How to grow, care and look after Christmas Cactus

Everything you need to know about Christmas Cactus including when to grow, how to care for it and how to deal with any problems.

What is a Christmas Cactus?

A Christmas Cactus are two species of epiphytic cacti, Schlumbergea truncata and S. x buckleyi known as Christmas Cactus.

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When should you grow Christmas Cactus?

The best time to plant this is in Late March and you can expect the flowering time between November and late January. The growing season is from April-September.

SHOP CHRISTMAS CACTUS:  SUTTON SEEDS &  EBAY

How do you care for a Christmas Cactus?

They prefer a semi-shade situation compared to a full sun aspect. The ideal situation would be well-lit but out of direct sunlight with a humid atmosphere. These require little or no pruning, to help the plant bush-up remove the tips and some of the oldest and most damaged stems.

Where can you buy Christmas Cactus?

These can be bought online from places including Sutton Seeds and eBay.

What about poor growth, what causes this?

If your Christmas Cactus has poor growth this can be a sign of over potting and the pot is too big for the plant. These prefer to be snug in a pot. Remove the pot to check the room development and if there is no sign of new growth, remove carefully to a smaller pot. This should help with poor growth.

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Thanks for the RHS who kindly supplied us with these handy and helpful tips for Christmas Cactus.