Christmas Cactus is a Great Gift (if you don't keep it for yourself)
Christmas cactus is a gret gift idea on Christmas eve, when it is in full bloom.
Christmas cactus is native to Brazil and an popuar winter-flowering houseplant, the pendulous stems of Christmas cactus make it a great choice for haning baskets.
This lens is about the different christmas cactus, how to take care of them and where to buy them online.
My favorite is the yellow - so of course I added a bit about that too.
Enjoy!
[Photo shot by Danny Crump]
Let's Have some Fun

Watering
The soil should be evenly moist for best growth, but they are intolerant to constantly wet soil and poor aeration. If outdoors, an established plant may only need to be watered every two or three days in warm, sunny weather; or every week in cool, cloudy weather.
Lighting
Christmas cactus will do best in bright indirect light. Long term direct sunlight can burn the leaves and stunt growth. If taken care of properly, a single planting can last for hundreds of years.
Flowering
Christmas cactus will create flower buds when subjected to cooler temperatures 50-58 degrees Fahrenheit/10-14 degrees Celsius for 6-8 weeks.
Use tomato fertilizer and only when the flowerbuds appear.
Do not move the plant after the flowerbuds appear, as it does not like to be disturbed and is likely to drop all the flowerbuds.

The Christmas cactus (Zygocactus) is native to the South American jungles. The flowers bloom once a year and come in shades of fuchsia, yellow, salmon, pink, white, orange, red and sometimes will even have a combination of the colors. The Christmas cacti are tropical plants. They require sunlight and the blooms last longer with cooler temperatures. Keep them away from heaters, fireplaces, radiators, furnace ducts, and other heat sources. Place in a sunny location while indoors and if outdoors during the summer, find a place that has a sun/shade mix to prevent the plant from getting burned. The best way to be sure your plant is getting just the right amount of water is to wait until the soil is dry on the top and still a bit moist toward the bottom. Then water the plant until the soil is saturated. Drain off any excess water that accumulates on the bottom. Then do not water again until the top half of the soil feels dry to the touch again. Well-drained soil is very important.
Christmas Cactus as Houseplants

Online
Directgardening.com - they have the yellow variant and they ship to The United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
From Amazon U.S.
From Amazon U.K.

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norbridgeantiques wrote...
My Christmas cactus is 30 years old. I have heard of them living to be over 50. I don't treat mine very well, but it never disappoints me and blooms every Christmas. Last year it started blooming for the American Thanksgiving delighting us immensley because we always celebrate it too.
BigGirlBlue wrote...
Our cactus is ten years old. It has probably added 4 or 5 stems in that time and has only flowered the last two years. The first was by accident when I had to move it into the spare room while we were renovating in October. Last week for some reason one whole stem just dropped right off. I'm not a happy camper
Charanne wrote...
Thank you for your kind words. I was a bit worried about the graphics because maybe I went overboard. Will use some similar on our other X-mas related lenses. On my way to your Orchid lens.
PatinKC wrote...
I love my Christmas Cactus, I've had it for maybe 20 years. Some years it does great and some not so. Last year it had beautiful blooms until spring! ( I used the fertilizer sticks.)
Love the graphics on this lens. I'm lensrolling it to my lens Orchid Care .
Christmas Cactus on CafePress
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My family loves the Holiday Season. Cosy evenings, special dinners, visiting family and friends.. I will share my tips with you!
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