What Kind of Soil Should I Use to Grow a Christmas Cactus?

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) blooms in winter, producing red, pink or orange flowers on the tips of its succulent leaves. Although hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b through 11, it is grown most often as an indoor holiday plant. A Christmas cactus requires repotting every three years in spring. Planting your Christmas cactus in the correct type of potting soil will help the plant remain healthy.

Soil Requirements
Christmas cactus is an epiphyte, growing naturally on tree trunks, where fallen leaves and plant debris make up the bulk of its soil. When grown in a pot, the plant needs a well-drained and well-aerated soil that allows its roots to breathe. Heavy garden soil or potting soil designed to retain a lot of moisture will suffocate the roots, making the Christmas cactus grow and flower poorly. It also may result in root rot and the Christmas cactus' death.

Homemade Mixture
Mixing your own potting soil allows you to ensure the cactus is in the best growing medium. Begin with sterile compost or garden loam, and mix it with equal portions of perlite and milled peat. The perlite and peat aerate the soil mixture and provide drainage while the compost or loam retains nutrients and enough moisture to support the plant's roots. Using sterilized ingredients prevents the introduction of diseases and pest organisms into the mixture.

Bagged Options
A standard commercial potting mixture works well with only slight amendments. Choose a pH-balanced mixture with no added fertilizers. A pH-balanced potting soil has a fairly neutral pH level, between 6.0 and 7.0; it's neither too acidic nor too alkaline for the cactus. A mixture containing 60 to 80 percent soil and 20 to 40 percent perlite needs no further amending. If the mixture doesn't contain perlite, then mix three parts potting soil with two parts perlite before using it. Alternatively, use a potting mix specifically designed for cactus plants because that kind of potting mix already contains extra drainage materials.

Growing Tips
Well-drained soil helps a Christmas cactus grow well only when the plant pot also allows excess moisture to drain. The pot must have at least one drainage hole in its bottom. Repot your Christmas cactus in spring, after it finishes flowering for the season but when its foliage and roots still grow actively. Allow the plant's potting mixture to dry out between watering sessions, and empty the pot's drip tray after each watering so the cactus doesn't sit in standing water.