at 12–15 °C, letting the top few centimetres dry between waterings, from mid-September until buds appear and again after flowering, from late January to late March. Cool nights or at least 13 hours of uninterrupted darkness a day bring on the buds. Once buds form, do not move the plant or change its light and temperature, or the buds may drop. Keep it above 10 °C and mist it in dry air. Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).

Pests and diseases of Christmas Cactus

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.