Yes, and they don't like to be in a draft. Any bits that fall off can just be poked back into the pot and will quickly root. The word "cactus" gives it away though - it really doesn't need much water. If the central part is really manky, Replant the good bits when its finished flowering. I think it's unkillable. I put the pots in the greenhouse for summer, but this year I've had nibbled leaves and just had to therow out a caterpillar for the birds!
My mother had rootbound specimens which rarely received water yet they all flowered for several long periods each year. I always suspected they thought death was imminent and were determined to produce seed for the next generation. From time to time I would take cuttings and lavish care on them ( I'm competitive by nature) but never produced anything with the impact of those poor starving specimens in glorious bloom.
Christmas cactus is an epiphyte, growing naturally on tree trunks, where fallen leaves and plant debris make up the bulk of its soil. When grown in a pot, the plant needs a well-drained and well-aerated soil that allows its roots to breathe. Heavy garden soil or potting soil designed to retain a lot of moisture will suffocate the roots, making the Christmas cactus grow and flower poorly. It also may result in root rot and the Christmas cactus' death.
Mixing your own potting soil allows you to ensure the cactus is in the best growing medium. Begin with sterile compost or garden loam, and mix it with equal portions of perlite and milled peat. The perlite and peat aerate the soil mixture and provide drainage while the compost or loam retains nutrients and enough moisture to support the plant's roots. Using sterilized ingredients prevents the introduction of diseases and pest organisms into the mixture.
Well-drained soil helps a Christmas cactus grow well only when the plant pot also allows excess moisture to drain. The pot must have at least one drainage hole in its bottom. Repot your Christmas cactus in spring, after it finishes flowering for the season but when its foliage and roots still grow actively. Allow the plant's potting mixture to dry out between watering sessions, and empty the pot's drip tray after each watering so the cactus doesn't sit in standing water.
My cactus started as a Christmas Cactus but now flowers regularly through the year. I only water it when the soil is rock hard, it has not been repotted for at least five years and I also add baby bio, or cactus feed periodically. Like everyone says they seem to thrive on neglect with odd bouts of TLC. Just a shame the flowers each only last a short while, but given how long each flowering sessions is I just love it.
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Yes, and they don't like to be in a draft. Any bits that fall off can just be poked back into the pot and will quickly root. The word "cactus" gives it away though - it really doesn't need much water. If the central part is really manky, Replant the good bits when its finished flowering. I think it's unkillable. I put the pots in the greenhouse for summer, but this year I've had nibbled leaves and just had to therow out a caterpillar for the birds!
My mother had rootbound specimens which rarely received water yet they all flowered for several long periods each year. I always suspected they thought death was imminent and were determined to produce seed for the next generation. From time to time I would take cuttings and lavish care on them ( I'm competitive by nature) but never produced anything with the impact of those poor starving specimens in glorious bloom.
Christmas cactus is an epiphyte, growing naturally on tree trunks, where fallen leaves and plant debris make up the bulk of its soil. When grown in a pot, the plant needs a well-drained and well-aerated soil that allows its roots to breathe. Heavy garden soil or potting soil designed to retain a lot of moisture will suffocate the roots, making the Christmas cactus grow and flower poorly. It also may result in root rot and the Christmas cactus' death.
Mixing your own potting soil allows you to ensure the cactus is in the best growing medium. Begin with sterile compost or garden loam, and mix it with equal portions of perlite and milled peat. The perlite and peat aerate the soil mixture and provide drainage while the compost or loam retains nutrients and enough moisture to support the plant's roots. Using sterilized ingredients prevents the introduction of diseases and pest organisms into the mixture.
Well-drained soil helps a Christmas cactus grow well only when the plant pot also allows excess moisture to drain. The pot must have at least one drainage hole in its bottom. Repot your Christmas cactus in spring, after it finishes flowering for the season but when its foliage and roots still grow actively. Allow the plant's potting mixture to dry out between watering sessions, and empty the pot's drip tray after each watering so the cactus doesn't sit in standing water.
d.h. Welcome
Hope you don't mind me pointing out that it's good practice to post the link to the website the information comes from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/kind-soil-should-use-grow-christmas-cactus-99987.html .
It saves all that cutting and pasting, and credits the author for their work - saves getting into trouble re copyright issues too
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
ok sorry
No problem - I like Christmas cactuses
Are yours in flower at the moment?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I like bassets too ... one called Charlie walks past my house quite regularly - his owner likes my car and keeps offering to swap ..............
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My cactus started as a Christmas Cactus but now flowers regularly through the year. I only water it when the soil is rock hard, it has not been repotted for at least five years and I also add baby bio, or cactus feed periodically. Like everyone says they seem to thrive on neglect with odd bouts of TLC. Just a shame the flowers each only last a short while, but given how long each flowering sessions is I just love it.