After your Christmas cactus is done blooming, it needs bright but indirect light and moderate watering. Don’t fertilize until Spring and Summer when the plant is actively growing. Move the plant outdoors in summer months to boost blooming around the holidays. Once flowers fade, the plant enters a rest period of 12-15 hours of complete darkness daily, deadhead wilted flowers, and don’t overwater. Let up to 3 inches of soil dry out before next watering. This period will be followed by a new growth cycle. 

Adjust water to weekly, add light, and feeding. In the spring and summer when cactus is growing, water when top inch of soil is dry to the touch. In the fall, the cactus prepares to bloom. At this point, water when soil feels dry to touch. Fertilize once a month. When the plant is done blooming, don’t fertilize again until spring and you see signs of new growth. Continue using a balanced fertilizer, like 10-10-10 diluted to ½ strength monthly until blooms fade. The Christmas cactus likes to be somewhat root bound. Wait until spring or summer to repot to a larger container. Prime time to split your cactus is in January or February. 

Are you having trouble with your houseplants? Here are a few hints…

• Don’t use tap water to water your plants. It generally has sodium in it which will build up and poison your plants. Instead, buy distilled water or boil your tap water, let it cool, and use it within 24 hours.
• Dust your leaves. Dust can block sunlight from leaves, slowing down photosynthesis. Use a soft microfiber cloth dry on small, delicate plants and a slightly damp one on larger, broad-leaf plants;
• Don’t overexpose your plants to cold or heat temperatures. Stay away from vents.
• If you want a certain plant, but don’t have the right conditions, do your research first;
• If you notice plant soil is drying out quicker than usual, it could be time to repot. Other signs that it is time to repot: the roots are growing through the drainage hole; the leafy part is more your than 3x taller than the width of the pot, or plant growth has slowed down. Use indoor potting soil for best results.