If there is one plant that is typical of the coldest season of the year, it is undoubtedly the Christmas cactus or school umbergera. Although it blooms during the Christmas period, it is important to take proper care of this plant so that it can give us many flowers.

In this article, we suggest the main treatments for the Christmas cactus and explain how to propagate it to obtain many other plants.

The Christmas cactus is a relatively easy plant to care for. In a bright spot without direct sunlight, which could burn the leaves, and at a temperature between 18 and 24 °C, the plant should grow healthy and strong.

During flowering, the plant should not be moved under any circumstances, as this could cause the buds to fall off.

Propagate a Christmas cactus

Propagating this plant is as simple as it is practical. In spring, pick the parts of the stem that have two or three leaf segments and leave them to dry indoors for 1 or 2 days.

Place the harvested parts in a mixture of sowing soil and fine sand. Insert the parts about 1 cm deep at the bottom so that they can “stand up”. Water well and make sure that excess water runs off.

Place the cuttings in a bright spot, but protected from direct sunlight. Water sparingly and spray the leaves regularly.

After 1 to 2 months, the first roots will have formed. You can check this by moving the cuttings slightly. When they have roots, pot them individually so that they can grow.

Caring for Christmas cacti

Only water in spring and summer when the topsoil is dry and make sure the plant is well drained.

Christmas cacti suffer if the potting soil is too cold and wet. Water sparingly in winter.

It is important to transplant the Christmas cactus every 1-2 years, preferably in spring and shortly after it has come out of its dormant period.

Transplant the Christmas cactus into a larger pot and use a cactus fertilizer to stimulate growth and flowering.