The Festive Blooms of Christmas CactusWhen selecting a Christmas cactus, choose one with several blooms, some already open and some buds. Once you get it home, place it in a brightly-lit area with several hours of direct sun. In the winter, water your plant once every three or four weeks, just when the soil is beginning to dry. In the summer, you may need to increase watering to every 2-3 weeks. You can fertilize your cacti monthly, but avoid feeding them when they are in bloom. To encourage your plant to re-bloom next year, expose it to 3-4 weeks of temperatures between 40-60 degrees, especially at night (a cooler, dark basement would work well). After that, bring the plant to an area where it will be exposed to normal indoor temperatures and bright light. It should bloom again in a few weeks. Contrary to its name, most Christmas cacti bloom around Thanksgiving and not Christmas, but they are a good introduction to the holiday season! |
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