Planting Christmas Cactus Plants

If you have never seen or owned Christmas cactus plants, you are really missing out. These delightful plants are so very easy to grow and you'll be rewarded with magnificent amounts of glorious blossoms. Christmas cactus plants bloom in shades of red, white, peach or pink. Our plants are red Christmas cactus plants and every year much to my surprise, they produce a beautiful profusion of fantastic blossoms.

Christmas cactus plants are medium sized with flat smooth leaves that have scalloped edges and there are no thorns or spines even though they are in the cactus family. Blossoms on Christmas cactus plants are long and tubular looking and average about two to three inches in length.

Well-maintained Christmas cactus plants will last for many years. Our plants are probably 10 to 15 years old and still look great. They really are easy to grow. The worst thing you could do is not provide enough sunlight or over water. Mine are usually neglected and they still look great.

To start new Christmas cactus plants purchase one from a nursery or green house. The cheapest easiest method is to ask a friend for a cutting or two. If you already have a plant and you want to propagate more plants, take a cutting with at least three segments off the host plant. Let this stem cutting sit for a day on a napkin while the plant seals over the cut section.

Select a small container with holes for drainage and fill it with about half sand and half peat moss. Place the cut end into the planting medium about a half an inch deep and mist the soil with water keeping it moist for the first couple of weeks. It is best not to place Christmas cactus plants in full sunlight until they are established.

If you do not have time to plant your cuttings, just toss them in a glass of water and let them root then plant at your leisure. Note Christmas cactus plants should only be transplanted to larger containers every few years. They bloom best when root bound.

When you see the start of new growth on the Christmas cactus plants, you can begin watering once a week. Put about one inch of water in the pot and make sure it runs through. It is worse to over water cactus plants than under watering. You can also move it into direct sun at this time.

Christmas cactus plants can be fertilized twice per month during both the spring and summer. It is not advisable to fertilize them in the winter. Our Christmas cactus plants bloom about mid October through December every year like clockwork.

Sources:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6325934_plant-care-instructions-christmas-cactus.html

http://www.christmascactus.org/

http://www.gardenguides.com/77556-plant-christmas-cactus-indoors.html