A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum christmas cactus

i have this one and i really dont know how to care for it but it is doing ok i think but the soil is very hard do i need to repot it or just loosen it up so or just leave it alone

here is some information I found---

cactus - Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Twilight Tangerine

Holiday cactus like a rich soil that is kept evenly moist. (there are special cactus soils that can be bought) Fertilize every 2 weeks from spring thtu August.
These cacti are photoperiodic: The day length determines when they when they will bloom They need long nights and short days in order to blossom.

Provide about 14 hours of continual darkness in every 24 hours period starting 8 weeks before you want them to bloom. The plant can be covered to provide the needed amount of darkness. filtered or indirect light. Evenly moist

I have no idea what the words in blue are really suppose to say, this is exactly as it was at the place in a book that I found it for you. I am thinking it is missing some line of thought. Sorry

I hope this information helps at least some. Good luck

I HAVE 2 THAT ARE UNDER MY PATIO. THEY GET LIGHT BUT NOT DIRECT SUNLIGHT. 1 OF THE 2 FLOWERED LIKE CRAZY JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THE OTHER DID NOT GROW A INCH. I USED SOIL FOR CATCUS, WHEN I WATER I ADD 5 DROPS PER 20 0UNCE BOTTLE. TODAY I HAVE THE BLOWER GETTING RED TIPS ON THE END. THE OTHER PLANT IS STILL THE SAME SIZE. WHEN THE DRY OUT I WATER BOTH OF THEM.

I HAVE 2 THAT ARE UNDER MY PATIO. THEY GET LIGHT BUT NOT DIRECT SUNLIGHT. 1 OF THE 2 FLOWERED LIKE CRAZY JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THE OTHER DID NOT GROW A INCH. I USED SOIL FOR CATCUS, WHEN I WATER I ADD 5 DROPS PER 20 0UNCE BOTTLE. TODAY I HAVE THE BLOMER GETTING RED TIPS ON THE END. THE OTHER PLANT IS STILL THE SAME SIZE. WHEN THE DRY OUT I WATER BOTH OF THEM.

Quote (WHEN I WATER I ADD 5 DROPS PER 20 0UNCE BOTTLE) unquote

Please explain the above sentance--do you mean you add 5 drops of fertilizer for each 20 oz of water???--and if so what kind of fertilizer do you use??//

Mine gets fed only once a year with a mixture of three tablespoons of
fish emulsion plant food


to a two quart pitcher of rain water, and applying about a quart of this cocktail to the
pot so as to avoid leaching the potting mix's nutrients out the drain and slowly add more until I see it coming out the bottom.
.


This size of pot can generally takes a quart of water every other month during the dry winter months indoors.



This beauty's thirty one fears old this year and sits by a screened south facing patio door. I keep it outdoors during the summer under the shade of a maple tree.

Good luck with yours!

I have about 8 different color Christmas cactus and leave them outside all summer and bring them in the house in the fall.

Ray