Schlumbergera x buckleyi (Christmas Cactus) Care Indoors; Watering, Propagation, Problems
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Schlumbergera x buckleyi also called Christmas Cactus, Crab Cactus or Holiday Cactus is among favorite flowering plants for hanging baskets as it bears stems which hang downwards beautifully in a hanging basket. The fleshy, segmented stems are slightly serrated on each side and flowers at the ends.
The stems are actually flattened leaves. To encourage the plant to grow more stems, grow the plant as a hanging plant in a hanging basket, on a pedestal or on a table-top.
Christmas Cactus are long-lived plants, which will bloom year after year when provide with the right growing conditions. Some plants have been reported to be more than 100 years old.
Schlumbergera x buckleyi is also commonly referred to as a Holiday Cactus together with Easter Cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri or Schlumbergera gaertneri) and Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata).
Botanical name: Schlumbergera x buckleyi
Family: Cactaceae
Common names: Christmas Cactus, Crab Cactus, Holiday Cactus
Origin
Christmas Cactus is native to South America where it grows as an epiphyte (on trees) or as a lithophyte (in or on rocks) where it grows under filtered light in warm and humid conditions.
Size
Christmas Cactus is a compact plant which can grow to a height of 1-2 feet and a spread of 1-2 feet.
Flowers
The original flower color is red but hybrids may come in pink, purple, white and other colors. The tubular flowers are borne on the ends of each stem in late fall or early winter. Most Christmas Cactus bloom from late November through January.
Is Christmas Cactus toxic?
No. Christmas Cactus is non-toxic to pets if consumed, but consumption of large amounts of the plant can result in diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite as indicated by petMD.
Where to Buy
If you would like to add Christmas Cactus to your collection, you may obtain them from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to Care for Christmas Cactus Indoors
To care for Schlumbergera x buckleyi indoors, provide bright light with 4-6 hours of sunshine, warmth of 18-260C, humidity of 55-65% and moderately moist, rich, free-draining soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Christmas Cactus requires trimming after blooming to encourage a compact growth and flowering. Repotting is only needed when potbound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Watering
How often should I water a Christmas cactus?
Do not water Schlumbergera x buckleyi on a schedule to prevent either overwatering or underwatering as both are detrimental to the growth of plant.
Water Christmas Cactus liberally in spring and summer when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out. Keep the soil moderately moist through out and avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing, drooping and leaf loss.
Reduce watering significantly in fall and winter to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is reduced at this time. However, do not allow the soil to dry out completely as underwatering will result in wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.
Use tepid (room temperature) water to prevent cold shock which can lead to stunted growth and leaf fall. Only water with chlorine-free water to prevent browning of leaf edges.
Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and drain excess water from the saucer to prevent sogginess which can result in root-rot and death of the plant.
Light Requirements
Does Christmas Cactus like sun or shade?
Christmas Cactus grows best in bright light with 4-6 hours of morning or late afternoon sunlight. A spot infront of a sunny window is ideal for this plant. Keep it away from hot midday sunshine or use a light curtain to filter the sunrays to prevent scorching.
Too little light will result in slowed groth, yellowing, legginess and leaf drop. If the natural light is not adequate, use full spectrum grow lights to increase it.
Regularly turn the pot to ensure the plant receives adequate light on all sides to promote even growth and prevent the plant from turning yellow.
You can move the plant outdoors in spring and summer for some sun but acclimate it gradually to prevent scorching. Place it under a shade away from hot midday sun as too much sunlight in the spring and summer can result in pale, yellow leaves. Ensure to bring it back inside in fall when temperatures begin to drop, it can tolerate a temperature of 150C.
Temperature & Humidity
Christmas Cactus prefers day temperatures of 18-260C with maximum night temperatures of 210C to enhance bud formation.
Keep it away from sources of drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units, hot air vents and others to prevent sudden changes in temperature which can lead to reduced growth, yellowing, drooping, leaf drop and flowerbud drop.
Christmas Cactus thrives in a humidity of 55-65%. When the indoor temperatures are very high especially in winter, the air becomes too dry resulting in browning of leaf tips and edges. Therefore, to increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Maintain good air circulation to minimize fungal infestations.
Fertilizer
Feed Christmas Cactus with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks in early spring and summer for the healthy growth of the plant.
In late summer to early fall when the flower buds begin to form, feed the Crab Cactus monthly with a phosphorus-rich, water-soluble fertilizer to promote blooming by holiday time.
Potting Soil
The best soil for Christmas Cactus should be well-draining, rich in organic matter to provide the required nutrients and at a PH of 5.5-6.2 for the optimum growth of the plant. A cactus and succulent potting mix is great for this plant.
Repotting
Repot Christmas Cactus when it stops blooming and the flowers have wilted in late winter or early spring. Repot only when it becomes extremely pot-bound, as it blooms best when slightly pot-bound. Do not repot a plant that is in flower as it can shorten the flowering period.
Use a pot 1 size larger than the current one that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy to avoid root-rot. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Slip the plant out of its pot, shake off the old potting mix and trim any dead roots with clean and sterilized scissors.
Position the plant in the center of the new pot and refill with fresh, free-draining potting mix.
Wet the soil thoroughly until water comes out through the drainage hole, empty the saucer and place the plant infront of a brightly-lit window.
Pruning & Maintenance
Pruning Christmas Cactus involves removal of dead sections and flowers to keep the plant neat and discourage pests and diseases.
To encourage branching and a more compact growth, remove 2-3 segments from the end of the stems.
To control growth, cutback the stems at the segment joints by about 1/3 after flowering. This will also boost blooming in the next season.
Regularly clean the leaves with a damp soft cloth to get rid of dust as well as discourage pest infestations.
Christmas Cactus Winter Care
Christmas Cactus are tropical plants which require warm and humid conditions to thrive. They are not cold hardy, therefore, they are best grown as houseplants in the temperate climates.
However, in climates with harsh winters, it can be grown outdoors in spring and summer as container plants which are brought inside when the temperatures drop to about 150C in fall and cared for as a houseplant.
Once the temperatures warm up to 150C in spring, move the plant outdoors under bright light but shield it from hot direct sunlight to prevent scorching.
Ensure that the soil remains moderately moist but not soggy by watering when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry.
Feed it every 4 weeks in early spring and summer with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer for the healthy growth of the plant.
How to coax Christmas Cactus to bloom for the holidays
Blooming on Christmas Cactus occurs in late fall or early winter and is triggered by cold temperatures, dry conditions and reduced light amounts which signal dormancy and mimick its natural habitat.
Six to eight weeks before the holidays, reduce watering to keep the soil slightly moist and stop feeding the plant.
Give it 12-14 hours of total darkness by placing it in a dark cupboard or cover it with an opaque material and maintain the temperatures at about 10-120C.
Once the buds begin to form, move the plant to a spot with bright indirect light, feed it monthly with a phosphorus-rich, water-soluble fertilizer and it should bloom in a few weeks.
Christmas Cactus Propagation
Christmas Cactus is best propagated from stem cuttings, at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer), when in active growth for faster establishment.
Propagating Christmas Cactus from stem cuttings
- Take 2-3 sections of stem cuttings from the tips of the stems.
- Allow the cutting to callus (dry) for 5-7 days to prevent rotting.
- Dip the lower cut end in rooting powder to hasten rooting.
- Insert 1/3 of the lower cut end in moist, sandy, rooting mix while taking care not to brush off the rooting powder and lightly firm the soil around the base of the cutting.
- Cover the set up with a plastic sheet to create a greenhouse effect.
- Place the set up in a warm, brightly-lit spot away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching the cuttings.
- Maintain the soil moist through out until the new plants are well established. Roots develop in 2–4 weeks.
- Allow the new plants to be well established before transplanting into individual pots after which you can begin routine care.
- Carefully, slip the plant out of its pot, wash off the soil and inspect the roots.
- Brown-black, mushy roots indicate root-rot; cut them away. In addition, cut away any stems showing any signs of rot.
- Treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicide as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh potting soil.
- Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining to prevent waterlogging.
- Water the plant with the fungicidal solution and place it in a warm, brightly-lit spot.
- Decrease watering until new growth appears and avoid overwatering and soggy soil thereafter.
- Isolate the infested plant to minimize spread to the other plants.
- Treat the infested plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap as instructed by the manufacturers.
- Regularly inspect your plant, especially under the leaves and along stems and carry out timely control measures.
- Keep the plant well pruned to discourage the pests.
- To elevate humidity, use a cool mist humidifier, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together.
Christmas Cactus Problems & Solutions
Schlumbergera x buckleyi problems are yellowing and limp leaves, brown spots, reddish leaves, pests among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to solve them.
Yellowing and limp leaves
Yellowing and limp leaves on Christmas Cactus is caused by underwatering, too little or root-rot disease.
How to fix it
Underwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.
Too little light: Position the plant in a spot where it will receive bright light with some 6-8 hours of direct sunlight or use a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient.
Root-rot disease: which is promoted by soggy soil.
Brown spots on the stem at the soil level
Brown spots on the stem at the soil level on Christmas Cactus are an indication of Fusarium stem rot which is brought about by soggy soil. The disease is difficult to treat. But if caught in the early stages, you can try to save the plant.
How to fix it
Allow the soil to dry out completely and treat it with a fungicidal solution as per the manufacturer's instructions.
Use a pot with a drainage hole and free-draining soil.
Reddish leaves
Reddish leaves on Christmas Cactus are caused by underwatering, too much light or pests infestations.
How to fix it
Underwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but do not let the soil dry out completely.
Too much light: Move the plant to a more shaded place or use a light curtain to diffuse the sunlight.
Pest infestations: Regularly inspect the plant and carry out timely control measures. (see below)
Pests
Common pests of Christmas Cactus are mealybugs, aphids, scales, fungus gnats and spidermites.
How to fix it
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