How to repot a Christmas cactus – easy tips from the experts, including when to do it
A larger container and fresh potting soil can give these festive plants a boost
There are lots of reasons to repot indoor plants. This simple task refreshes the soil and gives them more space to grow, plus it allows you to inspect the roots and remove any rotten ones. It also prevents healthy roots from becoming congested, so they can absorb nutrients and water easily.
When caring for a Christmas cactus, repotting isn’t an activity you’ll need to tick off super often. But, it’s definitely worth doing when the time is right, as it will help these popular tropical plants stay looking fabulous for years to come.
Below, plant-care experts share their tips for success. Combine this advice with our guide on getting a Christmas cactus to bloom and you’ll have a good chance of enjoying plenty of vibrant flowers during the festive season.
A step-by-step guide for repotting your Christmas cactus
It takes just four steps to give these flowering houseplants a new home:
- 'Choose a pot only slightly larger than the current one, with good drainage to prevent soggy soil,' advises Kiersten Rankel, an expert from plant-care app Greg. In terms of which soil to use, she recommends a well-draining potting mix designed for succulents or cacti.
- Gently remove the plant from its existing pot. If it's stuck, carefully run a knife around the edge to help loosen it.
- Add a few handfuls of fresh potting soil to the new pot, then center your plant in the middle. Fill in the gaps around it with more potting soil, ensuring it's planted at the same depth as previously.
- 'After repotting, wait a week before watering to allow any damaged roots to heal,' Kiersten says.
Highly rated
This fast-draining mix from Miracle-Go is perfect for repotting your Christmas cacti, as well as other succulents in your home.
Kiersten Rankel is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast. She earned her master's degree from Tulane University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology after her undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology, also from Tulane. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and tending to her 150+ houseplants and vegetable garden.
When to repot a Christmas cactus
It’s important to know when to repot houseplants to avoid stressing them. Plant expert Keira Kay of Bloom & Wild recommends repotting Christmas cacti soon after they've finished flowering, which is usually in late winter or early spring.
‘Never repot your Christmas cactus when it’s about to start blooming,’ warns Nastya Vasylchyshyna, a resident botany expert at Plantum. ‘Otherwise, the plant may shed its flower buds.’
Nastya is a professional botany expert for the Plantum app that helps identify plants and plant diseases and provides care recommendations. Her specialization is plant morphology, phytopathology, and plant physiology.
FAQs
How often should you repot a Christmas cactus?
'Christmas cacti prefer to be slightly pot-bound, so no rush to repot them,' Kiersten says. According to Nastya, they need repotting about once every two or three years.
There are other houseplants that like being pot-bound, too – a good attribute to look for if you’d like to cut down on maintenance.
Can you divide a Christmas cactus while repotting it?
Repotting is a perfect time to propagate your Christmas cactus by division.
Nastya says, ‘Use a sharp, sanitized tool to separate the cactus into two or three parts. Do it in such a way that each part has plenty of strong roots.’ These sections can then be repotted individually into fresh soil.
While repotting is a great way to help these succulents thrive, there are other important factors to bear in mind, such as knowing how often to water Christmas cactuses. There are also some common Christmas cactus mistakes you’ll want to steer clear of.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Ruth Doherty is an experienced digital writer and editor specializing in interiors, travel and lifestyle. With 20 years of writing for national sites under her belt, she’s worked for the likes of Livingetc.com, Standard, Ideal Home, Stylist and Marie Claire as well as Homes & Gardens.
- Holly CrossleyContributing Editor
-
Drew Barrymore gave everyday appliances an upgrade with this 'playful yet polished' colorway – the editor-approved hue is currently reduced at Walmart
We're labeling this shade as a baby blue for grown-ups – we've scouted Walmart's first Holiday Deal event, and these pieces are among our favorites
By Megan Slack Published
-
I bought this espresso machine purely because it was tiny – 5 years later and it's my favorite appliance I own (and right now it has 20% off on Amazon)
6 inches is the perfect size coffee machine for me and my small kitchen, but the De'Longhi Dedica has far outdone expectations and what was a quick buy a few Amazon Prime days ago it's become my best appliance to date
By Hebe Hatton Published