Holiday Cactus Tips, Tricks & Blooming Secrets! Schlumbergera Care

[@jonstfrancis]

One trick I discovered with large holiday cacti is to put the pot in a container but place large stones in the container for the pot to sit on; that way you can water it often but the water doesn't stay around the bottom of the pot which is what causes wilt and if too long rot.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Good tip!

[@karenamalfi8551]

Thank you for this video. I have my Mom’s Holiday cactus and it’s 30+ years old. It’s doing very well. And I didn’t know that it’s common for them to live so long. It’s nice to still have it 🙂

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes! I've heard some amazing stories about heirloom holiday cactus, how wonderful that you have your mother's cactus. So special.

[@karenamalfi8551]

@@FreePlantsForever Thank you 🙂

[@jonstfrancis]

I have a Christmas (x Buckleyii) which is like 40 years old. But there is some footage on youtube of ones much older, like 200 years old.

[@robertwormley4294]

I got mine from a lil ol lady who said she always had it. You could barely get your arms around it, so beautiful thick and even tall. I've taken many starts in my thirty years with it.

[@BeckyA59]

My apparently Thanksgiving cactus that I got last year is starting to bud. It's in the window in the living room so it's getting that artificial light, I didn't know it needed dark like a poinsettia does! But it looks like we'll get a few blooms at least. TBH in my home, as much as I love having many plants, they need to be able to survive under benign neglect 😁 to some extent

[@FreePlantsForever]

Nice! Luckily these cactus do fairly well with some neglect 😅 as long as you don't do anything drastic in the next month those blooms will stick around 🌼

[@fbiagentfrank]

I only buy plants that can handle neglect and the only time I have any issues with them it's because I'm giving them too much attention😂 I've got dozens of pothos, philodendron, and snake plants.

[@BeckyA59]

It's decided to start blooming again which is awesome!

[@user-ss7yq6er3p]

Thank you!!! Exactly what I needed. All of your detail and actually showing all the steps was super helpful! I need to save my mother’s Christmas cactus. She passed away 2 years ago and I didn’t take care of it correctly. Now I can try to make 3 plants out if what’s left and each sister can have one to help keep a part of our mom with this us

[@cheralsquyresArt]

Thank you so much. This is my Christmas Cactus 2 or 3 yr. With me. I am not sure I fertilized it much. I placed in my garage. I think it naturally gets dark but we do have outdoor lights. It’s looking great. Like a beautiful plant. Not sure about darkness though???

[@scubajenn5]

Good timing that this video showed up on my feed! My neighbor just gave me her cactus...I'll need to see what kind it is from you leaf sample (thank you for that!). Now, I'm going to go get it out of the full sun! Thanks for the info!❤

[@FreePlantsForever]

Glad to help! If the plant isn't used to being in full sun, I'd recommend to gradually move it into the sun to get it used to the exposure. Best of luck and fingers crossed you get some good blooms ❤️

[@amongarcia3856]

I am from the Philippines and I sm really glad I found you here and learned much anout the christmas cactus. ATM I only have a few potsu and is starting to propagate them. May I know dear, what fertilize solution you are using?

[@DeborahHutchings-z7d]

What is the white film at the base of my Christmas cactus, and do I remedy it if it’s a problem?

[@barbararoller7340]

When do you recommend fertilizing if you live (like I do) in a place where you don't really have much of a winter season. I live in Southwest Florida. "Winter" weather is as rare as a few days each year or sometimes as long as 2 to 3 weeks, in mostly January. The temps will drop down to 40 or below - sometimes we might get down into the 30s but then the sun comes out and during the day we are back to 60s/70s. The rest of the year we are in mostly in the 80s to mid/high 90s. We are considered "sub-tropical", with a rainy season from June to the end of October and LOTS of humidity. My succulents are mostly in my screened lanai where they get about 8 hrs of very bright filtered sunlight and lots of humidity - they are thriving. But not sure if my Thanksgiving cactus would be happy there.

[@nirmaliedesilva2497]

What's the best soil mix for Thanksgiving Cactus? Thank you for the informative video.❤

[@FreePlantsForever]

I find it does best in a cactus and succulent mix. Something with a lot of good drainage and not too much organic material.

[@Sexyblkmetalchick]

I purchased my first Thanksgiving cactus today from Meijer. I have been looking for this plant for over a year.

[@Tammy-1979Y]

Do you have any suggestions on how to repot a Christmas cactus that has been in the same pot for 15+ years? The pot has 2 different varieties of cactus in it and I thought it would be good to separate the plants into 2 new pots with fresh soil. I hesitate to disturb it but the dirt is rock hard and the plant has never bloomed well. Any ideas?

[@joneslo5572]

I am in North texas, zone 7, can i leave my christmas cactus outdoor to over winter after it bloomed.?

[@10mllowe]

Helpful video, about placing in the dark for 14 hours, how often (daily, weekly?) and for how long (like a month before Thanksgiving?) thank you.

[@Me-ii9wr]

14-16 hours of darkness each day for 4-6 weeks

[@lorrainejudd2425]

Thanks for your video, i am repotting my Christmas cactus that is not blooming.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Perfect time of year. Give it some good plant food and let it build up its energy to give you some great blooms when the winter comes.

[@KnutRogerJakobsen]

My christmas cactus have gotten pale green, almost yellow leafs. What should I do to make it happy again?

[@juliecaywood8083]

Thank you for the info....great! My Christmas cactus is outside (July) in the shade in Texas! The leaves are turning red...is that o.k.?

[@kirstenpost477]

No purple is bc to much sun getting to it. Hope to help though its been months since u asked.

[@EtherealSunset]

Is it normal for dome of the growth near the top to start growing roots?

[@joycekelley6362]

I ordered this Thanksgiving cactus online. I replanted it. I am worried about the color of the first segment. It is gray. The rest of the segments look good. It came three little stalks in soil wrapped in clear Syran wrap. I live in Arizona. It is hot summer here. The soil was very hot. It took nine days to arrive. I took it out of box, unwrapped it and left it on counter to cool down. Then I gave it a drink and planted them. They had roots. Do you think it will be okay or is that first segment no good. I have kept it under a grow light and our house is cool. I tried to post a picture but it seems I can’t post pictures here.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Hopefully it's just taking time to adjust to it's new surroundings and didn't get too hot. If the first segment starts to go squishy, it may have rot and you might want to cut it off and just keep the healthy looking segments since they propagate really easily. Keep an eye on the segments and keep feeling them to make sure they stay firm. If they're squishy, that's when you take action.

[@BrendaShaw-h8y]

My Thanksgiving cactus is full of blooms!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Amazing! I love this time of year...

[@visitacionmcgarity5161]

I do everything to make my cactus bloom but it doesn't bloom at all. Christmas cactus hard to grow for me

[@caseykatie9655]

How often do you water these plants? What does it mean if the leaves are wilting and a little wrinkly/shriveled?

[@dunker982]

Have a good guess.

[@crystalvanness9139]

I have a Christmas plant and the leaves are very thin and limp what can I do to bring it to life

[@FreePlantsForever]

I would check the soil. Usually thin and limp leaves are a sign that it needs water, but if the soil is wet then it could be root rot. If it's in soggy soil the plant should be removed from the soil and any rotten or soggy roots and branches should be cut off, and dried out to re-propagate. I hope that helps!

[@cynthiacharlery710]

How can I get a plant

[@barbaralevengood7628]

Why are my cactus dropping good amounts of segments

[@StalkerNaturaliste]

Easter cacti are not Schlumbergera but Rhipsalidopsis.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Ah, good to know! 🌵

[@shericreates]

I wish I could propagate mine. Every time I try they either wilt or dry up. I have tried every techniques. And my big one I have had for years are dropping limbs. I transplanted it back into a clay pot because it was in one of those self watering plastic pots. Not my favorite. Maybe I used too big of pot?

[@ROlson-dx2jc]

Clay is the best for them. Also they like a smallish pot. I have made the mistake of overpotting them and it really makes them decline in health. The new pot should be just a little bigger than the root ball.

[@JohnKelley-vg7zr]

I bought a Xmas cactus 2 months ago, watched you video, now again. VERY disappointed my cactus has done practically NOTHING since I got it!😢 I even repotted it into a slightly larger pot w/cactus mix. Nothing is happening. I expected it 2b huge by now. My portulacaria afra Ive propagated and grows like crazy 4me. I have a forest of them. I'm watching ur video & getting exasperated even more. Y r they going 4u not me. I even put outside for a while on my balcony so maybe they can take hint from my Dwarf jade monsters!

[@cheralsquyresArt]

It is November 12 here .

[@livefire4433]

Remove the old soil with water less chance of damage to roots

[@FreePlantsForever]

Oh good advice!

[@sharleenehurst4250]

It is called the CHRISTMAS CACTUS, not Holiday Cactus.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Hey Sharleene - if you actually watch the video, you'll learn that there are a couple of varieties, Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus and Easter Cactus - the different names refer to the times of year that the different varieties bloom. Three holidays, two of which are religious. Please don't make this a "woke" thing. It's not.