The Secret to Long-Lasting Christmas Cactus Blooms Lies in Its Soil – Discover the Best Mix to Use and the Devastating Consequences of Choosing the Wrong Type

There's one houseplant everyone's obsessed with at this time of year: the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera). This beautiful plant shines through the festive season with long tendrils topped with bright flowers. They also happen to be one of the most demanding houseplants, with highly particular needs around water, soil, and light.

When it comes to caring for a Christmas cactus, soil is often overlooked. But, the truth is, without the right growing medium, you're unlikely to get a Christmas cactus to bloom for very long at all. In fact, getting the soil mix wrong can even kill off your Christmas cactus.

As a succulent (that's right, it isn't actually a cactus), these plants require well-draining soil that doesn't lock in too much moisture. You'll also want a nutrient-rich soil that encourages bright, long-lasting blooms. With so many houseplant potting mixes on the market, how do you know which to opt for? Informed by my own houseplant expertise and hands-on Christmas cactus experience, I reveal here what the best soil for a Christmas cactus is – I promise it will deliver vibrant blooms through the holidays and beyond.

What is the best soil for a Christmas cactus?

When it comes to the best soil for a Christmas cactus, my advice is to follow succulent care.

Though it has cactus in its name, Schlumbergera is actually a succulent native to coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil.

From my experience, this means you can get away with giving your Christmas cactus the same care as other indoor succulents, including using the best soil for succulents.

Most importantly, this is a soil that is well-draining, as oversaturated soil will cause your Christmas cactus to droop or turn yellow. It may even experience houseplant root rot, leading to the plant's death.

The reason this is so important is because in its natural habitat, Christmas cactus is an epiphyte, i.e. it doesn't grow in soil, but rather on surfaces like tree bark – orchids and monsteras are other examples of this.

Usually its roots are exposed to air (aerial roots), so a dense potting mix that suffocates the roots isn't going to work well.

The good news is Christmas cactus will tolerate a wide range of well-draining soil types, from a sandy mix to a standard houseplant potting mix (like this one from Amazon). Other ingredients that work well for these plants include pine or orchid bark, perlite, and pumice.

However, to get the most out of your Christmas cactus, you should opt for a nutrient-rich soil. In particular, you'll want one rich in phosphorus, the essential plant nutrient that encourages blooming.

There are specific Christmas cactus potting mixes available online, like this one from Amazon. Or, you can add some amendments to a houseplant or succulent potting mix (from Walmart) to boost the nutrient levels.

Simply pot you Christmas cactus up in your chosen base soil and use a Christmas cactus fertilizer (available at Amazon) to boost nutrients. You can also use coffee grounds to fertilize a Christmas cactus effectively.

If you want to add even more drainage to your Christmas cactus soil, add in vermiculite. This lightweight mineral is a popular material for aerating plant soil, improving drainage and reducing the risk of compaction.

FAQs

Can I grow my Christmas cactus in water?

While it is possible to grow a Christmas cactus in water alone, it is unlikely to reach its full potential. Growing it in soil will provide better access to essential nutrients and encourage bigger growth and long-lasting blooms. However, it is incredibly easy to propagate a Christmas cactus and root its cuttings in water to multiply your plant collection.

Don't worry if you have used the wrong soil and your plant is struggling from excess moisture, there are a few things you can do to save a overwatered Christmas cactus. I also urge you to take a closer look at your plant, it might be that you actually have a Thanksgiving cactus rather than a Christmas cactus. The two look similar but have differing leaf shapes to distinguish them, and they also have slightly differing needs.

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