Last Updated on December 20, 2022
Christmas cactus can make a wonderful plant to grow. Before you get planting, you will want to know the best soil mix for Christmas cactus to ensure your plant will grow healthy and strong. With the right care, you can successfully grow a Christmas cactus in your home.
Christmas cactus plants are popular houseplants thanks to their beautiful blooms. Their beautiful flowers will last for a long time and they are generally easy plants to grow. Their colorful blooms are a welcome sight during the cold winter months.
All About The Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus or holiday cactus is a cactus that famously blooms during the holiday season. It is a very popular plant that many people display in their homes during Christmas time.
The Christmas cactus is a type of epiphytic succulent that is native to the tropical rainforests of southern Brazil. They grow on tree branches and enjoy the high humidity, dappled sunlight, and warm temperatures of the rainforest.
They have green cascading leaves and stunning flowers that can be pink, red, white, purple, or orange in color. They grow in USDA hardiness zones 10-12 and make great houseplants to grow. They can grow to be 6–12 inches tall and 12–24 inches wide, blooming throughout fall and winter.
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Care For Christmas Cactus
Caring for a Christmas cactus is relatively simple as long as you know what you are doing. They need proper care and conditions in order to thrive so you can enjoy their blooms for the longest time possible.
Water
The Christmas cactus should be watered thoroughly, allowing excess water to run out of the drainage holes. Water again when the soil is almost dried out. Christmas cacti need more water than other cacti and succulents.
During the hot summer, water your Christmas cactus plant two to three times during the week. During winter, you will only need to water your Christmas cactus plant every one to three weeks. If you keep it in a cooler location away from a window you may need to only water it every two to three weeks.
Light – Best Soil Mix For Christmas Cactus
Christmas cacti prefer partial shade or diffused light. They can be placed in full sun during winter but should avoid the full sun during the spring and summer as this can cause the leaves to turn yellow.
Soil
Christmas cacti tend to be adaptable when it comes to soil, with the ability to grow in most types of soil. Generally, it does best in loamy, sandy, perlite, cactus mix, or general-purpose potting soil. You can also make your own mix such as three parts of regular potting soil mixed with two parts perlite.
Can You Use Regular Potting Soil For Christmas Cactus?
Since Christmas cactus plants tend to be adaptable when it comes to soil, you can use regular potting soil. However, for the best results, it is a good idea to mix potting soil with perlite or pumice, sand, or fine gravel.
Temperature And Humidity
The Christmas cactus plant needs ample humidity. When grown during the dry months of winter, you can use a tray filled with pebbles and water underneath the pot to boost humidity or regularly mist your plant.
When it comes to temperature, the Christmas cactus can be a bit picky. During its peak months of growth, it prefers temperatures between 70 to 80 degrees Farenheit. When the buds are set, the plant needs low nighttime temperatures, ideally between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and at least 13 hours of darkness in order for the buds to flower.
When growing a Christmas cactus plant indoors, be sure to keep it away from drafts and areas where it will be exposed to temperature changes. It is also best to keep it away from an area where a door regularly opens to the outside.
Fertilizer – Best Soil Mix For Christmas Cactus
During early spring and summer, you should feed your Christmas cactus monthly with a half-strength, diluted water-soluble balanced fertilizer. Stop feeding your plant when the plant begins to bud and then resume fertilizing after the plant blooms.
Container
Grow your Christmas cactus in a container with good drainage holes. Transplanting Christmas cactus plants should be done every three to four years when the roots begin to grow out of the drainage holes.
Best Soil Mix For Christmas Cactus
While you can make your own Christmas cactus potting soil mix, you can also buy premade mixes. Here are some of the best potting soil for Christmas cactus plants.
Christmas Cactus Potting Soil Mix
This soil mixture is specially formulated for Christmas cactus plants to provide them with all the nutrients they need. It contains a mixture of fir bark, peat moss, perlite, pumice, worm castings, and lime. It is made to provide aeration, drainage, nutrient retention, pH balance, and more.
Josh’s Frogs Holiday/Christmas Cactus Soil (1 Quart)
This soil is specifically made for Christmas cactus plants with a blend of potting soil, orchid bark, coir, and grow stone. It is formulated to provide structure for the roots to grab, allows water to drain well, and prevents root rot.
Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix 8 Qt.
This mixture includes sand and perlite to help create the optimal growing environment. The soil is fortified with iron for healthy growth and provides quick drainage for your plants.
Harris Premium Succulent and Cactus Potting Soil Mix, Fast Draining with Added Nutrients, 4 Quarts
This specialty mixture is made of forest humus, pumice, compost, perlite, peat moss, fish bone meal, and limestone. The fast-draining formula prevents root compaction while also providing important nutrients for your plants.
Choosing The Best Soil Mix For Christmas Cactus
Christmas cacti are beautiful plants to keep in your home during the Christmas season. Choosing the best soil mix for your Christmas cactus can help provide a healthy environment for your plant to thrive. While you can make your own mixture with potting soil with perlite or pumice, sand, or fine gravel, you can also buy mixes.
Do you have any questions regarding choosing the best soil mix for Christmas cactus? If so, please ask any questions regarding growing Christmas cactus plants in the comments.