How to Avoid Over-Watering Christmas Cactus

One of the simplest and more common Christmas cactus issues is overwatering. It’s safe to say that most of us tend to go overboard with watering and although this particular cactus is not quite as drought-tolerant as the others, you still need to water the plant when the soil is dry.

How Often to Water Christmas Cactus

Ideally, how much water to give the Christmas cactus plant depends on its surroundings. If the plant is kept indoors, it may not need as much watering. In fact, plants that grow indoors may not need watering as a plant growing outdoors. A good

A good helpful tip to remember when watering the Christmas cactus plant is to keep the soil lightly moist in the spring to fall,  and water the plant only when the soil is drying out in the winter. However, if you begin to notice the stems deteriorating, water immediately.

An over-watered Christmas cactus is likely to cause root rot and failure. Although the plant carries the cactus name that infers that it may be drought-tolerant, it is not. The Christmas cactus is more of a tropical-like plant, that will lose its buds if not properly watered.

However, it is also a succulent plant that has the ability to store a certain amount of water in the leaves, but not too much that it has the capability to sustain itself over a long period of time. The period of time between each watering session surely depends on the plant conditions, the air temperature, growth rate, soil, sunlight, and humidity. It is important to not let the soil dry completely, but water sparingly to keep the soil lightly moist.

Christmas Cactus requires well-drained soil and a shady environment to thrive. You can usually encourage blooming by placing the plant in a temperature-controlled location, ranging anywhere from 60 – 65 Fahrenheit.

How to Get a Christmas Cactus to Bloom in Time for the Holidays

To get a Christmas cactus to bloom in time for the holidays, during the first 6 weeks, keep the plant at a temperature of 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the night. If the temperature strays away from the recommended range, try placing the Christmas cactus in a dark room for 12 hours on the 1st day of October.