CHRISTMAS CACTUS CARE: How to REBLOOM Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)🌿 Shirley Bovshow
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2024
- Learn about proper Christmas cactus care (Schlumbergera) and learn how to identify between the Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, and Easter cactus flowering holiday plants.
Shirley Bovshow shows you a special technique to force your Christmas plants and Thanksgiving cactus plants to flower and rebloom indoors in time for the holidays! You will also learn how to cross-pollinate Schlumbergera to make new plant varieties from seed!
The Thanksgiving cactus, (Schlumbergera truncata), and the Christmas cactus, (Schlumbergera buckleyi) is in the same family and are epiphytic cacti from the tropics. Different Schlumbergera species bloom at different times of the year by nature.
By subjecting these plants to complete darkness for 12- 14 hours every night for 6 to 8 weeks, and cool indoor temperatures, the Christmas cactus can be forced to bloom at specific holiday times.
Shirley Bovshow will also teach you how to care for potted Christmas cactus, (proper room temperatures, type of soil, lighting, and watering) so it can live for many years. Christmas cactus plants can live for over 50 years and provides prolific cactus flowers.
WIth Debbie Matenopoulis as seen on the Home & Family Show on the Hallmark channel.The Hallmark channel is the number one channel for all things Christmas movies, holidays, and lifestyle.
Do you have a plant or garden question? Post it in the comment section.
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Shirley Bovshow's "EdenMakers" gardening videos on how to grow and care for plants, orchids, garden makeovers, container gardening, garden DIY, plant and flower crafts, how to grow food, miniature and fairy gardening, succulents, how to propagate plants, indoor plants, floral design, hydroponic growing, garden design, and clever tips for life rooted in the garden. Inspiration and practical information.
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Featuring Los Angeles landscape designer, Shirley Bovshow, garden lifestyle expert for the Hallmark channel show, Home & Family.
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I'm available to answer your Christmas cactus questions!
Can you plant a variety of these catus' in one flower pot?
@@kayesaxton4111 The christmas/easter cactuses are similar in needs so they will likely do well planted together.
@@EdenMakers Thank you!
I need to know which month is best for planning Christmas cactus
@@battilangkharkongor2944 Hi, Are you wanting to repot your christmas cactus? Or take cuttings and propagate it?
That is a very useful and interesting demo. Thanks
Hi Sheila, You are welcome! Thanks for watching!
Ha so cool. I won a Christmas cactus at my family reunion during a quarter auction. This cactus has been in my family for generations. I'm glad to know it only needs little care because I don't want to kill my family plant! Haha and i was surprised it had the most beautiful pink flowers right at Christmas time! So exciting.
Hi There! Thank you so much for commenting! I am sorry that I am only seeing this right now. That is so wonderful that you have a cactus that has been in your family for generations! Amazing! That's what makes this plant so special! I hope you have a beautiful rest of your weekend! Please let me know if you have any questions!
@@EdenMakers Thank you! I actually went to my local greenhouse and had them help me repot it in cactus soil. The plant roots were pretty much attached to the pot it had been in there so long so we had to sacrifice the pot just to put it in another one. It's still looking a bit droopy but I think its just because its not growing right now. I'm going to start fertilizing it every other week or so with mineral water.
@@freelyashley2874 That is excellent! Yay! I'm sure the plant will perk up and be happier soon. You rock!
Thanks Shirley.
Thanks for watching Prudence 😁
Who knew? Very interesting I was Not aware that a cactus' blooming schedule may be "Fast Forwarded." I also learned about cross polyinization of various cacti flowers! Highly educational as well as entertaining as only you Shirley are extremely capable of doing!
Nice to see your new vid.... PLEASE drop us a few more for the Holidays 😊!
Thank you so much for watching and sharing your feedback with me. I intend to definitely be giving you more videos soon!
Bravo !👍👍merci pour ce partage
Mon plaisir, merci d'avoir regardé ma vidéo!
Thanks for sharing this awesome and informative video, Shirley!!!!
Thanks for watching Rose!
Fantastic thanks. I love mine but would love more colours
My pleasure! Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback.
Great video! Thanks from Alberta
Thanks for watching!
Great video hermosa
Can't believe I missed it when it came out. Te amo Shirley
Hi Brans! Thank you for watching my video and taking the time to comment! I hope you have a fantastic rest of your night!
@@EdenMakers my pleasure beautiful
Hi ladies definitely going to be doing this. I going to trying this out on my cactus as well. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Tameka! Thank you so much for watching my video! Please keep me updated on your plant!
@@EdenMakers I will
@@tamekahill2826 😃
I have two, a red and pink...I've never had to force them to bloom. I keep mine outside in the shade during the spring and summer and then I bring them in in October to the laundry room and hang them up, laundry room has lots of Windows so at night they keep very cool and they produce buds there selfs.. I love them! Mine are seeming to flower faster this year. I have Thankgiving ones they always seems to bloom near Dec first but this time I think we will have Thanksgiving flowers! ☺
Thank you Shirley for doing a video!
Hi, Jerry, thanks for watching and sharing your experience with me! Happy to hear you enjoyed my video!
Nice trick! Love it!
Thanks for watching! 😁
My Christmas cactus blooms twice a year; around July and November. It sits on a shelf facing south window and gets watered when dry. It's three years old. No fuss.
Hi and thanks for watching! Congrats on your success!
Thanks so much for this beautiful information..new subscriber from India...
Thanks for watching and subscribing Madhuri!
You have such good energy and seem so very kind! I love your videos! I have two questions Shirley, I took three ... parts... of one branch and put them in new pot-new soil, some took and some died so I dont know what I will get in one pot possibilities are different colours Im so excited! I have them in orchid soil and perlite - seems too heavy. I had a problem with two of small plants they were dying... so I put a knife and really made room in the soil ... it saved them but what is the ultimate best for them? Bark-soil-pumice? Some say mix in sand.. what should I do? And if I repotted in May- can I repot now to change the mix of soil? What would you suggest I feed them and how often? My son passed suddenly - over night, two months ago. I cannot think properly. I am not able to put words together properly, sorry for these long questions that are not written properly. I only get out of bed to check my orchids and 4 different Christmas 🌵 mixed with Easter cactus... eat a bit and go back to bed, Netflix is my best friend as if I watch something really good I stop crying and forget for a few hours... last question why are some of the tips getting very skinny- loosing the thick healthy leaves? Oh, sorry ... one of the plants just suddenly have teeny tiny buds at the top of each stem...should I take them off as its taking the plants energy? Thank you so very much, may God and the universe bless you and all those you love.
Hi! Thanks for watching!
*The best type soil to use for your Christmas cactus is a lightweight, well-drained potting mixture, so look for a commercial mix for bromeliads or succulents. You can also use a mixture of two-thirds regular potting soil and one-third sand.
*Christmas cactus repotting should be done after blooming ends and the flowers have wilted in late winter or early spring. Never attempt to repot the plant while it is actively blooming.
*A bloom formula houseplant fertilizer or a half strength water soluble formula, such as 20-20-20 or 20-10-20, makes an ideal fertilizer for Christmas cactus. Feed monthly during regular watering from late winter to late summer.
*It sounds like the tips are showing new leaf growth and will thicken up, so they should be fine.
*You should only remove spent blooms not the new blooms.
* I am very sorry for your loss. I hope you find comfort and peace. Hugs!
1:I just hate how garden centers can mistake the cactuses.I think they need a better verification system to make sure it’s the high demand Xmas cactus from outside vendors
2:The cross pollination thing can be cool for a science project for school
Hi Alex! Yes , it would be a great school project! Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback.
EdenMakers Also another question.I recently got a cactus. It looks nothing like a Easter or thanksgiving cactus and resembles a Christmas cactus.The leaves has very tiny thorns that don’t even look like a thanksgiving cactus.Some of the leaves have no thorns and looks like a Christmas cactus.So what is my cactus based of the description
@@bjfifi I would have to see a picture to know for sure, Alex! Please share a picture with me on my Facebook page, Edenmakers by Shirley Bovshow!
EdenMakers I found out that it was a thanksgiving,Still nice.Alright anyways what fertilizer do you recommend for Christmas/Thanksgiving cactus.And When should I fertilize if needed
@@bjfifi Fertilizing Christmas cactus during the spring and summer months allows the plant to produce healthy growth to support the flowers. The plant also stores energy to fuel the production of buds. Once autumn arrives, a punishing routine of darker periods, cooler temperatures, reduced water and no additional food
Süper en sevdiklerim.🌵🌵
Thanks so much for watching and sharing your feedback!
Hey, i was covering my cactus just as you said and the buds appeared 😊 should i keep covering my cacti until blooming or not? Thank you so much!!! 😍
Hi and thanks for watching! Yes, just follow my instructions until it starts to bloom. I encourage you to take a look at this article too for more info.
www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_secret_to_getting_a_christmas_cactus_to_bloom_temperature_and_light
Hi , after covering the cactus for darkness and you uncover it in the morning , do i have to provide them with light ? thank you
Hi Amal, Thanks for watching. After you uncover your cactus, you can give it bright indirect light but no direct sun. I will give you a link with additional info that I hope you find helpful:
www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_secret_to_getting_a_christmas_cactus_to_bloom_temperature_and_light
@@EdenMakers thank you so much
Hi Shirley, I love your videos. I have a Christmas cactus which is flowering now. However it is dropping it's buds. It must be an odd one because the leaves are pointy, maybe it's the environment I don't know. Can you help please, the buds are dropping quickly. Thanks
Hi Lorraine! Since it has pointy leaves, that means it's a Thanksgiving Cactus! As for the drooping, this is often caused by a lack of water or too much direct sunlight.
Usually it's the lack of water. You may be watering either too little or not often enough. Thin and shriveled stem segments appear when your plant is dehydrated.
I’ve seen some bad cases of limp and neglected holiday cacti. The good thing is, that with the right care, these strong plants can perk up rather quickly.
To fix and rescue your plant, begin by giving the plant a little bit of water. Don’t soak it straight away.
Continue to water sparingly every few days until the soil is lightly moist. Your plant should soon look a lot better!
@@EdenMakers Thank you very much!!
Hi there! I’m curious about deadheading my cactus. It seems like as soon as I do, all the other flowers wilt a lot quicker. Am I imagining this?
Also, when I deadhead, I take the flower, as well as the little green triangle looking stem with it. Should I be leaving the stem and only taking the flower?
Thank you so much!
New subscriber ✨🌈🌺
Hello, Colleen!!!! Thank you so much for watching my video! I truly appreciate your support! You can remove the flowers as they die, just simply pinch them off. 5- They bloom best when tight in their pots so don't rush to repot them every year. I hope you have a great night!
Very interesting, thank you.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Love you video 😁
Thank you so much for your comment!
Thank you for posting this. I have a Christmas cactus and it has not bloomed for almost 3 years. I guess it is now too late to put them in a closet for total darkness.
It's my pleasure, my friend! Thank you so much for watching my video and for taking the time to comment on it. I am here to answer your questions! If you bring it inside now, you can promote blooming, it just might not happen in time for Christmas. :D
hi suggest feed with plant food and place on sunny window sill
it may just get some blooms
then do what i do each year never fails easter move into a dark room
less light during summer months water only when soil is dry
Mid September place in shower and wash totally with warm water cleans leaves remove from pot, break of as much soil as possible and re pot in same pot with fresh soil place into warm room with as much bright sunlight as possible
and water every 10 days or so all 3 of mine bloom every year without fail
@@robertmiller4741 Thanks for sharing your additional tips!
@@robertmiller4741 I notice some red buds on the tip of the leaves so I stop putting them in the closet. However, I bought 2 new ones with buds and flowers. I noticed though that the buds are falling off. What did I do wrong? I covered the heater vent closed to the table where the cactus is to avoid the draft.
@@robertmiller4741 Thank you
Hello thank you for this video.
I got a Christmas cactus 15 days ago ,I placed it on the edge of a window to get some fr3chness during the evening as my hous3 is heated since I live in Europe. Do you think is enough for the plant to get survive and get some blooms .
Hi Fouzia, Maintain an optimal climate of 65 degrees. Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist while your plant is blooming, misting it frequently. Light: Place the cactus in an east-facing window for moderate light and some direct sun. Fertilization: Apply a high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks once buds form.
@@EdenMakers
Thank you very much for your quick answer and advises.
One of my favorites :3. Hoping to find a purple and white one that's more full than my true xmas cactus as it looks scraggly from propagating to make it more full lol. When I got it, it was just one big branch with a fork. And I also struggled re-rooting the woodier pieces o.o.
Good luck wth that! I'm also looking for a true Christmas cactus, (schlumbergera buckleyi).
@@EdenMakers Good luck, I found mine for $2 at a random yard/plant sale listed on Craigslist xD.
@@dannyboii9117 That's a great find! Good for you.
@@dannyboii9117 So awesome!
I am so glad to see a video that explains the differences between the 3 plants. However, you mention that all 3 of from the same family. This is incorrect. The Thanksgiving and Christmas cactuses are from the Schlumbergera family and the Easter from the Rhipsalidopsis family. The Easter cactuses are far different. Thanks for you video.
You are totally correct Donna! Thanks for that correction. Thank you for watching!
I just rolled the dice.I found a Actual Christmas cactus on Etsy and the reviews seemed promising with picture proof.My heart raced and I bought it.It was 5 cuttings for 30$. I hope it’s a real Christmas cactus and not a thanksgiving or Easter. Also can I use this soil mix for Christmas cactus
Regular indoor potting soil+Orchid bark with succulent mix
HI Kitsune. The soil blend sounds promising. It will be well draining without being overly drying.
EdenMakers Also about the cuttings,Can you root them in water?
@@cantheybeatgokuthough Yes, you can, here is a link with further instructions: gardenologist.org/root-christmas-cactus-cuttings-water/
@@cantheybeatgokuthough p k9
. 77y6y66
Easter cactus never used to be in the same family. It's not that close to the other two and much more difficult to flower. Thanksgiving and Christmas are Schlumbergera, and Easter cactus is ripsalidopsis.
Hi Sophie, Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts and information.
With the pollen or seeds of each plant 🪴 , do you put them in cactus soil
Or plant soil? Do you water more frequently? Thanks 🙏👍🙋♀️🇨🇦🪴😊
Hi Diane, If you want to propagate Christmas cactus, it is typically done through stem cuttings. Here is a link with full instructions:
www.thespruce.com/propagate-christmas-cactus-7643777
Hi I bought my plant in Christmas and after a week the flowers faded . Wanted to know how to take care of it in jan and feb thanx
Hi Zain! Thank you so much for watching my video! Put it in a location where it will get four to six hours of indirect sunlight. Keep soil moist. Do not let the air get too dry.
I rooted them back in june and they did very well, can they bloom in fall this year already? (If they are babies)
Hi, Yes, it is possible! Give them dark, cool treatment for at least 6-8 weeks, or until buds begin forming. Once buds have formed, it usually takes up to 12 weeks (or less) for blooms to appear.
@@EdenMakers thank you very much! 😊
It’s called Zygo here in Australia they bloom in late autumn or winter. The blooms don’t last that long though. I got plenty of those in our old house . Their all over the place and got many different colours . I put them in hanging pots too the flowers last like couple of weeks or more but they don’t wither all at the same time . They’re beautiful. They grow by cuttings
Hi Clarito, Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts and experience with this plant! Blessings!
I recently purchased a Thanksgiving cactus from local garden store,they were in bloom but when i take it to my place sudden bud drop happened, and i realized that my room temperature were at 75 F. Is there anyway to bloom by any chance as it still does have few buds on it.Thanks.
Hi Hem! I am not certain if it will turn red before Christmas, but you can certainly try! I will send you a link here to look over with instructions. I wish you the best! Let me know how it goes. www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/poinsettia/how-to-make-poinsettia-turn-red-make-a-poinsettia-rebloom.htm
I asked for thanksgiving cactus not poinsettia 😅
@@hemrajthapa5461 Oh my! Apologies! So sorry for that mix-up. They require some time to re-bloom so I am not sure can get it to happen. Your Christmas cactus should continue receiving dark, cool treatment for at least 6-8 weeks, or until buds begin forming. Once buds have formed, it usually takes up to 12 weeks (or less) for blooms to appear. The plant should also be relocated at this time. Then move the Christmas cactus to a sunny, draft-free area. It will re-bloom but may take awhile!
Is there a book that gives a colour description of each variety of Schlumbergera cactus as I find it different to identify them by name
I don't know of a book but here's a decent ref guide here: cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=schlumbergera
Hi Shirley, please help, my Easter cactus are in beautiful blooms but they starting to be drooping and I’m wondering what did I do wrong? I’m in zone 9b, Northern California.
Hi Cindy, Thanks for watching. Generally, that is caused from underwatering, overwatering, pests, or too much sun. Here is a link with more info for you:
succulentexperience.com/easter-cactus-wilting-or-drooping-why-this-happens/
@@EdenMakers thank you soooooo much for your reply, the information you included is very helpful, you are such a cool and kind and beautiful person, you totally rock! 😘😘😘🌹❤️
@@cindyhewatt3406
@CindyHewatt it's my pleasure! Please make sure you are signed up for notifications from my channel so you can receive notifications of new videos! I'm uploading 2-3 per week! Thanks
Helo i saw your video ,I really like it . Specially the yellow Thanksgiving Cactus.The question .You have yellow one for sale .TIA
Hi, Xuan, Thanks for watching. I don't sell plants but you can find them at your local garden center. Best of luck!
@@EdenMakers Thanks
I guess I have an Easter one too...what month do I start force blooming her..
Hi, Mema! To accomplish flowers, you must be a little rude to them. First, stop feeding them. Then move the plant where it has 12 to 14 hours of darkness. Best bud set occurs when temperatures are 50 F. Water sparingly from October to November. By December, you can move the plant somewhere warmer with a 60 to 65-degree range. The plant will flower in February to March!
Hi I just saw this video (June 11, 2020). I have a Christmas cactus that only bloomed when I bought it. It has not grown. No new leaves and is just stagnant. What can I do to make it grow and also start blooming. I would love to hear from you🙏
Hi Elizabeth! Here are some tips on this page: www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/how-to-make-a-christmas-cactus-bloom.htm#:~:text=Christmas%20cactus%20plants%20should%20continue,sunny%2C%20draft%2Dfree%20area.
Will my thanksgiving cactus be okay if it gets covered up by box completely for 14 hours without any air getting through to it? Should the box have some holes maybe?
Yes, the plant will be okay. It needs total darkness for best results. Some people get "lucky" without doing all of this, but most holiday cactus plants need to be in darkness.
👍❤️😊
Thanks so much Carmen!
I brought my thanksgiving cactus inside several weeks before cold weather it suddenly budded out all over lasting about week then most started falling off what happened what should I have done differently
Sometimes a Christmas cactus plant will experience "leaf drop" if it is overwatered and the roots begin to rot. Your plant has experienced a big change from the outdoors to the indoors and usually should be acclimated to the indoors slowly. The sudden change in climate conditions, overwatering, and poor draining soil can be the reason.
I have a Christmas cactus I bought from Home Depot it was super negotiated. Water repot in cactus soil was growing new leaves and was doing fine hanging under my patio area. All of suddenly she started to lose her leaves and even a whole branch. What happen what I do?
Hi Samantha, could be a number of things. More info here: homeguides.sfgate.com/christmas-cactus-falling-apart-100811.html
Como puedo obtener el video en español.
Hola Santa, no tengo este video en español 😔 Si quieres más información como hacerlo florecer, mira esta página: succulentavenue.com/como-hacer-florecer-cactus-de-navidad/
I have this plant for almost two years but never see flowers. Please help me x
I believe I covered is issue in the video. Most,, (but not all) Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving cactus will flower without your help. The plants need to be subjected to total darkness for 10 to 12 hours each day for 6 weeks. The dark period prompts buds to grow. Please watch the video again for more details!
If I have helped you, please LIKE my video and subscribe to my channel! We reply to 100% of all comments. Thanks for your consideration.
Where do I get yellow cactus plants,thanks for your help
Hi Winny, Thanks for watching! I am not sure what cactus you are referring to? Are you asking about the Christmas cactus that produces yellow flowers? If so, I don't sell cactus but you can try your local garden center.
Thanks for your reply,hard to get the yellow cactus flowers one
@@winnylee2646 I know this is an older comment but I had to go online for a yellow Christmas (well, Thanksgiving) cactus. Some vendors charge crazy prices the last couple of years so it may take a while to find a good deal.
My cactus is getting new leaves..but no flowers...what do I have to do?
Hi there! Thank you so much for watching my video! Are you keeping your cactus in complete darkness for the correct amount of hours? If you would like to send me a photo of your plant, I can take a look at it on my Facebook Page which is Edenmakers by Shirley Bovshow. I hope to see a picture of your plant there! Please post it in the comment section of any post and I will see it. Thank you so much!
Can it flower with less than 14 hrs of darkness?
Yes. 14 hours is the goal. Key is cooler nightime temperatures! Some new cultivars may bloom without the dark treatment.
I looked everywhere on google,amazon and 3 garden centers and All I could find was thanksgiving cactuses.Do you know where I can find true Christmas cactus? I am just so annoyed that I could only find thanksgiving cactus
Hi, Candy, I discovered this same problem when I did this segment recently. I could only provide a picture instead of a real one! I encourage you to keep looking and let me know if you can find a true Christmas cactus. I wish I could help!
I have I can share wid you.Where do you live sister. I'm in s.Africa
I have I don't mind sharing wid you.love from s.Africa
How do I grow it from seeds?
Hi Janice, If you’re looking for more of a propagation challenge, you can try propagating your Christmas Cactus from seed. You can either purchase seeds or produce them yourself. Growing succulents from seeds will definitely take more time than growing them from cuttings, so if you go this route you must prepare to be patient. Here is a link with more information:
www.sublimesucculents.com/how-to-propagate-christmas-cactus/#Growing-Christmas-Cactus-from-Seed
This is not " care for Christmas cactus" This is description of Christmas cactus". I am not saying your video is not good, it's just not meet " care for ".
Hi Jemi. Thanks for commenting and watching my video. Do you have a question regarding Christmas cactus care that I did not address? Ask away! I invite you to watch the video again. I do cover basic care- room temperature, watering, lighting needs. I go through the process of how to rebloom the christmas cactus as well as how to propagate/hybridize a new one. THere's only so much that can be covered in under 6 minutes but I do believe we touched on the most important points!