Christmas Cactus

 I was just listening to the latest podcast from BBC Gardeners  question time and one question was about someone’s Christmas cactus not doing well. I was almost in tears, let me explain. Growing a flowering Christmas cactus is so easy but most over pamper them leading to them not flowering. I’ve been growing them for about twenty years and can’t get rid of them, all my neighbours have them and I’ve run out of people to give them to. The secret? Stop watering them so often. Commercial growers use this trick so they are flowering when they want them to. My regimen may seem cruel but wait till the pot is very light or even showing signs of wilting. Then stand the plant in water for at least twelve hours to saturate. That’s all folks, don’t water again till they reach the same stage of dryness and you will have spectacular plants. After the watering it will push them into a flowering cycle.