Christmas cacti are stunning seasonal plants coming in a variety of different colors including pink, orange and white. These less-traditional color palettes bring an inviting pop of vibrancy to a home over the holidays, plus they aren't particularly difficult plants to care for overall.
However, one area where Christmas cacti are fussy is when it comes to water. It can be hard to save an overwatered Christmas cactus, so it's best to brush up on when one needs to stop being watered early on in your plant's life.
To help you do this, we spoke to a tropical plant expert about the signs that indicate when to stop watering a Christmas cactus, as well as what kind of seasonal watering schedule is best for its health.
When should you stop watering a Christmas cactus?
There's a very crucial window of time where watering a Christmas cactus needs to be significantly reduced to prevent the plant from becoming waterlogged - but it's not when you might think.
Alexandra Moreno, landscape designer and tropical plant expert, says, 'It's crucial to reduce watering your Christmas cactus by significant amounts when it's blooming, which is during winter. During the blooming stage, a Christmas cactus doesn't require much water, and overwatering it will only cause harm.'
The amount of water required will reduce further still once the plant reaches dormancy after the blooming period is over.
If you overwater a blooming Christmas cactus the most common negative results include flower buds falling off and the roots of the plant beginning to rot.
To help control the moisture levels of your Christmas cactus' soil and avoid Christmas cactus mistakes, it's a good idea to invest in a moisture meter like the XLUX soil moisture meter from Amazon and a plant drainage tray such as the Juvale plastic plant drip trays from Target. The moisture meter will tell you how damp the soil is in your plant's container so you will clearly know if overwatering has occurred, and a plant drainage tray will allow surplus water to leave your plant's pot instead of staying in the soil.
Don't forget to plant up your Christmas cactus in a container with holes at the bottom for drainage, otherwise water can't escape into the tray. If your plant needs repotting, it's well worth the work, and using a potting mat like this repotting mat for indoor plant transplanting from Amazon will make the process mess-free.
The signs a Christmas cactus doesn't need watering
If you're looking for some concrete signs that your Christmas cactus doesn't need watering anymore, Alexandra says there are two main ones look out for, which are moist soil and plump leaves.
- Moist soil: 'If the topsoil feels damp, or registers moisture on a meter, hold off on watering.
- Plump leaves: 'A well-hydrated cactus has firm, vibrant leaves. Wrinkled or droopy leaves indicate the plant needs water. On the contrary, plump and healthy leaves are a sign that a Christmas cactus has sufficient water and doesn't need anymore in that moment.
Alexandra importantly pointed out that it's vital to check the moisture level of your Christmas cactus' soil every now and then, even if you're following a strict seasonal watering schedule for your plant.
'While following a seasonal watering schedule is essential, it is meant as a general guide,' says Alexandra. 'Always check the soil before watering your Christmas cactus. If it is time to water but the soil feels moist: trust your plant more than your plan.'
An ideal Christmas cactus watering schedule
A seasonal watering schedule provides a great guideline for gardeners looking to optimize the watering of their greenery. Not only do such schedules ensure efficiency, as you know exactly when and what to water, but they also work wonders in preventing the buds falling off of your Christmas cactus.
'I recommend adjust your seasonal watering schedule based on your specific environmental factors such as humidity, light, pot size, and temperature,' says Alexandra, but the recommendation they provide below is a great starting point for your Christmas cactus:
Growth stage (Spring & Summer):
Water thoroughly every 1- 2 weeks, when topsoil is completely dry.
This stage requires constant moisture as the plant actively grows.
Bud development stage: (Fall)
Reduce watering to every 2-3 weeks.
Slightly drier soil encourages blooming.
Blooming stage: (Winter)
Reduce watering slightly to every 3-4 weeks.
Overwatering in this stage can cause the buds or flowers to drop.
Dormancy stage: (Post-blooming)
Water sparingly, about every 4-6 weeks.
Once the Christmas cactus finishes its flowering season, it goes into a dormancy stage, it is important for the plant to recover for its next growth cycle.
During and after the blooming period of your Christmas cactus, it can be helpful to boost the plant's nutrition levels using a small amount of fertilizer in the soil. The professional liquid cactus plant fertilizer from Amazon is a good choice, containing a blend of beneficial nutrients specifically designed for cactus care.
Some tap water contains naturally higher levels of calcium than others, and this high calcium concentration is unhealthy for your Christmas cactus as it hardens the water. To remedy this you can filter your water using something like the brita extra large ultramax filtered water dispenser from Target so you always have filtered water ready for when your plant needs it.
There are countless amounts of fantastic festive plants out there, so if you're looking for Christmas cactus alternatives, there's plenty of unique choices to pick from.
