It's the season of the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) as bright blooms in oranges and pink adorn interiors for the festive season. Achieving such a display can be tricky, though, as it requires meeting a few specific needs. This includes knowing where to place a Christmas cactus to support healthy growth.
In fact, not only does the placement matter for successful Christmas cactus care, there are also some Feng Shui considerations. Alongside choosing somewhere bright to encourage blooming, a Feng Shui expert says these iconic holiday plants represent joy and harmony, so you should place them somewhere you wish to evoke such feelings.
Not getting placement right can be a huge Christmas cactus mistake, causing drooping, discoloration, and in Feng Shui terms, could hinder your ability to reap its rewards. With this in mind, we explore where to place a Christmas cactus below.
Where to Place a Christmas Cactus
In terms of where to place a Christmas cactus to achieve optimal conditions, you need to consider the native environment of these succulents.
They naturally grow in humid rainforests in Brazil (which is why they benefit from sitting on a humidity tray, like this one available on Amazon), found beneath the canopies of trees.
This means they only really experience bright, dappled light, leaving their leaves quite sensitive to direct sun which can cause leaf scorch.
In the home, this should be recreated by placing you Christmas cactus near a bright window, but out of direct sun (though in winter, this is less likely to be a problem).
If you are struggling to achieve sufficient light levels, place a grow light for houseplants above your Christmas cactus. This grow light from Amazon has a timer so you can set it to turn on for the optimal time of eight hours.
Something else to consider about where to place a Christmas cactus is the time of year.
Ahead of the blooming season, you need to keep your Christmas cactus in the dark for 12-14 hours for around six to eight weeks.
This mimics conditions in their native habitat and triggers flowering when it is then placed somewhere bright.
You should also take into account the fact Christmas cacti like temperatures between 65-75°F and don't respond well to sudden fluctuations. For this reason, avoid drafts paths and spots near heating vents.
What Feng Shui Says About Christmas Cactus Placement
It may surprise you to hear that Christmas cactus is a Feng Shui plant, especially during the festive season.
'In Feng Shui, the meaning of Christmas cacti surrounds joy, hope, harmony in relationships, and prosperity,' explains Hannah Yang, Psy.D, licensed psychologist and Feng Shui Expert.
'As well as blooming at this time of year, I like to think it's associated with Christmas because it's like a good host – transmitting joy and promoting social harmony,' she adds.
For this reason, a Christmas cactus makes an incredibly meaningful table centerpiece for all your guests to admire.
'The best place for a Christmas cactus is in the heart of the home where people gather. Think spaces like the living room and dining room,' says Hannah.
There are also more precise placement considerations when looking at the Feng Shui energy map.
'We can also look at placement from the bagua, which is the map of the home, oriented to the front door,' Hannah explains.
'When we're referring to the bagua map, a good placement is the wealth area of the home, which is the back left hand corner.
'I would avoid placing the Christmas cactus in the bedroom, as it can have more active energy which could subtly disrupt sleep. Also, a Christmas cactus does well in the entryway, sort of greeting the positive energy at the door and welcoming it in,' she advises.
Of course, a Feng Shui houseplant mistake is not paying attention to plant care needs, so Hannah advises keeping on top of proper watering to promote healthy growth.
'The care that you give to your Christmas cactus will be the power behind what it can do for you. So, if it's overwatered and soggy, it's not going to bring so much of the good energy. But if it's got good light and sufficient water, it's going to support the energy flow as intended,' she describes.
You can ensure you're watering your Christmas cactus correctly by first checking the moisture level in the soil with a soil moisture meter (available on Amazon) before picking up your watering can.
FAQs
Where Should I Place My Christmas Cactus When it isn't Blooming?
You should keep your Christmas cactus somewhere bright, but out of direct sun, when it isn't blooming. Even though it goes through a dormancy period when it finishes flowering, bright light will help it to conserve energy for another display next year.
As well as getting placement right, you can also encourage an impressive display by using the best soil for your Christmas cactus and using coffee grounds to fertilize your Christmas cactus.
Shop Christmas Cactus Accessories
Christmas cactus is a succulent with shallow roots, making this planter a good option. It has a drainage hole and saucer for excess water.
Give your Christmas cactus a boost of nutrients with this fertilizer. It's specially formulated to encourage long-lasting blooms.
Use these florist scissors to prune your Christmas cactus. It has a stainless steel blade for clean cuts.
This beautiful copper watering can is ideal for houseplants, with a long narrow spout.
