Expert: Greg Simpson - 7/7/2005

Question
I received a Christmas cactus as a gift and have no idea what type of soil to put it in. I have had it for two years, and it is healthy, but has not grown much, has not bloomed, and always gets sick looking in winter. Please advise me on how to make it beautiful.  

Answer
Dear Beth,

Actually, what you are describing is very common among non-greenhouse grown plants. The christmas cactus is actually a cactus that grows in the jungle, on some other plant, not in soil. They will grow in soil however, if kept moist and fertilized.

Please follow this link for more info. Hope this helps.

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Schlumbergera.html

Sincerely,

Greg