How To Keep Your Christmas Cactus Thriving Year Round

The vibrant blooms of the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera spp.) can keep your shelf looking festive all year long. If you want this pretty plant to thrive, there's one important thing you can do. Repot it every few years with a new batch of fresh, well-draining soil to give it more room to grow.

The Christmas or holiday cactus, known for its bright pink, purple, or orange flowers, is a pretty low-maintenance plant, all things considered. It's drought-tolerant and prefers indirect light, so it won't even hog the few sunny windowsills in the house. This succulent, native to Brazil, grows in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, which is why most people opt to grow it indoors. It's also relatively easy to divide this plant and grow a Christmas cactus from a broken piece.

Whether you're dividing your succulent or trying to keep the parent plant thriving, there are a few things to do to make sure it stays healthy. Like every houseplant, Christmas cactus can eventually outgrow its confines. If you lift up your pot and see roots trailing out of the drainage holes, then it might be time to get a bigger container. Yellowed foliage also may be a sign this cactus needs a new home. However, note that repotting your Christmas cactus should only be done about once every three to four years. If you opt to do it more often than that, you'll be doing more harm than good.

Before repotting your Christmas cactus, check the plant first. If it's still blooming, don't repot it. Wait until the flowers have died off, usually in late winter, or you'll stress your plant. Once the flowers die back, pick a container that's slightly larger than the original. Aim for one about 2 inches bigger in diameter with plenty of drainage holes, since this succulent doesn't like wet feet.

Fill the bottom of the pot with soil designed for succulents — or, if you don't have that, mix 60% of potting soil and 40% perlite. Next, gently remove your Christmas cactus. Don't pull on the plant, as it's easy to break delicate stems. Gently knock off excess soil from the root ball and cut back any withered or rotten roots. Set the plant an inch below the container's rim. Add in more soil, but be careful not to stuff too much in. Don't pack the soil too hard when repotting, because you want it to drain well and not get compacted. (There are also many ways to use less potting soil in general.) Finally, give the succulent a generous drink of water.

You can improve the chances the plant will thrive in its new pot by putting it in the shade for a couple of days. Afterward, place it in bright, indirect light, but never near any chilly drafts, which can cause flowers to drop prematurely. These steps can help ensure you get beautiful, vibrant blooms on your Christmas cactus.