The Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter Cacti are easy and rewarding houseplants that will bring holiday cheer indoors once your outdoor gardens have been put to bed. Their beautiful flowers, long bloom time, and easy care requirements make them wonderful plants.
You can force your cactus into a colorful bloom by starting the dormancy process about eight weeks before you would like it to produce flowers.
In order to have your cactus on full display during the holiday season, start the dormancy cycle between the last week of October and the second week of November. To do this, cut back on moisture and reduce light and temperature. Only water the Christmas cactus when the soil feels dry, which is about an inch below the surface.
Do not fertilize the cactus during this time. Ensure that the plant receives 12-14 hours of total darkness at night, indirect light during the day, and average temperatures of 50-55 F. One way to provide complete darkness for the 12 to 14 hours would be to cover the plant with a dark cloth or paper bag.
Exposing the plant to these conditions more directly will encourage buds to set, which helps secure beautiful holiday blooms. Mid to late September, simply place your cactus outside and plan to leave it there for 2-3 weeks. If frost is expected any given night, bring the plant undercover. Mid to late October, bring the plant back in and continue the usual care. By Thanksgiving, your plant will erupt with flowers that persist into Christmas!
Once the cactus produces flower buds, it will then be time to move the cactus out of darkness to a bright window. Make sure your plant is not placed near any drafts or the cold will cause it to drop its buds. Expect your efforts to show a full display of flowers opening within a couple of weeks. Each flower will remain open for at least six or more days. Your Christmas cactus should remain in bloom for four to six weeks.
Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter cactus are some of the easiest plants to propagate, which is why cuttings are often shared with friends and family as a new plant starts. After the parent plant is done blooming, identify a stem with three or more leaf sections and simply snap it off at the base. Stick the stem right back into moist potting mix, and it will soon root as a new baby plant. Voila, the gift that keeps on giving!
