How to Remove Faded Christmas Cactus Blossoms

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera Cactaceae) has two other recognized species commonly known as the Thanksgiving cactus and Easter cactus. The Christmas cactus blooms appear during the Christmas season in shades of pink, white and red. Providing the proper habitat of restricted light and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit forces the blooms each year. After the blooms appear and fade, the cactus requires the appropriate maintenance in order to bloom the following Christmas season.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• High-potassium fertilizer

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Grab the faded Christmas cactus blossoms in your fingers. Pinch the blossoms off the ends of the stems.

   • 2

     Prune one or two stem sections from the Christmas cactus once you remove the faded blossoms with your fingers or pruning shears. This promotes future growth of your cactus.

   • 3

     Fertilize the Christmas cactus with a high-potassium fertilizer, kind you use on tomato plants, after removing the blossoms. Continue fertilizing the plant every two weeks until the blooms begin reappearing.