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- 1). Place the cactus in a brightly lit location where daytime temperatures are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose an area with indirect light when the cactus is flowering, and more direct light when it isn't in bloom.
- 2). Water the cactus when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil begins to feel dry but hasn't quite dried out completely. Water at the base of the cactus until the excess moisture drains out the bottom of the pot. Empty the drip tray after each watering.
- 3). Fertilize the cactus once a month, year-round with a complete soluble fertilizer or a fertilizer formulated for tropical cacti. Apply the fertilizer at the rate recommended on the label.
- 4). Prune the cactus in June to encourage further branching and to prevent legginess. Cut back each leaf stem by one to two sections with a sharp knife.
- 5). Place the cactus in a dark, 50 to 55 degree room for 15 hours each night beginning eight to 10 weeks before the holiday season. Move them back into the light for the other nine hours each day. Christmas cacti require this long night period to set blooms.
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