Ready for the festive season? If you have a Christmas cactus, then your home won’t be lacking color, that’s for sure! These low-maintenance beauties have been sprucing up homes around the globe for generations.
It may be easygoing, but your Christmas cactus still needs a bit of TLC to reach its peak. And repotting is definitely a must-do!
While some plants need frequent repotting, I’d say the Christmas cactus falls on the other end of the spectrum.
If you aren’t sure how to repot it, don’t worry, I’ll show you everything in detail, but first:
Let’s See If Your Christmas Cactus Needs Repotting!
So, you’re looking at your Christmas cactus and wondering how to tell if it needs repotting. For me, this was the hardest thing to determine at the beginning, and that applies to all my plants.
There are a few telltale signs that can help you with this. Your first task is to take a look at the drainage holes in the bottom of your planter. If your Christmas cactus doesn’t have enough space to grow within the pot, its roots will find their way out through these drainage holes.
Do you see the roots? If so, I highly recommend taking your Christmas cactus out of its pot. Why? You must check if it’s rootbound as this condition leads to poor growth.
If the roots are all over the place and they’re visibly tangled, the solution is to repot the plant.
Another thing that can help you determine if repotting is needed is the Christmas cactus’ soil. If it drains way faster than it used to, you need to refresh it by repotting the plant. Remember, the soil loses nutrients over time and the soil texture can significantly impact plant growth.
The third scenario that demands repotting is when the plant is unstable. You want your Christmas cactus to grow as much as possible, but once it starts toppling over, you must ensure more space.
Luckily, none of these happen too often, so there’s no need to check the roots all the time.
However, if your Christmas cactus has a disease, such as a root rot, you need to repot it immediately.
When Exactly Should You Repot It?
If you have a large plant collection and repotting isn’t new to you, you already know that the best time is when the plant displays new growth. Most of the other plants are dormant when Christmas cactus is actively growing, so you may think that this is the right time to repot.
But hold it right there! Remember, Christmas cactus is a special plant for many reasons and repotting isn’t an exception.
So, instead of changing the soil and the planter at this time, I highly recommend waiting until your Christmas cactus finishes blooming. For most Christmas cactus plants, this is typically in early spring.
Wait until all the flowers wilt and fall off, and then check the roots. If your Christmas cactus is rootbound, let’s proceed to the next step!
And This Is How I Repot My Christmas Cactus!
And now the part you were all looking for! First, prepare a potting mix. Although this plant has the word cactus in the name, it’s not anything like a desert cactus.
It’s native to tropical rainforests, and the soil should be more nutrient-rich and hold moisture better. A standard potting mix with some perlite or pumice added works wonders for Christmas cactuses.
Now select a suitable planter. This is a tricky part since you don’t want your new pot to be either too small or too large. My method is to always use a new pot that’s about 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the current one.
Additionally, always select a planter with drainage holes because Christmas cactus is susceptible to overwatering, and good drainage will help you avoid it.
Carefully lift the plant from its current container and transfer it to the new pot half-filled with soil. Put the plant in the center, add more soil, and water your Christmas cactus lightly.
It won’t take more than a few days for your plant to adapt to its new surroundings. If it loses a few leaves during this period, don’t worry, it’s completely normal.
And the only thing left to do is proceed with the standard Christmas cactus care!
Repotting is a fantastic way to give your Christmas cactus a fresh start, and with these easy tips, I’m confident you’ll nail it!