How to grow a Christmas cactus: caring for this indoor plant made easy

Wondering how to grow a Christmas cactus? We're here to help. These jolly indoor plants are brilliant for brightening up your home throughout the cooler season. And with a few simple tips and tricks, they're easy to look after.

When it comes to your interior decor, bringing in one or two of the best Christmas plants is a great way to boost the mood. And a Christmas cactus is ideal if you're going for a more contemporary feel. 

'Traditionally, these low-maintenance plants provide a colorful display of red flowers during the festive period, but also come in pink, white, purple, and orange varieties,' explains the houseplant experts behind Baby Bio® (opens in new tab). So, there's one to suit every decorating scheme.

4 simple tips on how to grow a Christmas cactus

Planning your indoor holiday scheme is just as important as getting your outdoor Christmas decor ideas sorted. And alongside lights and the traditional tree, a potted Christmas cacti or two makes a lovely addition. 'Festive, floral, and full of color – the Christmas cactus is always a popular plant for this time of year,' says Founder of Beards & Daisies (opens in new tab) and houseplant expert, Jo Lambell. Plus, you can enjoy the look of the foliage throughout the other seasons.

'Whilst it's still classed as an easy-care plant, don't treat it in the same way you would with a normal cactus,' Jo adds. 'It is an epiphyte and is native to the tropical rainforests of southern Brazil, where they grow on tree branches. For this reason, its care should be more similar to that of a tropical plant.'

We've brought together the key points on how to grow a Christmas cactus, to ensure you get the best results.

1. Plant it in suitable soil

First of all, you'll need to make sure your Christmas cactus is in the optimum type of soil. This is especially important to consider if you're learning how to repot a Christmas cactus or potting up plants from cuttings.

'Like any other succulent or cacti, make sure your plant is potted in well-draining soil,' says the team at Baby Bio®. But also, bear in mind that Christmas cacti prefer slightly acidic conditions. Using a specific cacti feed can help maintain the right balance to help your plant flourish. 

'Use fertilizer every couple of weeks from spring through to autumn, and during winter reduce the feeding to once a month to encourage blooming,' adds the team.

You can learn more about fertilizing plants in our guide.

2. Get the lighting right

As with any successful indoor plant idea, you'll need to be sure you have the right light conditions. 'Many plant parents assume that cacti need full sunlight, but the Christmas cactus actually thrives best in bright but indirect sunlight,' says the team at Baby Bio®. Too much sunlight can cause its delicate leaves to bleach and burn, so placing your plant near a north-facing window is ideal.

Jo Lambell agrees: 'It can handle low light, but bright, indirect light is the optimum for this plant and will encourage more flowers, too.'

As it turns out, bright, indirect light is optimum when learning how to care for a poinsettia, too.

3. Up the humidity

These plants like high humidity levels. The team at Baby Bio® suggests misting your plant regularly or placing it on a tray of damp pebbles. This is particularly useful during the winter months when the air in homes can become very dry due to heating systems.

Even better, pop them in a kitchen, or add them to your collection of indoor plants for bathrooms. Both of these areas benefit from high humidity compared to other rooms in the home, the team says. 

The experts at Essential Living (opens in new tab) also advise to 'always avoid putting your cactus near a hot fireplace or radiator which will suck the moisture from the air.'

4. Rotate the pot regularly

'Be sure to rotate your plant regularly,' adds the team at Baby Bio®. This will ensure all sides of the plant get a similar amount of light, which helps it establish an even growth pattern.

'And, try placing them in a hanging pot to encourage full and even growth,' the team adds.

Speaking of hanging plants, why not create some beautiful, blooming displays outdoors, too? Our guide to the best plants for winter hanging baskets is a good place to start.

Can you grow a Christmas cactus from cuttings?

Learning how to take cuttings from plants is an easy way to get new ones for free. 

'The Christmas cactus is very easy to propagate,' says the team at Baby Bio®. It is typically best to take cuttings in early springtime. They share their tips on how to do it:

1. Using a clean, sharp knife or pair of scissors, simply take a Y-shaped cutting from the end of a stem, near the lower sections of the plant.
2. Allow the end of the cutting to dry out for approximately a day to avoid stem rot, then plant it into well-draining compost about 1cm (0.4in) deep. Place your plant baby in bright but indirect sunlight and water it sparingly to prevent rotting.
3. Typically, it takes around 12 weeks to root in, so they are perfect for propagating in spring to gift to friends and family next Christmas.

If you're looking for more budget-friendly ways to decorate with foliage for the festive season, you might like our guide on how to make a Christmas wreath and our DIY Christmas decoration ideas, too.

Where to buy your Christmas cactus

Now that you've learned how to grow a Christmas cactus, you may well be eager to buy one of your own. Christmas cacti can be bought from local garden centers or sometimes, in large grocery stores. However, buying one online can be more convenient.

Our roundup of quicklinks will help you start your search:

Where to buy Christmas cacti in the UK:

• Shop Christmas cacti at Suttons (opens in new tab)
• Shop Christmas cacti at Amazon (opens in new tab)
• Shop Christmas cacti at Primrose (opens in new tab)
• Shop Christmas cacti at Crocus (opens in new tab)

Where to buy Christmas cacti in the US:

• Shop Christmas cacti at Amazon (opens in new tab)
• Shop Christmas cacti at Lowe's (opens in new tab)