Thanksgiving Holiday Cactus Plant Tips For Growing Thanksgiving Cactus

To care for your Thanksgiving cactus, allow the soil to dry out during "resting periods," or in other words, when it is not producing blooms. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Overwatering can kill the plant. Provide plenty of indirect light and room temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees F.

How can I make my Thanksgiving cactus grow faster?
How do you force a Thanksgiving cactus to bloom?
Should I mist my Thanksgiving cactus?
How do you fertilize a Thanksgiving cactus?
How can I encourage my cactus to grow roots?
How many times a year does a Thanksgiving cactus bloom?
Should I water Thanksgiving cactus while blooming?
When should I prune my Thanksgiving cactus?
Why is my Thanksgiving cactus turning red?
How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is overwatered?
Are coffee grounds good for Christmas cactus?
Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?

How can I make my Thanksgiving cactus grow faster?

Changing your potting soil may also help encourage your cactus to grow larger. Try a mix of equal parts sand, leaf mold, and standard commercial potting soil. Fertilize your Christmas cactus by watering with an epsom salt solution. Create the solution by mixing one teaspoon of epsom salt with one gallon of water.

How do you force a Thanksgiving cactus to bloom?

How to Get a Holiday Cactus to Bloom

Cool Air: Give your holiday cactus chilly air (50 to 55 F at night) for 6 to 8 consecutive weeks. The easiest way to do this is to place plants outdoors on a porch or other sheltered spot. ...
Darkness: Holiday cactus plants need 13 (or more) hours of darkness each night.

Should I mist my Thanksgiving cactus?

High temperatures, excessive heat fluctuation, and dry air are not ideal for a holiday cactus, so if your home is excessively dry because of a wood stove or another form of dry heat, make sure to mist the leaves to create humidity around the plants.

How do you fertilize a Thanksgiving cactus?

Fertilize monthly during the growing season with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) mixed at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water, but do not apply the same week as the regular fertilizer. Stop fertilization during the late summer for greater flower bud production in the fall.

How can I encourage my cactus to grow roots?

Cactus have a thick trunk full of water so they can tolerate long periods of drought, but they will thrive with more water. If you use the soak and dry method, only watering when the soil has dried out completely, you'll find it will put off deep healthy roots in no time!

How many times a year does a Thanksgiving cactus bloom?

Whatever type of plant it is, the Thanksgiving holiday cactus is a proven winner, with blooms that last for 2 to 4 months and an easy-going nature. The only real problem with the plant is its need to be fooled in order to bloom again the next year.

Should I water Thanksgiving cactus while blooming?

Humidity and watering requirements for Thanksgiving cactus:

Since the plant is an epiphyte, it sometimes has exposed roots and will gather moisture through humidity in the air. During the flowering period, keep Thanksgiving cactus evenly moist. A handy way to water a Thanksgiving cactus is the “soak and drain” method.

When should I prune my Thanksgiving cactus?

The best time to prune a Christmas cactus is right after it has bloomed. At this time, the Christmas cactus will be entering a growth period and will start to put out new leaves. Pruning a Christmas cactus right after it blooms will force it to branch out, which means the plant will grow more of its distinctive stems.

Why is my Thanksgiving cactus turning red?

Red leaves on Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) may be the result of too much direct sunlight. They do best in bright indirect sunlight. ... Reddish leaves could also mean other stresses such as lack of water or nutrients. If they are turning red and are beginning to shrivel, they may be water stressed.

How can you tell if a Christmas cactus is overwatered?

In case you didn't remember to do this, one of the first overwatering symptoms on Christmas cactus will be limp leaves, which will start to drop off. Then the stems and branches will soften and get mushy. Severe cases will manifest with a foul odor and the stem will rot completely off.

Are coffee grounds good for Christmas cactus?

It is fine that you add some coffee to your Christmas cactus but you should make sure the soil is the right type of soil to do this one with.

Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?

In general, water a Christmas cactus when the top inch or 2 of soil is dry. To help increase the humidity around your plant, fill the pot saucer with pebbles and add water to just below the tops of the pebbles (the pot shouldn't be sitting directly in water).