How to Care for Christmas Cactus Plants

The Christmas Cactus is an easy houseplant to maintain. However, getting it to bloom is another story. In order for the buds to open and allow the beautiful flowers of the plant to be displayed, you have to be careful about the temperature and amount of light that the cactus gets. Watering and protecting from bugs are also important tasks.

1. Plant the Christmas Cactus in a pot filled with a mixture of peat moss and soil. It helps if there is more moss in the pot than soil.


2. Place the plant in an area where it will get indirect sunlight during the day. Putting the pot in a windowsill can cause the leaves to burn or for the soil to dry out, both of which damages the plant and makes it more difficult for it to bloom. Avoid placing it near an air vent or fireplace.


3. Move the cactus to a place where it will get absolutely no light at night. 


4. Keep the plant in a location where the temperature is between 48 and 52 degrees. The ideal temperature for a Christmas Cactus is 50 degrees, but it will be okay if it is one or two degrees higher or lower. 


5. Create humidity, which is needed by the plant by sitting a bowl of water nearby. As the water evaporates into the air, the moisture needed by the plant will be created.


6. Allow the top inch of the soil/peat moss mixture to become dry before watering the Christmas Cactus. It is not a true cactus plant that can live for weeks without water. However, you want to avoid watering it on a daily basis as well.


7. Remove pests from the plant by mixing dishwashing detergent and water in a spray bottle. This can be sprayed on the plant twice a day to kill any bugs.