For those who received houseplants during the holiday season, you may be wondering how to care for your Christmas cactus. These cacti, also known as schlumbergera x buckleyi, are not native to deserts like most succulents but come from the rainforests of Brazil. Because of this, your Christmas cactus will need different care compared to other cacti, such as more frequent watering. Additionally, these houseplants are known to need more magnesium than other plants to thrive. Though you might feel worried about giving your succulent Epsom salt, it is not truly a salt but rather magnesium sulfate. Since Christmas cacti often experience a lack of magnesium, fertilizing them with Epsom salt can help them stay healthy and strong.
While Epsom salt can be beneficial for these holiday plants, it’s crucial not to use this as your only fertilizer, as Christmas cacti need other nutrients as well. In addition to your regular fertilizer, giving your Christmas cactus some Epsom salt every once in a while will help it thrive.
How to fertilize a Christmas cactus with Epsom salt
Before using Epsom salt to provide your Christmas cactus with additional nutrients, be sure to test your soil. Some potting soils are already rich in magnesium, and adding more could be harmful to your succulent. When there is an overabundance of magnesium present in the soil, it can be more difficult for your plant to absorb other vital nutrients, such as calcium. If your soil test shows there isn’t much magnesium, Epsom salt is a great supplement for your plant.
To give your Christmas cactus more magnesium, add a teaspoon of Epsom salt to a gallon of water. Once the salt has dissolved, this solution can be transferred into a spray bottle and misted onto your succulent about once every month. When giving your Epsom salt solution, be sure to do it on a week when the plant hasn’t received other fertilizers or food. Christmas cacti should be fertilized during their growing period, from the end of winter or the beginning of spring until the end of summer.
Signs your Christmas cactus needs more magnesium
If your Christmas cactus has started to wilt and you know it’s getting appropriate amounts of sunlight and water, it could be lacking magnesium. Another common symptom of a magnesium deficiency in these succulents is a change in color. These plants will sometimes begin to turn a reddish or purplish color when they’re not receiving proper nutrients. In these conditions, you may need to fertilize your Christmas cactus with Epsom salt a little more often.
Using the same mixture as previously mentioned, mist your succulent once every two weeks. When your plant starts to look like itself again, you can ease back on how often you provide it with your Epsom salt solution. You can continue providing fertilizer and Epsom salt until the end of summer, and in autumn, your cactus will bloom. When giving Epsom salt to your plants, test the soil often to ensure the nutrients remain balanced.
