Like always, the tradition of writing an article on the Christmas cactus in winter continues.
This is a very special plant for me because my grandma gave me one right before she passed away 4 years ago, and ever since then, I’ve made it my duty to put out something related to Christmas cacti whenever winters arrive.
This time around, we’ll be discussing the right way to water a Christmas cactus without drawing in unwanted root rot. Let’s jump straight into it!
Yes, There’s A Right Way To Water Your Christmas Cactus!
Before we go into deeper details, let’s first discuss the fact that there is a “right way” to water your Christmas cactus, and poor watering habits are perhaps the number one reason why Christmas cacti suffer.
Due to them being tropical epiphytes, Christmas cacti dislike both soggy soil and bone-dry conditions, meaning you can’t just underwater or overwater your way out of it. You’ll need to be deliberate to properly care for them.
So, First You Need To Understand What This Plant Really Needs
Despite having cactus in the name, the Christmas cactus is nothing like a typical desert cactus.
The Christmas cactus is actually native to rainforests, where it often grows attached to tree trunks where the mix is loose, airy, and fast-draining, more like orchid soil than desert sand.
Christmas cacti are big on moisture, but it’s moisture and not sogginess. Avoid overwatering the plant and creating a wet, sloppy mess because it will likely ruin the plant’s root system.
The Right Way To Water A Christmas Cactus
Although caring for a long-lived succulent is a very complex subject, we can break down their needs and the procedure of fulfilling them to make things relatively simpler.
If the surface of the soil feels wet to the touch, hold your horses!
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