Often when someone thinks of a Christmas cactus, they think of the large, showy type. But there are also smaller varieties and subtleties within their characteristics that can be overlooked. The most important factor in caring for your Christmas Cactus is to make sure you don’t overwater it and restrict its movement. Watering a Christmas Cactus more often than normal can cause root rot. This will result in browning of the plant and death of the plant. Christmas cacti make great houseplants as long as you’re careful to not overwater them. In this article, we’ll look at how often do you water a Christmas Cactus.
Table of Contents
THE PROBLEM OF OVERWATERING –
According to Mr. West, “They are not exactly the same plants … but the roots are all one, so there is a whole of them. An overwatered Christmas Cactus is the same as giving it too much room to stretch out.”
Raw seedlings can be formed quicker than regular cacti in general. This means that it will be possible to overwater your Christmas Cactus sooner than you would normally. They can also become susceptible to root rot if they’re overwatered. The best way to prevent root rot is to water them very sparingly. Only water when the soil has dried out, and only do so a little bit at a time. Let the plant dry out in between watering, so that it doesn’t become susceptible to root rot.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU WATER A CHRISTMAS CACTUS –
The watering schedule depends on how large your Christmas cactus is and how much you’ve overwatered it in the past. As you can see in the following table, the ideal frequency of watering is somewhere between once a month and once every two months.
If it’s been one month since you last watered your Christmas cactus, water it generously – enough to make sure the bottom inch of soil is moistened. As long as there are no signs that your plant is suffering from root rot, go ahead and water it another time when the soil has completely dried out – but only just enough to moisten the top inch of soil. If it’s been more than two months since you last watered it, you’ll have to water it more often because the roots will have grown quite a bit. So water the plant generously – enough to make sure the bottom inch of soil is moistened – and then wait another month until the soil has completely dried out.
The flatter you’re Christmas cactus, the less frequently you should water it. The larger and taller your plant is, the more frequently you should water it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Christmas cactus need a lot of sun?
They generally receive full sun as long as they’re watered and have water available. But because this is a houseplant, it’s not necessary to put it outside in the sun. They can be put outside on a patio if they’re put in a pot that’s placed on top of a cooler with cold water in it.
How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is overwatered?
A sign of overwatering is if there are cracks in the soil at the base of the cactus. If your Christmas cactus shows signs of this, allow it to dry out completely before you water it again.
When do Christmas cactus bloom?
Most varieties bloom in April or May, but some will bloom earlier or later than that. Most flowering is done before noon and the night time between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Conclusion:
The Christmas Cactus, or Sporobolus heterolepis as it is scientifically known, flowers almost every year. It is a hardy plant which will grow year-round in warm and sunny areas. The Christmas Cactus lives on the gravel, rocks, or sand of dry river beds.
The Christmas Cactus needs to be well watered to grow. You should water the Christmas cactus once every week to 10 days and make sure that the pot has drainage holes (you can also put gravel at the bottom). You want to make sure that your plant stays moist but not waterlogged.
