When and How to Fertilize Christmas Cactus

When and How to Fertilize Christmas Cactus

A favorite houseplant for the fall and winter holidays, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera spp.) is a tropical succulent covered with fiery flowers when the days are shortest – and knowing how to feed these plants is important for an abundant flower display.

Also called zygocactus or holiday cactus, when in full bloom they add fantastic living color to indoor decorations, an ideal plant to brighten the dark days of late fall and winter.

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You can read all about their care and cultivation in our growing guide.

When they come home from the nursery, holiday cactuses are typically loaded with buds and delight us with striking flowers in hot shades of apricot, lilac, orange, pink, scarlet, and white. 

And while they’re easy to care for, encouraging them to bloom again can be a bit difficult.

That’s because they have specific requirements to induce bud set and flowering. It’s all about the timing of daylight to dark hours, plus knowing when to fertilize and when to stop feeding.

If you’re ready for a fantastic flowering succulent this winter, let’s unwrap the steps on how to feed a Christmas cactus.

Here’s what I’ll cover:

Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are epiphytes in the genus Schlumbergera, native to tropical rainforests of Brazil.

Ideal houseplants, they’re easy to care for and thrive in bright, indirect light in well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH of 5.7 to 6.5, and average moisture.

Bud set occurs during the cooler days of fall when the dark of night lengthens noticeably.

This is because holiday cactus are short day/long night plants.