Christmas cactus plants-help!

I always manage to kill off poinsettias

Funnily enough I’m ok with Poinsettias and keep them going for a good few years!

A neighbour gave me a Christmas cactus when I was a child, seven years old. Sixty years later, I still have it's descendant growing happily.

Well done, Springychicken.

I've grown them from leaves too. My Dad grew a lot of cacti of various types.

I inherited dils plants, Christmas cactus, put it on a window sill, put it in a free draining pot and dry plate, ignore it, water at best once a week, it will live forever. I’ve killed most of her stuff pants

Argh. More typos can’t even be bothered to correct them. Autocorrect has a long standing death grudge with me. I’m doomed

Never move them when they’re in bud, let them completely dry out before watering and never leave them standing in water (they’ll rot), feed sparingly when actively growing. They like indirect sun, don’t mind cooler temperatures- I have them on a northeast facing windowsill and on a shelf in the loo as well as on a cupboard by the airing cupboard (which is warm so they need more water than the others)

The young plant will have been grown successfully in consistent nursery conditions.

Then in the hands of a grocery supermarket it will suffer such dramatic changes in conditions and environment, the plant’s inner health will dramatically deteriorate whilst still appearing bright and cheerful.

Some will survive but most will not.

It used to be said that you should never move a Christmas cactus that was flowering or in bud, as doing so caused the buds to fall off!

Cacti should never be stood in water - it should be sufficient to water them once a week or even more seldom.

Mine flower a few times a year. The trick is abject neglect. Only when they look dehydrated should you water them.
I learned this from my mum who always forgot to water her's. My technique is benign neglect. Also, if you absolutely HAVE TO move them try talking to them. Tell them why they will be happier elsewhere etc.

Mine thrive on neglect!
Little water and don’t keep them anywhere too warm. This one lives in our unheated, north facing porch.

A cactus doesn't like being wet in the roots or a lot of light. Dry it out, water very sparingly and only slightly mist with a spray if you have a very dry atmosphere.

I bought two from Lidl. One flowered and the other one dropped all its buds. I feel it will do better next year.

They don’t like being very wet or too hot. I water mine when I can feel the soil is getting a bit dry so times between vary. It’s currently on a windowsill as I’ve recently moved house, before it was on a dresser. Don’t put it in a draft or full sun.

Mine has just flowered and still has more buds to come. It always flowers mid December and is thriving. I’ve had it five years

The same happened to my Lidl poinsetta plant. All the flowers fell off before I got home. Took back for refund.

If I’m buying a house plant in winter, I take a bag yo cover it. The shock of going from a warm shop to the cold air will damage the leaves and flowers.

I have a very large one which was my Mother’s. Always flowers. Must be at least 30 yrs old. Seems to thrive on neglect.

An update from me. Followed all advice and neglected them. More buds appearing and they are still alive.

Mine is a strange colour but is flowering beautifully, I bought it in from the greenhouse into the sunroom about 8 weeks ago and I haven't moved them since, not even to dust. They get a dribble of water about once a week.

I have one which belonged to my mother. It is quite large and at least 25 yrs old. I neglect it. Never feed it and water when I remember. It never fails to bloom at the end of November

I have the descendants of one that I bought just before my DD was born, 40 years ago. I've 3 plants, they all flower at different times between September and early December, sometimes around DD's birthday, sometimes not. I find that interesting as they are all descended from the same plant.

Currently one has been flowering since November, the main flush was magnificent and it's been throwing out a few flowers ever since...

They are very forgiving plants.

Mine just finished blooming. It is quite large, but had only 4 blossoms. Last year I transplanted it into a bigger pot and I don't think it likes it very much.

I usually get a second blooming around Easter, so we'll see.
Quizzer - yours is beautiful!

I have one of these, bought for 50p from a charity shop ages ago. It flowered last January, but has been sulking since. It does get neglected, but I'm not sure where it is best to place it. So I have put it in a brown paper bag, away from any light, for a while. Then it might go in the porch.
This was it last Jan.

Mine thrives on neglect. It is positioned in front of a north facing kitchen window. I water it from the top when I remember ? about every 7- 10 days. I has doubled in size since I was given it a few years ago and is smothered in flowers every year

Interesting thread.
I was given one in early December, placed it on a windowsill in the heated conservatory ( North facing) and it’s produced about four large flowers.Hopefully it will grow and produce many more next year.
Poinsettias never last more than a month with me sadly.