Can You Plant Christmas Cactus In The Ground?
Can You Plant Christmas Cactus In The Ground? The Christmas cactus, a bright Brazilian plant, grows on trees and rocks. But some gardeners want to plant this cactus, prized for its colorful red, pink, white, purple, or orange flowers and long stems, directly in their ground gardens rather than as holiday gifts in pots.
Yes – with proper site selection, soil preparation, and care you can successfully grow Christmas cactus outdoors. Location is key when cultivating these tropical cacti. They require bright, indirect light and well-draining yet nutrient-rich soil.
By choosing the right planting spot, amending dense soil, providing the proper moisture and sunlight conditions, and safeguarding the plants from winter extremes, you’ll be rewarded with a vibrant in-ground Christmas cactus display that flowers repeatedly.
Intrigued? Keep reading to learn about the special temperature needs, how to plant, and ongoing care required for healthy Christmas cacti grown in gardens.
Can You Plant Christmas Cactus In The Ground?
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Picking the Perfect Spot: Where to Plant Your Christmas Cactus
A Christmas cactus needs specific consideration while choosing its outdoor ground, taking into account drainage, sunshine, and other elements that are essential to its survival.
Climate Conditions
To begin with, determine your hardiness zone and the range of minimum yearly temperatures in your region. Zones 9–11, with winter temperatures over 30°F, are ideal for Christmas cacti growth. Gardeners must safeguard plants in milder areas (zones 8 and lower) or grow them in patio planters that may be carried inside.
During the spring and summer growth seasons, this tropical cactus also favors constant warmth and high humidity:
- Daytime Temperatures
- Ideal – 65-80°F
- Minimum – above 50°F
- Nighttime Temperatures
- Ideal – 60-70°F
- Minimum – 50-55°F
- Humidity – 40-50% RH
Sunlight Needs
When it comes to sun exposure, think “brightly shaded.” Too much direct sun will scorch the flattened stems and inhibit blooming.
Bright, indirect sunlight is optimal. Areas with partial shade for half or more of the day also work well. If planting near a structure or under trees, observe the light patterns to find the sweet spot.
| Amount of Sunlight | Effect |
|---|---|
| Full sun | Scorching, poor flowering |
| Partial sun | Ideal conditions |
| Full shade | Leggy growth, few blooms |
The Role of Drainage
Since Christmas cactus grow on tree branches in the wild, their roots never sit wet. Replicating these conditions is vital outdoors.
- Seek out elevated garden beds or slopes to promote drainage
- In flat yards, build raised beds and amend soil
- Or plant in containers with ample hole(s) for drainage
Waterlogging is the enemy here! Ensure water never pools at the base for more than a few hours after irrigating.
Other Location Factors
Also, assess the following elements before finalizing your site:
- Wind Protection – Shelter from strong gusts reduces tearing of fragile stems
- Frost Pockets – Avoid low areas where cold air accumulates
- Nearby foliage – Prevent damage from falling leaves/debris
Following these location selection guidelines carefully gives your beloved holiday plant its best shot at thriving outside.
Prepping the Planting Site: Creating Ideal Soil for Christmas Cactus
You’ve selected the perfect location with bright, indirect light and good drainage – now it’s time to optimize the soil environment for your Christmas cactus. Paying attention to soil texture, structure, nutrients, and spacing sets up your Schlumbergera for success.
Getting the Dirt on Your Dirt
Start by taking a close look at your native soil makeup using the ribbon test. Take some moist soil, shape it into a ball, then push it up through your fingers to create a ribbon shape to test if the soil is right for planting.
- Short ribbon or easily crumbles = sandy or loamy soil
- Long ribbon over 2′′ before breaking = heavy clay soil
The soil should ideally be loose and crumbly, like chocolate cake crumbs.
Make Dense Soil Loose & Airy
Clay soils compact tightly, preventing air circulation to roots. To improve drainage before planting:
- Thoroughly mix compost or rotted manure – 2-3 inches down
- Blend in coarse sand if extra aeration is needed
- Incorporate peat moss to lighten heavy soil
Ensure Sufficient Nutrients
While Christmas cacti aren’t heavy feeders, providing balanced nutrients ensures vibrant growth. Test soil fertility levels before planting.
- Mix in slow-release granular fertilizer if nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium is lacking
- Work 1-2 inches of well-aged compost into the entire bed
- Top-dress annually with compost or worm castings
Allow Ample Space Between Plants
Give those paddle-shaped stems room to arch gracefully! Space Christmas cactus:
- 12-18 inches apart for fuller individual plants
- 24 inches apart for an airy, natural look
If planting in rows, allow 18-24 inches between rows.
Planting Holes
When you’re ready to transplant your Christmas cactus, carefully remove them from containers and loosen tangled roots before setting them into the soil.
Dig holes:
- 2x as wide as the root ball
- Only deep enough to set the root crown just below the surface
This gives the roots room to expand easily underground.
With the planting site cleared of weeds, lightened, and enriched, you’ve created the ideal cushiony yet drainage-enhanced soil environment.
Planting Your Christmas Cactus with Care
The prep work is done – you’ve amended the soil, ensured proper drainage, and selected healthy plants. Now comes the fun part: putting those Christmas cacti in the ground! Follow these key steps for seamless transplanting.
Know the Best Planting Times
As mentioned earlier, Christmas cactus can be planted outdoors year-round in frost-free regions (zones 9-11). But for cooler climates, spring is ideal after the last expected freeze.
Early spring planting gives roots a chance to establish before the summer heat. It also allows time to harden plants off for winter dormancy.
If planting later in the growing season, pay close attention to acclimation and winter care.
Carefully Remove from Pots
Slide plants from plastic nursery pots, gently loosen tangled roots along the sides and bottom, then place in prepared holes.
For potted plants, remove the bottom before transplanting to prevent exposed roots from continuing to circle the periphery.
Backfill with Amended Soil
Fill in around plants with your enriched soil mix, firming the area around the roots. Leave a slight depression around the base.
Water Thoroughly
Pour a large volume of water slowly around each plant to saturate the entire root zone. This removes air pockets and establishes direct soil contact.
Proper watering after transplanting is critical – don’t let initial dryness stunt root growth!
Provide Initial Partial Shade
Shield plants from direct sun the first week after planting to prevent stress or scorching of tender new growth.
Once established, Christmas cactus will tolerate 4-6 hours of bright light.
With attention to planting techniques, your Christmas cactus will settle nicely into their new garden homes.
Keeping Your Christmas Cactus Thriving
Congratulations, you did a great job planting your Christmas cactus! Now a little attentive care will keep them flourishing season after season. Let’s explore key elements like water, fertilizer, and winter protection.
Strike a Balance with Water
Christmas cactus prefer even moisture – not too wet or dry. Stick your finger into the soil to gauge water needs:
- Water whenever the top 1-2 inches become partially dry
- Soak thoroughly, allowing excess moisture to drain away
- Never allow water to pool at the base for more than a few hours
Alter watering frequency based on weather, soil type, and other factors influencing dryness.
Feed Lightly for Optimal Blooms
While heavy feeders, Christmas cactus don’t require abundant fertilizer. But regularly applying dilute balanced plant food encourages lush growth and prolific blooms.
- Use blossom-booster or houseplant fertilizer, mixed at 1⁄2-strength
- Feed every 2-3 weeks from spring through summer
- Discontinue in fall to promote bud set
Monitor for Pests
Check plants frequently for signs of infestation, treating promptly before populations explode:
- Mealybugs – Cottony masses on stems
- Aphids – Clustered dots on new growth
- Fungus gnats – Tiny flying insects emerging from the soil
Isolate affected plants. Remove pests with mild soap spray or appropriate organic treatments.
Protect from Temperature Extremes
In zones 8 and below, Christmas cactus will likely need some protection from extreme cold and frost. Various approaches can “winterize” plants:
- Heavy mulching around the base
- Burlap wrapping of stems
- Moving containers to unheated covered areas like garages
- Bringing potted plants indoors near cool sunny windows
Even in warm climates, shield plants if an unusual cold snap occurs. Prevent the loss of cold-sensitive buds and stems.
Provide Support as Needed
If long, spreading stems extend too far without support, prop them up or gently guide them along trellises and features. This prevents breakage in wind and heavy rain.
Prune for Shaping & Bloom Optimization
Around early spring when new growth appears, you can prune Christmas cactus to:
- Remove dead or damaged segments
- Shape and contain size
- Encourage bushy, compact growth habit
- Optimize flowering the following season
Through attentive watering, fertilizing, pest management, and appropriate winter care, your beloved holiday plants will thrive season after season – repaying you with their vibrant blooms!
Parting Thoughts
What a journey it’s been! We started by dispelling doubts about successfully growing delicate Christmas cactus directly in garden soil. Through careful attention to climate considerations, drainage needs, soil enrichment, sunlight patterns, and other location factors, you can identify the optimal outdoor spot for these epiphytic cacti.
Combine thoughtful site preparation with proper planting techniques and consistent care tailored to these tropical plants, and you’ll be rewarded with vibrant in-ground specimens thriving year after year.
Their graceful dangling stems adorned with colorful holiday blooms will delight as a living celebration of the season for years to come. Hopefully, you feel equipped to cultivate your own gorgeous garden Christmas cactus!
