Christmas Cactus

[237SJ]

I was going to give away my Mum`s christmas cactus but I think I might keep it as it is something she nurtured. She had it in a north facing window and it seemed to do quite well (although the leaves look a little washed out). I was going to put it on a table at the far end of a south facing room. Would this be OK? I know I can google but would prefer personal tips.

[Buenchico]

About half a century ago (in my teens) I was a keen member of the East Anglian Cactus Society, learning how to how cacti from seed and to nurture them into flowering. My distant memory tells me that a Christmas Cactus (like many other cacti) needs maximum sunlight, as long as it's not actually scorching. It also tells me that, like all cacti and succulents, it needs a period of rest (with minimal or no watering) for several months. (That's where most people go wrong with cacti; they carry on watering them all year round. Some shouldn't be watered at all for periods of 4 months, or even longer)

However, after that, I'm happy to let the RHS fill in the gaps ;-)
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=840

[Bathsheba]

Sorry,...can't offer any advice,..just wanted to say I'm loving that there was an East Anglian Cactus Society, and that Chris was a member :) Is there no end to your talents Chris? ;)

Baths
x x

[smurfchops]

Mine flowers once a year, it will pick up, give it some daylight and water just a little. When you see buds dont move the plant but start giving a little Baby Bio in the water or other indoor fertiliser. Mine has lasted over thirty years, it can look a little washed out at times. If you repot, do it when there are no buds.

[janbee]

Mine flowers on an east facing window and is glorious every year.

[hellywelly4]

When I asked an elderly friend how she had managed to keep her Christmas Cactus going and flowering for so many years she said. "Studied neglect"!!

[237SJ]

Thanks for the replies. When I googled, there was a lot of info about refraining from watering at certain times of the year, putting it in shadier light at certain times of the year, repotting every 2 years etc. I don`t think my Mum did any of that and last christmas it had the best display I have ever seen and I`m not a cactus person. I might just give it a bash and see what happens and I can`t be bothered to faff around with it too much.