HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS CACTUS

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Bonnie McNamee     
      A Christmas cactus is easy to grow and is widely available this time of year. By following a few simple guidelines your cactus will reward you year after year with beautiful blooms. Cacti plants will bloom from Thanksgiving on and sometimes again in the spring. Most of the Christmas cacti sold are timed for the holiday, but they are usually Thanksgiving cacti and will bloom in following years at Thanksgiving time. These cacti are not desert cacti they are, in fact, tropical cacti which means they cannot tolerate very dry soil. If the soil gets too dry, the flower buds will drop, and the plant will wilt. Water your cactus thoroughly, letting it drain well, and then check to see that the top inch of soil has dried completely before watering again.

     Place your plant in a north or east facing window away from direct sunlight. If your home is dry provide humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist pebbles. Fertilize your plant monthly between April and October with an all-purpose fertilizer, such as Miracle Grow, but stop feeding by the end of October before the buds appear. Your cactus should start to bud from November to early December.   

     After your cactus has finished blooming, continue to grow as a houseplant. In late May after the danger of frost is past, place your cactus outside in a shaded area. The best time to trim your plant, in order to shape it nicely and encourage branching, is in June. When the weather is hot and sunny water your plant every two to three days and fertilize monthly.

    Bring your cactus back indoors around October, before a frost.  During this time water less frequently in order to promote blooming. Cooler night temperatures can also be used to trigger blooming. When buds begin to appear on your plant, again, resume watering thoroughly. This will keep the flowers blooming longer. When repotting, don’t use a container that’s too big, because the Christmas cactus flowers best when it’s pot-bound.

If you have questions or need more information, please call the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County Helpline at 609-265-5050.



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