Product Description

The best way to be sure your plant is getting just the right amount of water is to wait until the soil is dry on the top and still a bit moist toward the bottom. Then water the plant until the soil is saturated. Drain off any excess water that accumulates on the bottom. Then do not water again until the top half of the soil feels dry to the touch again. Well-drained soil is very important. A high quality cactus mix is great. If you can't find any that is made for cactus you can mix two parts regular potting soil with one part coarse sand. In order to insure your plant will bloom in time for Christmas, you will need to give the plant a rest period. Cut back on the watering leaving the soil only partly moist. Allow at least 14 hours of total darkness for the plant at night and sun during the day, until the buds begin to form. Start the dark period in early September. Once the buds form they can take from 10 to 12 weeks to fully bloom. After the Christmas cactus is done blooming you can prune it to incourage new growth. You'll also find that the plant will bloom better next year if it is trimmed. As new growth appears in the spring, put a diluted solution of liquid houseplant fertilizer 2 to 3 weeks after the start of the new growth. The cactus should be repotted every 2 to 3 years depending on how depleted the soil is. Repotting should be done in the spring. The plant you will receive is growing in a 4 inch pot. There are 3-6 plants per pot. With proper care the plants will bloom for Christmas.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #188 in Lawn & Patio
• Brand: Hirts: Cacti & Succulents

Features

• Proper name is Schlumbergera Bridesii; native to the South American jungles
• Flowers bloom once a year and come in shades of fuchsia, yellow, salmon, pink, white, orange, red and sometimes a combination
• Tropical; requires sunlight
• Blooms last longer with cooler temperatures; keep away from heaters, fireplaces, radiators, furnace ducts, and other heat sources
• Place in a sunny location while indoors; outdoors during the summer, place in a mix of sun and shade to prevent the plant from getting burned

Customer Reviews

RED Christmas Cactus Plants
These plants are expensive on Amazon, but are the highest quality (from Hirt's Nursery) so worth it. We bought three (free shipping) for a Christmas 2009 centerpiece decoration and they are growing fast and look great! We arranged them in "cactus mix" in a larger pot and put them in a sunny Eastern exposure window. Looks like we'll have an extra large gorgeous plant, in full bloom, just in time for Christmas! If you're after quality results, buy your Christmas Cactus from Hirt's!

Christmas Cactus
All of my plants ordered were packed well, though there were a few broken tips, which were replanted. The pots were full of plants and very healthy. Some are starting to bloom already.