Is there a home remedy for insect control for my Christmas Cactus? Is dish soap and water safe for the plant? I also have aloe vera plants that seem to attract the same flying insect. Can I care for the aloe the same as the Christmas cactus?
Try neem oil. Neem oil is effective against many types of insect pests and is perfectly safe as well. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
I have a Christmas cactus that is nearly 40 years old! It is very woodsy, floppy and top heavy. How do I trim it and keep it looking healthy?
The following article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/christmas-cactus-pruning.htm
Can I "fill in" a Christmas cactus? If so, how? I have a Christmas cactus that I have kept alive for about four years (a major gardening feat for me). Not long after I got it, parts died off and I was left with two branches in opposite direction. Two years ago I did a cross country move with my cactus and it finally seems to be in a good place again - new growth on the leaves, new leaves coming out. I was looking at it the other day and started to wonder if I could, for lack of a better word, co-plant it with another Christmas cactus to fill in the middle section. I even thought about propagating some of the current plant and using that. Any thoughts or am I just nuts?
Both are a good idea, but I think the propagation will give you the most bang for the buck, so to speak, in terms of what you are looking to accomplish.
If you use cutting from the plant to fill in the empty spots, you will accomplish 3 things. First, you will get more plants (which you knew) but, second, by taking those cuttings, you will be encouraging the mother plant to branch out more. This results in the mother plant becoming a fuller looking plant.
Beyond this, taking cuttings is less stressful to a plant than repotting a plant so you will be less likely to inadvertently kill the plant.
My Christmas cactus is turning brown and droopy. I have been told to water monthly.
Yes, monthly watering is preferable. Christmas cactus should only be watered when the soil is dry at least one inch down into the soil. Too much water will lead to root rot.
I have a very large, very old Christmas cactus that is doing beautifully, but it has not been re-potted in many years. It measures about three feet in diameter. I keep wondering if I should re-pot it, or just leave well enough alone. I would hate for anything to happen to it. I have started many new plants from this one. The blossoms are beautiful. The plant is at least forty years old, maybe as old as sixty.
I would not repot it unless it shows signs of stress. As long as it is happy, which it sounds like it is, leave it alone.
Can you get these plants to produce seeds through pollinating the flowers? Or can you only get them to propagate through cuttings?
You can propagate through seeds, but cuttings are much easier. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/how-to-propagate-and-plant-christmas-cactus.htm
Near the end of this article, there are directions for growing the seeds:
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/cactus/growingcactus/index.html
My Christmas Cactus is already blooming. I've had my Cactus in the same south window for as long as I've had it (7 yrs). It grows fine during the summer because I have mini blinds to block out the hot sun. I have two questions actually: 1. Why is it blooming so early and will it bloom again for Christmas? and 2. How or what can I do to make it bloom later? I usually have blooming at Christmas time.
Christmas cactus blooms based on temps and light. This article will help ensure you have Christmas blooms: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/how-to-make-a-christmas-cactus-bloom.htm