Christmas Cactus can be small initially and get much bigger up to 6ft in height. It needs proper care to achieve a good amount of growth.
In this post, you will find an in-depth guide on how to grow a bigger Christmas Cactus and all you need to know about it.
Let’s get started!
How to grow a Bigger Christmas cactus?
The Christmas cactus has a reputation for being one of the easiest plants to grow. They’re also known for their vibrant blooms that bring cheer and happiness throughout the cold winter months.
If you’re looking to add this beautiful plant to your home, there are a few things you’ll need to know.
The most important thing is to select the right kind of plant. Many purchase a Christmas cactus in a pot with a few buds or blooms. Be careful not to prune off these flowers because they are what will eventually create more buds and blooms.
Many gardeners who purchase these plants in their dormant state assume they will never bloom. It’s easy to bring your plant back to life and have it thriving in no time.
How Can I Make My Christmas Cactus Grow Bigger?
Christmas cacti have a reputation for being a crass and not very attractive plant. In reality, they have beauty, but it may take some time to get there.
This magnificent plant is known for its vibrant red and white blooms, almost as full of personality as the Christmas cactus.
You must select suitable potting soil to make your Christmas cactus grow more extensive.
The soil used for most plants is not recommended for use with your Christmas cactus. When a plant is young, it needs loose and open soil to develop a robust root system.
As your Christmas cactus ages, the roots need to be constricted, so the plant does not become too unwieldy. The best soil for cacti is a mix of well-mixed potting soil and sand.
You won’t need to add any fertilizer to this mixture. Be sure to add only a tiny amount of water and let the soil dry out before watering again. This will help prevent root rot in your Christmas cactus.
Factors that Mainly Affect Christmas Cactus Growth
For the best results and most blooms, you will want to keep everything the same going into the new year.
Here are the different factors that mainly affect your Christmas Cactus growth:
1. Weather Conditions
Pay close attention to the weather as this can drastically affect your cacti. If you live in a place like Arizona, where it is hot in the summer, you may get too many blooms from just one season.
If this is the case, you may want to repot your Christmas cactus and select a different location in your home that will be cooler during the warmer months.
2. Potting Soil
The soil is also essential in how well your Christmas cactus will grow. Make sure you only report your cactus every three years. During the summers and winter, the soil should be dry to the touch and never moist or wet.
3. Temperature and Moisture
It is essential to keep your Christmas cactus plant at room temperature year-round.
4. Lighting Condition
Light is also a factor that affects the growth of your Christmas cactus. It needs to be in an area where it will get a little light from the sun but not too much.
This is typically on a windowsill that doesn’t get too much direct light. It should only receive about 1-2 hours of sunlight every week.
How long does it take a Christmas cactus to get big?
Most Christmas cacti are perennial plants. This means they will stay with you yearly unless you plan to plant a new one every season.
As an adult plant, it will take your Christmas cactus up to 4-5 years to get big and reach the height you would like.
You can quickly tell when the time has come to report your Christmas cactus because it will have grown so much that it may need more room in your home.
How big can you grow your Christmas Cactus?
The size of your Christmas cactus is determined by the genetics and time that you have given to it.
The larger variety you plant, the more time it will take to reach maturity. It’s a good idea to start two or three plants simultaneously so that you can watch how long it takes for each one to grow before you decide on which ones you want to grow in future years.
The average size of a Christmas cactus is anywhere from 1.5 to 6 feet tall. The size you can grow your cactus to will vary depending on the variety of plants you have. The smallest variety can be between 6 and 15 inches tall, while the largest can grow up to 6 feet tall.
You can also quickly determine the size of your Christmas cactus by watching how fast it has grown. If your plants are starting to get a little leggy, it’s time for them to be potted into a bigger pot with more soil.
How do I make my Christmas cactus bushier?
Christmas cacti are often repotted into a larger pot with more soil to grow a bushier stem. If your plants are not growing as quickly as you would like, it’s time to repot them into one of these larger pots.
You can also add some fertilizer to the soil if you would like. Just ensure that the amount is small and only used during blooms of your plant and not during dormancy.
Make sure your Christmas cactus gets lots and lots of water during this time. This makes the plants less likely to have bud rot and die prematurely.
The size of your Christmas cactus will also determine how bushy it will be. If it is a smaller plant, it won’t have as many stems and blooms as a large plant.
What kind of pots do Christmas Cacti like?
A plastic or clay pot is the best pot for your Christmas cactus. The plant’s roots do not like to have their feet in soil with a lot of fertilizer.
Finding a good mix of soil and sand for your cacti is essential. The proper ratio should be about 1 part sand to 3 parts potting soil. It’s also a good idea to ensure a sound drainage system in your pot so the roots can breathe easily.
When you repot your plant, you should use the same kind of pot for it as before.
Conclusion
Let’s conclude the post on how to Grow a Bigger Christmas Cactus!
While you may think that the Christmas cactus is hard to grow, it is relatively easy. The variety of your plants will determine how well they grow and how quickly they will get to the size you would like them to be.
If your Christmas cactus doesn’t start as small as you’d like, wait until next year and select another variety. The Christmas cactus is an advantageous plant, and if given the proper care and feeding, it can bloom for years.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post.
