With the holiday season upon us, it is time to think festive. I’m talking about holiday plants and flowers, and the Christmas cactus in particular.
This undemanding houseplant is perfect for beginners and pros with a hectic schedule. And I find it a lot easier to care for than regular cactuses.
I tend to irrigate succulents and cactuses more than they need, but this doesn’t happen with the holiday cactus.
Here are the basics about irrigating your Christmas cactus the right way.
Let’s get started!
Remember That This One Is Different From Your Regular Cactus!
Knowing how often to water cactus plants indoors is convenient. However, it doesn’t do you much good when it comes to Christmas cactuses.
These aren’t your typical desert plants. Christmas cactuses need a lot more water than their drought-loving counterparts.
They are native to rainforests of southeastern Brazil, where they grow on moss-covered trees or rocks. This means they don’t need classic cactus potting mix.
Plant your Christmas cactus in something that can retain moisture. A medium with coco coir, pumice, and some compost, leaf mold, or worm castings works wonders.
Additionally, Christmas cactuses love humidity and cooler temperatures. This makes them the complete opposite of their desert relatives.
All this indicates that they have much higher moisture requirements, so let’s check them out!
So, How Often Should You Water Your Christmas Cactus
Generally speaking, you should irrigate your Christmas cactus every 1-3 weeks. But don’t let this be your only guide when setting up a watering routine.
The best thing you can do for this plant is examine the soil before watering. If the potting mix is dry, you can go ahead and irrigate your Christmas cactus.
Make sure not to overwater this festive plant. This practice can lead to serious issues and even kill your Christmas cactus.
If you’re unsure whether to irrigate this plant or not, know that it is best to err on the underwatering side.
Irrigate More Frequently During Blooming Season
Triggering the Christmas cactus to bloom isn’t that difficult. However, you will have to adapt your watering frequency during this period to keep it healthy.
That means increasing the watering frequency once your Christmas cactus starts flowering. We do this because emerging buds will suck the soil bone dry.
But you shouldn’t turn to guesswork even in this case. Let the soil dryness still be your guide. It will give you a healthy plant that’s never had to deal with the troubles of overwatering and root rot.
Here’s When To Cut Back On Watering Your Christmas Cactus!
Your Christmas cactus doesn’t need the same amount of water year-round, and knowing when to scale back is essential for its health.
So, after your cactus finishes blooming, typically in late winter or early spring, it enters a resting period where its growth slows down. During this time, you should reduce watering significantly to mimic its natural dormant phase.
Too much water during this rest period can lead to root rot or other stress, so let the soil dry out more between waterings.
Once you notice new growth emerging in the spring, it’s time to increase watering again, as the cactus resumes its active growing cycle.
Know That Different Factors Affect Watering Frequency
Not all Christmas cactus plants require the same amount of water. It all comes down to the location you keep them in, the size of the container they grow in, and their potting mix.
If you want your Christmas cactus to thrive, you’ll need to adjust the watering scheduled according to the surrounding.
Location Is The Key To A Thriving Christmas Cactus!
The place you put the Christmas cactus in your home plays a great role in its watering frequency.
For instance, plenty of indirect sunlight, a warm environment, and low humidity mean you’ll have to irrigate this plant more often.
In contrast, lower light levels, cooler rooms, and high air moisture result in less frequent watering.
And don’t keep your Christmas cactus near drafty locations (heaters, AC vents, old windows, doors you often use, etc). Drafts dry out the air, stressing out your Christmas cactus in the process.
Pot Size Also Matters
Large pots mean that they can hold a lot more growing medium. This makes us think that the soil remains moist for longer, resulting in less frequent irrigation.
But that’s usually not the case!
Larger containers typically house larger plants. These may need more moisture than the smaller ones to function properly.
So, if you have a big Christmas cactus grown in a sizable planter, you might need to water it more often.
However, always check the potting medium before irrigating it. That’s because temperature, humidity, light levels, and growing mix all affect watering frequency.
Your Christmas Cactus Needs The Perfect Growing Medium
Finally, the potting medium plays a huge role in watering frequency.
Plant your Christmas cactus in a soil that retains a lot of moisture and irrigate it less frequently. Well-draining substrates increase the moisture needs of this plant.
We’ve established that the Christmas cactus doesn’t mind moisture. Make your life a lot easier by planting it in a mix of coco coir, compost, and similar ingredients. Leave the plain cactus soil for your succulents and desert cactuses.
How To Water The Christmas Cactus
The best practice is to pour water into the soil until you notice it draining through the drainage holes.
You can do this above the sink or in the pot if you have a saucer underneath it.
But know that it is crucial not to leave this plant in standing water since that can lead to root rot.
Instead, allow it to drain for about 15 minutes before putting it back in its usual spot and emptying the saucer.
Don’t Forget To Change Water Type
Did you know that water quality plays a crucial role in the health and development of your Christmas cactus? This plant thrives in conditions that mimic its natural habitat, where water is typically low in salts and chemicals.
Tap water is often treated with chlorine, fluoride, and minerals, and can harm the plant over time, leading to stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and poor flowering. So, using the right type of water can make a significant difference in your cactus’s vitality.
The best water for a Christmas cactus is rainwater, which is naturally soft and free from harmful chemicals. If you can collect rainwater, it provides your cactus with a gentle, nutrient-rich solution that promotes healthy root and leaf development.
But if, for some reason, rainwater isn’t an option, distilled or filtered water works well too.
As an alternative, if rainwater or distilled water isn’t easily accessible, using a water filter that removes chlorine and heavy metals can be a good solution.
Simply switching to one of these options can lead to a noticeable improvement in the health and growth of your Christmas cactus over time.
Make Sure Not To Leave The Plant In Standing Water
I can’t stress this enough – don’t leave your Christmas cactus in standing water!
The soil will continue to soak up moisture and the roots will remain wet for too long. All this increases the risk of root rot.
This is a terrible fungal disease that can kill your plant. And yet, overwatering can still hurt your Christmas cactus even if it doesn’t lead to root rot. Your plant may drop flowers and start drooping.
How To Know If Your Christmas Cactus Is Receiving Too Much Water?
Every experienced gardener will tell you that overwatering is one of the most common mistakes in Christmas cactus care, and it can seriously damage the plant if left unchecked.
As I said, too much water can lead to root rot, causing the roots to suffocate and the plant to wither away.
So, how can you tell if your cactus is getting too much of a good thing? If you notice yellowing leaves, wilting despite moist soil, or a soggy, mushy base, it’s time to rethink your watering routine. These are telltale signs your plant is drowning.
Are You Underwatering Your Christmas Cactus?
Too much water is dangerous but too little can make the same damage. One key indicator of underwatering is dry, wrinkled leaves that lose their plumpness.
If the soil feels hard and dry several inches deep, it’s time to give your cactus a good soak.
However, be careful not to flood it all at once – water it gradually, allowing it to absorb moisture evenly. Also, if the plant’s flowers start dropping prematurely or it seems sluggish, lack of water could be the culprit.
How To Fix Watering Issues?
If your incorrect watering routine caused your Christmas cactus to display various signs of distress, don’t panic, you have enough time to save it.
For example, repotting is a great solution if you’ve been overwatering and your cactus has developed root rot. If the soil remains too wet, it can lead to suffocating roots and a soggy, unhealthy plant.
To fix this, carefully remove your cactus from its pot, inspect the roots, and trim away any mushy or discolored sections. Repot the cactus into a new pot with well-draining soil, such as a mix that includes coco coir, pumice, and perlite, to ensure proper drainage.
This will help avoid waterlogging, which can lead to further issues.
Don’t forget to prune your Christmas cactus. Overwatered plants can develop leggy, weak growth, which leads to poor water absorption. Trim away any dead or damaged stems to encourage new, healthy growth.
Pruning will also help redistribute the plant’s energy, promoting fuller growth and better water retention. After pruning, give your cactus a few days to recover before resuming a regular watering schedule.
Bonus Tip: Increase The Humidity
Christmas cactus is a tropical plant that thrives in higher humidity. That means keeping it at relative air moisture levels of around 50-60%. Low humidity levels may lead to discolorations, dehydrated appearance, and even flower drop.
Luckily, it’s easy to increase indoor humidity levels. All you have to do is turn on your humidifier, and that’s it.
But don’t despair if you don’t have this neat little gadget. You can always turn to misting, which is the next best thing.
Many growers recommend using pebble trays, but I’ve found that humidity trays don’t work. They can only increase air moisture level by 7% and only for the smallest of plants. If your plant likes humidity, that’s not a big enough increase for it to thrive.
P.S. If you keep air moisture high enough, you’ll need to irrigate your Christmas cactus less frequently. That’s a great thing that makes your life easier.
Water Properly For A Good And Happy Cactus Life
Watering is key to a healthy and happy Christmas cactus, but it’s not the only thing you should. There are other chores to think of if you want to keep it blooming this holiday season.
Pruning a Christmas cactus is a crucial job that many beginner growers overlook. And don’t forget to fertilize this plant every so often; it will encourage flowering by and large.
Finally, don’t overcomplicate it. Irrigate this plant whenever the soil dries out, and both you and your plant will be happy.