"Christmas" Cactus in White Beige Pot

Schlumbergera sp. “Holiday Cactus”

Light: During the late fall and all winter long, Schlumbergera like full, direct sunlight. Any other time of the year, the plants should be grown in partial sun conditions. Too much light during non-flowering times will cause the plant to turn yellow and fail to produce buds in the coming year.

Water: Although considered a cactus, this is a tropical plant. The soil should be kept a bit more moist, just allowing the top third to half of the soil to dry between waterings. Soil should be loose and airy. Using a mix that is at least partially arid succulent soil is ideal. Never allow the soil to become water-logged, or allow water to stand in the saucer.

Environment: Christmas cactus appreciate higher humidity, but will tolerate dry air. Temperature should be kept between 60-70 degrees fahrenheit. This holiday cactus will drop its flower buds when it's stressed from dry soil, low light, blasts of cold air from doorways or repotting while it's in bloom. Once buds set, don't move your plant around. Changes in light and temperature (besides nightly fluctuations) may cause blooms to fall off. 

Toxicity:  Reported to be non-toxic for cats and dogs

Of Note:

• Christmas cactus require a resting period to bloom again, from Feb-March. During this time keep temperatures at approximately 55°F and water less. Pre-flowering period from Oct-Nov requires the soil to be kept fairly dry until flowers bud, and then resume normal watering and temperatures.

• A high dose of magnesium in the soil is helpful for proper growth, which is achieved through a mixture of 1 teaspoon epsom salts to 1 gallon of water. Apply on a monthly basis from early spring through early fall, and should be given two weeks after a regular fertilizer treatment for best results.
• Repotting Christmas cactus is usually only necessary every 2 to 3 years. Christmas cactus prefers to be slightly pot-bound and blooms best this way. Wait till spring or early summer to repot -- never while it's budding and blooming, which can cause them to drop.
  
  *When planting in a pot without a drainage hole, avoid over watering by estimating 25% of the container’s overall volume, with appropriate drainage materials incorporated when planting.

Here are some things to consider when choosing the best pot for your plants.

Drain hole vs. no drain hole

A drain hole in your pot makes for easier water management as you have control over the amount of water that the plant receives.  

We understand, however, that one might aesthetically prefer pots without saucers. For these instances where a cachepot (pot without drainage) is preferred, we recommend either keeping the plant in a grower’s pot for easy removal and water control, or potting in the cachepot by using a faux drainage layer to avoid overwatering. To plant with faux drainage, estimate 25% of the container's overall volume and fill the base with drainage material, such as lava rock, when planting. Please note that you can still overpour with water and not many plants like having wet feet. You will need to monitor your watering carefully to make sure the appropriate amount of water is provided. 

Material

Pottery is made from different types of materials and some may not be suitable for outdoor use. If using your pot outside, please make sure there’s ample drainage and that the pot can be used outdoors without fear of cracking due to the expansion and contraction of the soil during winter. If it’s not able to be outside for the winter, you’ll need to plan on storing it inside to avoid damage. Some material, such as terracotta, will naturally breath and change visual appearance or coloration when wet or over time.  

Condensation

Even if you have a saucer or you’re using a cachepot, there’s still a chance that there could be condensation at the bottom of  your container. It’s always recommended to use a floor pad underneath to protect the floor from rings.

When to pot up: Choosing the right size

Many times, your plant doesn’t need to be potted up — or at least not right away. If your plant doesn’t need more space right away, it’s OK to stick with a pot the same size or slightly larger than the grower’s pot or previous pot it was in. Do not downsize. If it’s  time to re-pot, we recommend going about 10–20% larger. Talk to us about your plant's needs if you’re unsure about whether or not to re-pot. Spring is a great time to repot or size up to allow for the natural flow of the plant's growth. 

Please pay attention to the actual interior pot size listed to make sure it’s the desired size. As a grower's pot can vary in dimensions, your plant might have to be potted if the grower’s pot doesn’t fit exactly in the pot.

For outdoor plants, you must take into consideration overwintering the plant to mimic in ground planting: more soil, more insulative properties. Speak to us about what plants might work well for overwintering outside.

Delivery

• Delivery fees are dynamic according to volume ordered and are priced by zip code.
• Delivery fee is charged on top of order total.
• We will either use a third party delivery service or our own in house driver at our discretion.  
• Deliveries will be anytime between the hours of 11-6 on the day selected. While we can not guarantee specific time frames, we will do our best to accommodate your preference of timeframe if noted.  
• If it is a residential delivery with no doorman, we will reach out to the recipient to arrange delivery prior to scheduling.
• All deliveries are curbside.  Driver will not set and place inside home or business. 
• If the delivery is returned to Sprout Home due to the recipient not being available, an invoice will be sent to the purchaser for payment due for redelivery.

Pick Up

• Pick up orders will be automatically processed for requested day of pick up between the hours of 11-6.
• Please note which store you are picking up from when ordering.  We have two storefronts in Chicago and product availability can vary depending on order. 

Shipping

• We ship USPS priority and USPS ground advantage within the Continental USA.  We do not currently accept international orders.
• Timing and fees vary depending on delivery location and size and weight of package.  
• We will normally get your package out within 3 business days. 
• Not all items are shippable. All live plants and fresh floral are included in those items that we do not ship, they are available for local delivery or Chicago pick up only. The cart will not let you check out with shipping selected if there are only delivery or pick up items available.
• Items that are available to ship you will see a 'this item is available for shipping' logo on the item description.
• If a package is returned due to insufficient address we will contact sender for clarification and will need to charge for additional shipping.