** drum roll ** š„ Starting today, weāre launching a brand-new section on the Orchidfriends blogādedicated to one of my other longtime plant loves: Schlumbergera šµ aka the Christmas Cactus and friends! Iāve been growing these plants since my teensānot just for their gorgeous blooms, but also for their green presence year-round. What do the [ā¦]
Schlumbergera Identification Guide
How to Identify Holiday Cactus Unlike typical desert cacti, Schlumbergeras donāt thrive in sandy, arid soils. These unique cacti are actually tropical epiphytes, meaning they grow on trees in rainforest environments. They arenāt parasiticāthey simply use the trees as a surface to anchor themselves and gather moisture and nutrients from the air and debris around [ā¦]
How to Prune Your Christmas Cactus for Winter
One good trick I can share with you is to give your Christmas cactus a little pre-season TLCāwith some well-timed pruning. This will help it look its best and burst into bloom over the holidays. Not only will it help shape the plant, but it also encourages more flower buds. Think of it as a [ā¦]
How to Get Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom Indoors in the Fall
If you want to make sure your Christmas cactus explodes in blooms come fall, youāve got to start adjusting well before the holiday season. Unlike most flowering houseplants, this one isnāt just going to bloom spontaneouslyāit needs a cue. And hereās the thing: itās not about feeding it more fertilizer or watering it better (though [ā¦]
How to Water Your Christmas Cactus in the Summer
Summer is the time when your Christmas cactus is soaking up the heat and busy producing new growth. But keep in mind: while it may look like your plant is enjoying the sun, it still needs you to be careful with watering. This isnāt a regular cactus that thrives in dry, sandy desertsāyour Christmas cactus [ā¦]
Why is my Christmas cactus losing all its leaves?
If your Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is suddenly shedding its leaves (cladodes), donāt panic. Leaf drop isnāt something unheard ofāit has happened to me too, more than once! When somethingās off, these plants react to it. But look at it like this; the plant is sending you a message that somethingās wrong. And itās now your [ā¦]
Why is My Christmas Cactus Getting Soft Leaves?
If your Christmas cactus has soft, limp leaves, itās telling you somethingās not quite right. No need to panic, thoughāyouāve come to the right place for help. The good news is that Schlumbergera cacti are tough cookies, and thereās usually time to turn things around. So letās take a deep breath and break down exactly [ā¦]
Why is my Christmas cactus not getting buds anymore?
When the holiday season approaches, I always start to check my cacti for budsāitās an exciting time of the year! I love my cacti even as the green houseplants they are most of the year. But Iām not going to lie and say I wouldnāt want them to bloom every year, and for as long [ā¦]
Why Is My Christmas Cactus Not Getting Bigger?
Iāve kept Schlumbergeras for years. In fact, I got my first one in my teens in the 90s. Over the years, Iāve encountered several Christmas cacti (as well as Thanksgiving and Easter cacti) that simply seemed to be stuck at the same size year after year. At the time, I didnāt really understand why they [ā¦]
When to Put Christmas Cactus in Dark Shade
If you want to make sure your Christmas cactus blooms this year, youāve got to understand one thing: light matters, and so does darkness. The whole blooming process is triggered by a balance between light exposure and total darkness. So, the ādark shadeā trick isnāt just some old gardenerās taleāitās actually part of the plantās [ā¦]
When to Repot Christmas Cactus in Spring
Spring is, without a doubt, the best time to repot your Holiday cactus. Why? Because itās coming out of its winter dormancy and getting ready to grow again. Youāll often see new little segments forming, which is the sign that itās waking up after winter and ready for a fresh start. Repotting now gives your [ā¦]