Too much sun will scorch its leaves, and too little may cause flower buds to drop. How Much Sun does a Christmas cactus need? Let’s find out!
The holiday cactus isn’t your average houseplant—from the ideal temperature to a dark period, its quirky needs make its festive blooms precious! And sunlight is a key factor in helping it thrive—so how much sun does a Christmas cactus need to flourish? Let’s dig in!
How Much Sun Does A Christmas Cactus Need
Native to Brazil’s humid rainforests, Schlumbergera is an epiphytic cactus that lives high up in the trees, soaking in the dappled sunshine that filters through thick canopies. Unlike regular desert cacti, the holiday cactus thrives in cooler, shadier spots with ample humidity.
This explains why the Christmas cactus does so well indoors, as long as the temperature, watering, and light are correct. It prefers 4-6 hours of indirect or filtered sunshine daily. The plant cannot tolerate direct, harsh sun rays, which can scorch the leaves.
When the sun gets naturally mellow during winter, you can place it near a sunny window with diffused light—but only after buds have formed. The plant needs 12-14 hours of complete darkness each night for bud formation for about 6-8 weeks.
Right before flowering, in its photoperiod phase, the plant also needs cooler nighttime temperatures of 55-65 F (12-18 C). Once buds appear, gently and gradually introduce the plant to more indirect sunshine for its beautiful scarlet and white holiday blooms.
Best Location For Ideal Sunlight
Typically, an east-facing window will offer soft morning light without the harshness of direct sun. Now, if your home doesn’t have this ideal setting, you can always use sheer curtains to filter out the harsh sun rays of a south or west-facing spot.
During the winter blooming months, the plant can tolerate slightly more sun. Also, avoid placing it in too much shade, as insufficient light will cause buds to drop, and its leaves will wilt and turn yellow. You can also use grow lights to supplement its sunshine needs.
Signs of Low Light In Your Christmas Cactus
Leggy and Slow Growth: If your Christmas cactus develops weak, soft, and stretched stems, this is because your plant is trying to reach for light. This will result in a leggy, unkempt plant with slow or stunted growth.
Drooping or Wilting Stems: In low light, the stems don’t produce enough energy to support themselves, which results in drooping or wilting stems. A lack of light can also cause the segments to become fragile and more prone to breaking.
No Blooms: Proper light and blooming go hand in hand for any flowering plant, including Christmas cactus. Prolonged periods of low light can hinder your plant’s ability to form buds—you’ll end up with little or no blooms during the flowering season.
Bud Drop: If buds have formed but have less light, they will fall off prematurely due to stress.
What Happens to Christmas Cactus in Too Much Light?
Sunburned Leaves: Like humans, your Christmas cactus will get sunburnt in too much sunshine. The leaves turn brown or yellow, develop white spots on the segments, and lead to tissue damage.
Wilting: Exposure to harsh sunshine also dehydrates the plant, leading to drooping or wilting leaves and the breaking of segments.
Root Dryness: An overly sunny spot means more heat, which can cause the soil to dry out too quickly. If the roots of your Christmas Cactus remain dry for long, it can lead to root damage and impact the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients.
Remember, it’s all about the stages! After blooming, around late winter to early spring, give your hardworking holiday plant its much-deserved break with no fertilizers and less water. Do all this, and your Christmas cactus will reward you with blooms for several decades!
