Christmas Cactus blooms in winter, producing flowers on the tips of its thick fleshy leaves. Although hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10 through 12, it is usually grown as an indoor holiday plant.
A Christmas Cactus requires repotting every three years. Repot it in spring after it finishes blooming for the season, but its foliage and roots still grow actively. Planting your Christmas Cactus in the correct potting mix will help the plant remain healthy and ensure a good bloom next season.
In its native Brazil, Christmas Cactus has specific growing conditions. It is an epiphyte, meaning it grows on the trunks of larger trees and gains most of its moisture from the air. It sinks its roots into decomposing leaves and debris resting on the sides of trees. It also draws some moisture from this makeshift soil, but because of its small volume and position high in the air, this soil dries out quickly, even with daily rainfall. This means that the best soil for Christmas Cactus is extremely well-draining. Heavy garden soil or potting soil designed to retain moisture will suffocate the roots, making Christmas Cactus grow and flower poorly. It also may result in root rot.
Homemade Potting Soil
Making your potting soil mix ensures the cactus is in the best-growing medium. Begin with sterile compost or garden loam, and mix it with equal portions of perlite and milled peat. The perlite and peat aerate the soil mixture and provide drainage, while the compost or loam retains nutrients and enough moisture to support the roots. Using sterilized ingredients prevents introduction of diseases and pest organisms into the mixture.
Bagged Options
A standard commercial potting mixture works well with only slight amendments. Choose a pH-balanced mix with no added fertilizers. A pH-balanced potting soil has a fairly neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.0. It is neither too acidic nor too alkaline for the cactus. A mixture containing 60 to 80 % soil and 20 to 40 % perlite needs no further amending. If the mixture does not contain perlite, mix three parts of potting soil with two parts perlite before using it. Alternatively, use potting soil specifically designed for cacti because that kind of potting mix already contains extra drainage materials.
Source: sfgate.com
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