Christmas Cactus Care: How To Grow This Long Lived Flowering Succulent Houseplant / Joy Us Garden

[@paulmartinez2480]

My uncle gave my mother a x-mas cactus. She had it for 20 yrs, it never bloomed. It was alive and full looked healthy. The day my mother died, I noticed it had buds. That was Sept.4 of 2002. It started blooming and didn't stop flowering until Easter Sunday 2003, when the last blossom fell off! I figured she was telling me she was in heaven. I still have it, just repotted it. I am hoping she will blossom this Dec. But my Thanksgiving cactus is making buds now.

[@mimiohnine]

Paul Martinez my mom and I shared a love of lilac bushes. She died in April, just after the lilacs died off but that September I found a few branches that bloomed again. That had never happened before!! I felt the same way...mom was telling me she is in heaven and happy. I miss my mom but am happy for her. Your story is so sweet!! Thank you for sharing ♥️♥️♥️

[@maehalsema8304]

💖💖💖💖✝

[@stevenearman8891]

Very informative. Due to the resent loss of my Mother I have acquired her Christmas Cactus. Thank you for the tips and information. You finished with having a cactus living to a ripe old age. Well….this cactus is around 100 years old. It was my Mothers, her Mothers and her Mother before that. This thing is massive. I pray i can keep it going. So far so good. 👍🏼

[@redkitestream3189]

Well, In October I inherited the family Christmas cactus (it’s over 100 years old), and it hasn’t flowered for many years, so after sourcing the Internet I ended up here... and after 4 months... success... it’s not amazing, but it’s got several beautiful pink flowers... Thank you xx

[@icydee7152]

I have a Thanksgiving Cactus that my daughter received when she was in the hospital about 18 years ago. It is beautiful and getting ready to bloom. I leave it outside all summer and just brought it in last week. I have never repotted but need to badly. Have rooted many pieces. I love it so much!

[@SimplySueLee]

I have 4 in my kitchen window sill right now with 2 in bloom right now. I love love love them. Thanks for the educational info

[@JoyUsGarden]

My pleasure SueLee! Nell

[@anthonylewis62]

I AM ADDICTED TO THESE PLANTS NO DOUBT, I HAVE OVER 50 PLUS EVERYWHERE, THEY ARE MY FAVS

[@lindalou8120]

My grandmother had one on her window ledge that was a good two feet across and had dozens of flowers, it was so beautiful and probably 15 years old at least x

[@jopena1612]

I have one that is about 20+ years. It's looking kind of bad but it blooms twice a year - in December and July. I don't do anything to it but water it. It gets southern sun and it seems to like it. I am doing everything wrong but it still blooms. Thanks for sharing.

[@ddarling9783]

I have my Mothers Christmas Cactus now. It’s at least 3.5 feet wide and at least 40 years old. I wish I could share a picture of it. Thanks for you information and knowledge❤️

[@scrapper900]

I just potted several cuttings from a neighbor. She still has her grandmothers (neighbor is 80 yrs old) original Christmas Cactus! I would blessed she gave me several cuttings. I placed them in water for a few months until they had a good root system then planted them all in a larger decorative ceramic pot. I am crossing my fingers and hoping I don’t kill it!!

[@graemesingleton-hayden2326]

I have one that is at least 35 years old. It’s one of the easiest plants to grow and survives neglect. It’s currently in full bloom with loads more buds coming. Sometimes I put it out side in the summer but bring it it for the winter. A single leak node will grow. I only water it when it dries out and this seems to suit it. By the way it’s a single plant. About 4 foot in diameter. 😀👍🍀🇮🇪

[@sherrykinslow7823]

I love Christmas cactus! They always remind me of my sweet grandma ❤️. She passed a few years ago but her Christmas Cactus is still living. As a matter of fact it is at least 100 years old! I kid you not!!

[@joannabrister3384]

You are so knowledgeable, love your videos

[@donnajoyner1474]

Hi, i live in Tucson, too. I've had christmas cactus for years. Sadly i have to rely on caregivers to take care of my plants and lost most of my succulents last year before fall due to lack of water. Here i have to water all my container plants twice daily in the bad heat. Unfortunately my main caregiver had surgery and her substitutes in the morning failed to water. Anyway i had to replace most of my Christmas cactus. I leave them outside all year until they have flower buds, then i bring them in. I have a circular bench under a big multi-trunk mesquite tree so they get filtered sun. I also have jasmine, hibiscus and other plants there so the humidity level is acceptable. The change of light due to natural shortening of days triggers them to bud. I let the buds grow a little before bringing them inside. I brought them in too early one year and the buds dropped off. The first frost usually coincides with the right time to bring them inside. None of the ones i ever had failed to flower. Even last year's poinsettia is starting to really change color outside under the tree! Now that's a first for me! I'm sure by now (December 5, 2019) you have realized gardening here in Arizona, even in Tucson, is different than elsewhere in the U.S. If you buy a plant with a tag that says, "full sun", here it should be maybe full morning sun and filtered afternoon sun, or just filtered sun all day.

[@mrray2826]

Hey Nell. That is such a beautiful plant! Always love watching your videos but love how your cat was sitting next to you!

[@JoyUsGarden]

Hi Ray - Yes, Riley was enjoying his afternoon nap outside in the warm weather! Nell

[@robinhenderson2228]

JoyUsGarden blog

[@desertplantsofavalon]

I ADORE Christmas cacti and the blooms are so beautiful, such a FANTASTIC video :-D thanks so much for sharing Nell and sending tons of love and heaps of happiness from Ireland for a wonderful day XXXX

[@JoyUsGarden]

I LOVE them too! Was so happy to get another one because I left mine behind with a friend when I moved from CA to AZ. In my opinion, such a cool plant! I'm working in San Francisco now so hugs to you across the pond!! xxoo Nell

[@joanneacevedo8201]

I'm always in a mood to look up your videos (looking at some from your CA residence too!). Thanks for so much knowledge you share with us. Would love to see a video of your home and its plants and garden. I remember you mentioned a kitchen renovation and a plant to be hung there 😉.

[@nancyfarmer1269]

Love your videos, they are very informative. Could you show the products / soils and or mixes you use? Your plants are always lush and full of blooms. Thank you!

[@annahardianto7300]

I have babies christmas cactus in 4 color 😍.. thanks for the info about it.. Anyway i love your cat 😍..

[@rosset4music]

I thought I had a Christmas Cactus, but, I have a Thanksgiving Cactus. It has pink flowers, but, just a few-not like yours. The plant itself is beautiful and interesting. I have it a foot away from a Northern window and it loves it there.

[@brendan6119]

Thank you for this information I wish I had known sooner

[@mygeorge1951]

I got mine last year during Thanksgiving and it's blooming and looking very pretty! ❤️

[@sirdukeusa3289]

Are you talking about coconut fiber? Would it do ok if it were planted in a shallow dish? I just bought a red and a pink thansgiving cactus. I've had several before, but I made the mistake of setting them outside and they arent doing too well now. Thy have a brown paper like coating on them.

[@mayanandalall3580]

Very informative. Thanks! This is my favorite plant that I usually give as gifts and I have one too for years but no flowers for quite a while now. Please advise 🙁

[@brendadon9394]

Very informative.

[@littlepetkingdome7492]

my mom has a hug pot of these and i think there so beautiful

[@JoyUsGarden]

I love them too. Nell

[@danlewis1871]

Hi Nell I hope you are doing well. I bought a nice Christmas cactus from the supermarket then all the buds dropped off. I live in New York and have it near a North facing window in my very cool porch. Do you know why it would drop all of its buds? I

[@thetruthofthematter936]

such a pretty kitty

[@JoyUsGarden]

My Riley cat is a sweetie. Nell

[@juliettedietl1343]

The Truth Of The Matter spring dollars tree

[@vaniawhitfield6486]

Thankyou for sharing

[@HarrietLerman]

Did you ever hear of putting baking soda in the Christmas cactus? Does that help it?

[@martynw9166]

Mine look fantasic in the bathroom - they love humidty.

[@Sky2theRim]

my gran's one literally lives in a pool of water, I cant believe it is still alive, Its very pale in colour but still somehow manages to cling to life. Keep telling her to not water it much at all but she never listens lol.

[@dawnpleasant2319]

Happy post Thanksgiving Nell! Looks like I'm off to find this plant now. 😊 Thanks for explaining the difference between the plants.

[@JoyUsGarden]

Happy post Thanksgiving to you to Dawn! It's an easy care houseplant &as it gets older, looks great in hanging baskets. Nell

[@marvinkurthafalla354]

Dawn Pleasant j

[@wadadrasamny378]

You have a fantastic plant..mine is growing big and have so many blooms and flowers i water when soil is dry but the leaves are always limp and droopy can you tell me why?thank yoi

[@mixedupmargie]

I am so glad this video came up in my suggestions but not sure how. I’ve had one of these for years and last friday i saw them at walmart and bought 1 and when got it home the new one was so rich looking next to my old one, so i was wondering how to care for it. I mean they are so different, ican tell the old one is depleted. Thanks for sharing 🌺❤️💕🌺

[@treasuresofplantz9203]

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas!!! Beautiful plants and your cat is so cute! 🌈 Happy holidays! George 🎉🎁

[@JoyUsGarden]

Thank you George!! Nell

[@BrandyColmer]

Thanks! I have several and even some that I propagated. I needed to know how to make them flourish. I love your bougainvillea. I miss that plant the most after moving from So Cal to the PNW.

[@michelleh2350]

When is the best time and hoe to fertilize them? Thanks

[@-AnyWho]

you can propagate this easy to by just putting the leaf segments back into dirt like half way or so. i got my pink one from a segment last year from the market as it was just sitting there on the counter waiting for the attendant to throw it away as trash. in that 1 year time the one segment turned into 7 and 2 pink flowers waiting to open as of 12/8/2019. during thanksgiving i saw a double segment on counter so i took that as well and split into 2 leaf segments and added them to same pot going the other way on both ends. I'm really hoping to have gotten a different color. the plant that they were selling that was right next to it had mostly white with red tips flowers so there is a good chance that is the one but will now for sure when it flowers next year. i think my plan will be to try and get different colors and add them to same pot to get one nice multi color blooming arrangement, i may have to go on eBay or something to get different color cuttings unless i can find another source somewhere ...

[@mnguyetnguyen-xf2vq]

My leaves seem dying why? I thought too much watering so I repotted how to save this?

[@donlussi2424]

I wish you wouldn't have titled the video as Christmas cactus when you are displaying a Thanksgiving cactus. I am happy that you did validate the differences. I have to correct and entire garden center on what they were selling. And they made the changes.

[@LulaMae21]

In some parts of the country, they are both colloquially known as Christmas cactuses. I didn't even know Thanksgiving cactuses were a thing until a couple of years ago, and my grandmother grew big, beautiful "Christmas cactuses" all my life.

[@christopherkenyon1256]

Christmas 🌵 🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵 and 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

[@JoyUsGarden]

Sweet!!! Nell

[@mikelopez2001]

Lots of great info , thanks for a great video ,, Riley stoled the whole show

[@seasons0123]

My Christmas Cactus blooms later.. It's finally done today 3/25/19. It's confused.. but beautiful!!

[@herzidesouzadae2890]

Hello can you tell me a little bit more information I have some different type of leaf . After 4 years only one start to bloom , start in at the end of December 2019 Now in January 2020 the bloom no opened yet, February 07, 20202 Nothing yet . well I leave in the Caribbean, Grand Cayman. I hope so get some more information , Also the Christmas or Easter Cactus ( I think ) come w the wrong name of course always happen in this Islands.)the cactus is w another plant w the ZZ plants and I observed the pushing out the rooks like they are on the air, I was planning after the blooming( I no have any idea what color will be but they lookike will be a pink color that i note on the outside of the bloom) ... to changed on a piece of wood .What do you think? Thanks

[@chausd2972]

Nice plant and a cute cat. Thanks for sharing!

[@mnguyetnguyen-xf2vq]

How do save my plants it’s seem dying I thought too much water so I repotted but the leaves is not fresh 😢😢😢help

[@benkinney7386]

Mine bloomed twice this year, and it's working on a 3rd time.

[@bendover2150]

Ben Kinney wow! What’s your secret?

[@carolhaskins4584]

Enjoyed all the plant information your plants look great

[@ethellong7445]

I reported two of mine thanksgiving cactus while blooming and they wilted very bad.

[@PetalsonthePavingSlabs]

I learned a lot watching this, thank you!

[@JoyUsGarden]

Glad to hear that. They're not had to care for but many people over water them. Nell

[@giggalz]

Just picked up one today! Hopefully I won't kill this guy

[@JoyUsGarden]

Heather - They're epiphytic cacti which sets them apart from other succulents. Not too hard so I hop these tips help! Nell

[@alexoaloxo]

Mine is starting to produce little floral buds. Let's see if it flowers

[@JoyUsGarden]

Hopefully so. If the buds fall off, it's too much water or some kind of environmental stress. Nell

[@andrewrichmond9764]

Where's your blog?

[@bettyhouk8727]

Love the cat and the cactus !

[@christinaeilers3562]

Now I know I have Thanksgiving cactus!

[@JoyUsGarden]

If it blooms around Thanksgiving & is bloomed out by Christmas, that's what you have. Care is the same for both! Nell

[@JesusFreakJene]

Thanks for all of your awesome videos. I have a home near Green Valley and I am wondering about your bougainvillea. I have tried to grow it on the west side of my home, but it didn't do well there. Can you please tell me what side of the home it grows best in the Tucson area? thank you so much!

[@JoyUsGarden]

Hi - You're welcome! My bougainvilleas grow on the east or se side of my house. I've noticed that during the 3 very hot months, they don't bloom very well. Green Valley gets a bit colder in the winter so you might want to grow it in a protected spot. I've only lived here for 1 1/2 years, but it seems that the east or south side is best. Hope that helps! Nell

[@JesusFreakJene]

JoyUsGarden thank you so much!

[@nortonwhale]

YOU ROCK!

[@andrewrichmond9764]

Any new videos,where are they?

[@colindossantos9801]

Hello Nell, what is that plant by the fence post that you called a “vinta that looks like a crown of torns

[@HailStonE999]

Its VINCA... Not Euphorbia Milii....

[@bkrbkrl]

Was listening to you, but couldn't take my eyes off your gorgeous black smoke cat! Lol.

[@CBar-rd6im]

I hear the recommendations all the time for flowering, I don't do anything with them. I must be lucky because mine flower 2 or 3 times during the winter (in the Northeast) they are also so neglected.

[@JoyUsGarden]

Mine bloomed on their own when I grew them outdoors in Santa Barbara. I'm from New England & your days really get shorter in fall so I know what you mean. It sure is a lot easier when they bloom on their own. Nell

[@HailStonE999]

I am living in extremely hot & dry climate with Temps teaching ~115F & humidity ~14%... Left them in a bathroom with water buckets all around... Do they still need bright light (indirect) since bathroom is low on light in summer.... Also Should I be misting & for how many times ???

[@sherriedavis9486]

Hi , went looking for information on my plants...wish it was better titled. You are a very nice person, but seeing a growth cycle, how many are planted together...I'm still in search

[@MosaicRose99]

Hi Nell, I bought one last spring with the rounded leaves and it was called an Easter cactus. So this was actually a Christmas cactus? Thanks! :)

[@JoyUsGarden]

Hi - Easter Cactus leaves are smooth too. Thanksgiving & Christmas Cactus share the same genus whereas Easter Cactus does not. Nell

[@francislecuyer3296]

Thank you for the video.......learned much.

[@juliettedietl1343]

Francis Lecuyer dr

[@amyhobson5960]

Thanks for the info. I have one that says it's a Zygo cactus, I had no idea they lived so long or got so big.

[@lainyart9939]

I have one of these that had a fungus gnat problem so I put sand on top. All my other plants did fine and the gnats are gone - but within 12 hours, my cactus was a flat, drooping sad mess. I had no idea that it's roots like to breathe and I'm afraid I suffocated it. I removed the sand but it's been about a week and it hasn't perked back up. Anyone know what I can do to help revive it?

[@sheilabroad8192]

I have one of each and they basically bloomed within a week of each other

[@anthonylewis62]

I DONT REPOT MINE OFTEN, I TEND TO LEAVE THEM BECAUSE WHEN I DO, OM, THEY SUFFER, TOO MUCH, SO EAISER FOR ME TO START NEW ONES

[@Sky2theRim]

litterally just bought this the other day :)

[@JoyUsGarden]

Great Dan! Nell

[@janarmentrout1743]

lovely as always , Nell

[@JoyUsGarden]

Thank you Jan! Nell

[@anthonylewis62]

please please tell me how to keep my leaves from shriveling, i have the most horrible time with that, it drives me bonkers,

[@TheKonga88]

My queen ant has laid lots of eggs..🐵🐒🦍🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜

[@misj604]

Mine had TWO flowers in April. Now I am more confused what it is :)

[@mimiohnine]

Myra San Jose there is also an Easter cactus.

[@Iam-me]

Actually they need to be trim too to get better

[@awdheshkumar4742]

Can these Christmas cactus survive in india ?

[@Wadadli68]

Hi Nell, I brought one of these home the other day that was full of buds. But within days the buds were dropping off before the flowers even opened :( Will new buds form or will I have to wait another year to see it flower? Thanks

[@britstickle5698]

This happened to mine. Now I keep them in the daylight basement until fully blooming. When they bloom I bring them upstairs to see. Afterwards I put them in the daylight basement again.

[@irenesnyder1819]

Schlum-ber-gera (hard 'g' = jera)

[@jessicahussey2875]

Love watching your videos! I live in Tucson. Do you ever do public talks or events?

[@blankwhite6163]

Can’t get mine to bloom

[@mimiohnine]

Terri Cornwell put it in a dark spot...maybe under a table or dark corner and stop watering for 4-6 weeks.

[@josephstankiewicz3338]

hi nell call me the plant killer are u saying thankgiving cacti is easy to kill not so all summer he sat on the step pure heat my next door neighbor yelled at me u a killing it ok i put him next to the shade then watered the shit out off him moss grew on top of the soil his leaves turned from green to brown to purple so i feel bad threw him in bigger pot more soil his roots were really tight brought him inside yet in two week he flowers like crazy this is a plant u can,t kill but i do one thing most growers didn,t i talk to them hi it me joe the plant killer so what do u need i took 4 tropical plants and buried them outside only 2 died i grew back bigger i became 2 so nell i thing i need your help bring your freinds all welcome my rose bushes are 16 feet tall my weed like take over 4 other years bet take have pretty flowers i don,t have a clue what they are many bees and bugs yet they don,t bite me my home is a simple place called brooklyn n.y. got maybe 15 by 10 garden in front maybe 15 my 10 garden in back but one thing i never do is stop any plant or weed from not growing hope to see you wish u good luck

[@JoyUsGarden]

Hi Joesph - Sounds like you have climbing roses which you prune much lighter that most other roses. Nell

[@josephstankiewicz3338]

but they are so pretty and smell so sweet me killing a good growing rose u see what u call pruning i call not so nice u simply butchered your friends plant why didn,t u just replant it ilike i gave this rose to my mom in lesser times my mom,s father best friend lived like 2 blocks away but he worked in a baker shop well thing called bad bread fed my for 4 years i call it from 7 to 11 then i found a real job making 1 dallor a day i never cared about money i only took the money to a draw mom take what u need so nell i hope this rose grows to the moon i cut her back a bit she always hooked my jacket yet it was lots of room to walk u got nice legs and u are smart two but once u come here into my world i can tell u all that is missing i deyed 36 yrs ago yet i speak it not me

[@josephstankiewicz3338]

yes again u are right but i hate to cut or prune these roses my next door guy don,t like my plants he spray some chemical shit over the fence he killed or stopped my roses from growing only one big berta she grew taller many roses over 7 feet high her roots are deep but the others never gave me not one rose i fight back this year i got a worm farm come spring they will have the best soil and a lot of worms to help my plants and my weeds will grew strong i blow over the fence to take your small patch of soil into a garden off weeds its a game i win weeds over plants weeds win always unless u have a grower that knows what he is doing so far i think i got step one u kill mine i kill yours but it will they many more years to kill the weeds think growing plants is easy me to unless u have live in the city think of me like growing up we can talk for days i type with one finger maybe i,am old school maybe i think like plants i,am still here

[@lianelindsey1407]

Why you showing us a new plant? Show plants that you been growing... 🙄 duh!