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So often people purchase a Christmas Cactus at holiday time, while full of blooms and buds. Once they get it home, however, they find that they are not all that easy to care for. They produce few flowers, if any at all. Foliage becomes withered and scraggly. So what are they doing wrong?
Perhaps the biggest mistake made with these plants is not giving them enough sun. So often I hear complaints from friends and family that their cactus doesn't do much of anything. In fact, it is barely alive. Forgetting that it is a cactus, they stick these plants in a room with little sunlight, which creates a sparse, sickly appearance. Cactus' thrive in bright sun and love the heat, but do not like to be kept too damp. Soil should be rich and not too moist, and adding a top dressing of compost a few times a year is a good idea to provide nutrients. Unlike most other houseplants, forgetting to water them for a week or two will not hurt them. Cactus are meant to grow in hot, dry situations.

These plants should be placed outside just as soon as the night temperature stays above fifty degrees or so. Keep them out there all spring, summer and into fall. An area that receives direct sun all day is best. They may take on a reddish tinge after a while. Basically, they can be forgotten about, unless there is a particularly hot, dry spell. If this happens, just throw some water on them now and then. When outdoors, the foliage will grow and fill out, making them look healthy and luxurious. People are amazed when they come to my home throughout the year and find my Christmas Cactus' in full bloom. My six plants produce flowers several times a year. It is really simple to force blooming. Take the plants inside when it starts to get really cold and frost threatens. Do not bring them in too early, as they need a blast of cold to start budding. They can handle cold weather, as long as it is not too severe. Bring them into an area that is not overly warm, even chilly. After a few days, they can be put into a warmer room to encourage flowering. After the cactus' are done blooming, repeating this cycle will usually force them to bloom again. Place them in a cooler area for a few weeks, then move to a warm, sunny spot and enjoy the gorgeous flowers once again. Turning the plants once in a while, to give each side a dose of the brightest light, will also help. I have a cactus that was given to me by my husband's great grandmother. This plant is several decades old and by the time it was given to me it was looking more than a little peaked. Foliage was withered and pale, and it did not flower at all. After about two years, it is over three feet in diameter and blooms frequently, with very little effort. Just exposing them to alternate periods of cold and warmth, along with bright sunlight, is all it takes.

Learn more about this author, Anna Harrison.
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