How to repot a Christmas cactus – easy tips from the experts, including when to do it

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:

1. '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.
2. Gently remove the plant from its existing pot. If it's stuck, carefully run a knife around the edge to help loosen it.
3. 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.
4. 'After repotting, wait a week before watering to allow any damaged roots to heal,' Kiersten says.

Kiersten Rankel

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 Vasylchyshyna

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.