should i deadhead my christmas cactus

Keep your cacti looking its best during and after the Christmas season by deadheading all the spent blooms. This also encourages the plant to continue blooming. Once Christmas is over you can continue to enjoy your cacti until it finally stops producing flowers. But don't get rid of it once it does!

1. Should you remove dead flowers from Christmas cactus?
2. How do I keep my Christmas cactus blooming?
3. What do you do after Christmas cactus blooms?
4. How do you prune a Christmas cactus after it blooms?
5. Are coffee grounds good for Christmas cactus?
6. What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
7. Is it OK to put Christmas cactus outside?
8. How long do Christmas cactus live?
9. When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?
10. How many times a year can a Christmas cactus bloom?
11. Why is my Christmas cactus limp?
12. Do Christmas cactus like to be root bound?
13. How do I make my Christmas cactus bushier?
14. How often should you water a Christmas cactus?
15. How do you care for a Christmas cactus indoors?
16. Why isnt my Christmas cactus flowering?
17. How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is overwatered?

Should you remove dead flowers from Christmas cactus?

There are a few things I want to tell you about the Christmas Cactus flowers & related tidbits before I get to the blooming part. ... 4- You can remove the flowers as they die, just simply pinch them off. 5- They bloom best when tight in their pots so don't rush to repot them every year.

How do I keep my Christmas cactus blooming?

Temperature: Maintain an optimal climate of 65 degrees. Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist while your plant is blooming, misting it frequently. Light: Place the cactus in an east-facing window for moderate light and some direct sun. Fertilization: Apply a high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks once buds form.

What do you do after Christmas cactus blooms?

Feed from after blooming until fall with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food. Give your Christmas cactus 6 weeks of extra darkness and lower temps to encourage blooming. Prune after blooming for the best shape. If desired, root the stem sections you pruned off the plant to create more Christmas cacti.

How do you prune a Christmas cactus after it blooms?

All you need to do to prune a Christmas cactus is give the stems a quick twist between one of the segments. If this seems a bit harsh on your plant, you can also use a sharp knife or scissors to remove the segments.

Are coffee grounds good for Christmas cactus?

Coffee is a trusted secret that many people use to keep their Christmas cactus healthy and blooming each year. Just make sure its plain black coffee. Find this Pin and more on Christmas cactus tips by Barbra Thelen-Byrnes.

What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?

To get the Christmas Cactus to bloom you need to place it in darkness for 12-14 hours a day (overnight), and when I say darkness… I do mean dark – as little indirect light as possible is best. For the rest of the day it is OK to place the plant in bright, indirect light.

Is it OK to put Christmas cactus outside?

Christmas cactus can be moved outdoors in summer but should be kept in a partial to full shaded area. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves. ... During summer, water to keep the growing mix moist after it dries on top.

How long do Christmas cactus live?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when properly cared for, Christmas cacti can live for 20 to 30 years. If you provide long nights starting around October 1st, you can force the Christmas cactus to bloom year after year. Cool night temperatures can also encourage it to bloom.

When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?

Put your forest cactus in a dark closet for 14 hours a night, starting six to eight weeks before you want it to bloom. Bring it back out into a bright location during daylight hours. Once buds begin to form, the closet treatment is no longer needed, and the plant should bloom beautifully for the holidays.

How many times a year can a Christmas cactus bloom?

Christmas Cactus are extremely popular when November and December roll around. I happen to like them even when they're not in bloom and think they make fine houseplants. But wait, did you know that they can repeat flower? Mine started re-blooming in February, so yes, Christmas Cactus do flower more than once a year.

Why is my Christmas cactus limp?

Wilted or limp Christmas cactus is sometimes caused by a lack of water or too much direct sunlight. If you've neglected to water the limp Christmas cactus, begin by giving the plant a limited drink. Continue to water sparingly every few days until the soil is lightly moist.

Do Christmas cactus like to be root bound?

Christmas Cactuses actually like to have their roots sort of crowded. This is a struggle for plant parents because it's tough to prevent them from becoming root bound when they actually grow best in a crowded pot.

How do I make my Christmas cactus bushier?

Or one side is growing faster than the other and you want it more symmetrical. If you are pruning to reduce the plants size then you can prune back by a third each year. This will also create a bushier plant with more places for blooms to develop. This cactus below is my example.

How often should you water a Christmas cactus?

Plan to water every 2-3 weeks, but only water when the top one third of soil feels dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil, water when the top 2 inches feel dry.

How do you care for a Christmas cactus indoors?

Avoiding Problems With Christmas Cactus Health

1. Maintain the correct light/dark schedule. ...
2. Don't water too much. ...
3. Don't water too little. ...
4. Make sure the plant gets enough indirect sunlight but keep it out of direct sunlight. ...
5. Keep the plant away from direct heat sources, like a fireplace or heating vent.

Why isnt my Christmas cactus flowering?

If the plant sets flower buds and then they fall off, it usually has to do with either receiving too much or not enough water or lack of air humidity. The good news is that Christmas cacti are considered relatively easy to get to bloom again if their temperature and light requirements are met.

How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is overwatered?

In case you didn't remember to do this, one of the first overwatering symptoms on Christmas cactus will be limp leaves, which will start to drop off. Then the stems and branches will soften and get mushy. Severe cases will manifest with a foul odor and the stem will rot completely off.