Christmas cacti are popular for their colorful and strange-looking flowers. They are considered succulents and they’re not fussy about their foliage (stems and leaves). These plants require less food since their distribution is more within their tissue than in their roots.
The most useful nutrients an indoor plant needs are nitrogen and potassium, which mainly come in the form of nitrates and phosphates respectively. Both these can be supplied by an ideal fertilizer that works for Christmas Cactus like a liquid fertilizer.
When it comes to growing the holiday version of Christmas Cactus, you should use liquid fertilizers. They are easy to use and very efficient. However, there are a lot of them on the market, so it can be hard to know which is the best. In this article, I will review 6 of the best liquid fertilizers available at Amazon.com as well as my top pick.
BEST: Miracle-Gro Liquafeed Advanced Starter Kit + All Purpose Plant Food Refill
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The Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed Advance Starter Kit with Garden Feeder, 16 oz. Bottle of LiquaFeed All Purpose Liquid Plant Food and Dosing Spoon is a great choice for anyone looking to get into the hobby of gardening.
The kit comes with everything you need to get started, including a starter bottle of Miracle-Gro All Purpose Liquid Plant Food.
You can even mount the feeder right on your garden hose so you don’t have to worry about carrying around a separate container or remembering to water your plants at specific times.
The feeder has two compartments, one for the food and one for the water.
It’s easy to use—simply fill the reservoir with a capful of plant food and attach it to your hose. It’s that simple!
Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed All Purpose Plant Food Refill Pack, (Liquid Plant Fertilizer) 16 oz.
Pros
Feeding is as easy as watering.
It is packaged well and doesn’t leak in the box.
The Liquifeed is a great product for garden plants.
This stuff works miracles for the grass.
The spray system is super simple to use.
Very easy to use.
Cons
It does take a little time to apply but is not difficult.
Why Best
The plants respond quickly and the produce is always great.
Not just larger plants and blooms, but brighter colors and deeper greens.
Liquafeed is so easy to use and works so well.
NPK ratios of this product are all divisible by an equal number.
Good growth and greening up without the risk of burning plants due to over-fertilization.
2ND BEST: Miracle-Gro Blooming Houseplant Food, 8 oz., Plant Food Feeds All Flowering Houseplants Instantly, Including African Violets, 2 Pack
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For flowering plants, including African Violets.
Instantly feeds all blooming houseplants.
Able to apply directly to the soil or can mix with water
Apply once a week.
Promotes more blooms versus unfed plants.
Pros
Easy to use.
This stuff is amazing.
No mixing or measuring.
It does very well. Great pricing.
Can’t be much easier than that.
Cons
Works better than concentrate but is expensive.
Why Best
This product is like plant vitamins.
With good nutrition, you will get nice and strong blooms.
3RD BEST: Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Liquid Plant Fertilizer for Use in AeroGarden Hydroponic Indoor Garden, 3 fl. Oz.
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When it comes to indoor gardening, the Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Liquid Plant Fertilizer can make all the difference. This product is specially formulated for better growth and germination.
It is designed to provide your plants with all the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.
The liquid also contains root stimulants that will improve the health of your roots, which in turn will improve the health of your plant overall.
It has a good pH level for hydroponic gardening and can be used in any situation where you’re growing your plants using water instead of soil.
It contains a patented organic buffer system that helps keep the pH at the correct level so that your plants get exactly what they need.
Convenient to use dispenser cup with ML markings included.
The directions are very simple, and only require that your plants be watered with a mix of the Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Liquid Plant Fertilizer and water once a week.
88.72 ml (3 oz.) size bottle
Pros
Longer shelf life for further use.
Extremely easy to use.
Cons
The small bottle, but overall it’s worth it!
Why Best
The nutrients in this formula make plants grow better.
These liquid nutrients work best for hydroponic indoor mini herb gardens.
Schultz SPF44900 African Violet Plus Liquid Plant Food 8-14-9, 4 oz
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African Violet Plus Liquid Plant Food is a specially formulated liquid plant food that will keep your African violets and other blooming plants looking their best.
It contains all the nutrients African violets need to achieve the vibrant, colorful blooms that make them so popular.
It’s rich in all the essential nutrients, including trace minerals, for optimal growth and flowering.
It also contains an organic source of phosphorus and potassium, which makes it a complete, long-lasting and balanced fertilizer for your plants.
It’s even safe for pets if they happen to get into it.
The green color of the bottle also makes it easy to spot in case you accidentally knock it over or leave it somewhere else instead of on its proper shelf.
Pros
Smells like plant fertilizer and not a perfume.
Great African violet food source.
Very easy to use.
Cons
None.
Why Best
Foliage looks great as well.
Plants love it and grow exceptionally well.
Cute Farms Succulent, Cacti, & Aloe Fertilizer | Gentle Monthly Use Formula Plant Food (4 oz. Mini Bottle)
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Cute Farms’ Succulent, Cacti, & Aloe Fertilizer (4 oz) is a gentle product that reduces the chance of burning or harming plants as long as you stick to instructions.
It’s easy to apply.
This fertilizer has a light scent that doesn’t overpower the natural smell of our plants.
it’s safe for pets and kids, so everyone can enjoy our miniature gardens.
Its mix of organic and organic ingredients is exactly what our plants need to stay healthy and happy.
Measures out a perfect amount of fertilizer.
Each 4 oz. bottle can feed a succulent for up to six months.
Pros
The easiest way to give your cacti a monthly boost.
So easy to use and no yucky smell!
It’s very easy to use.
The container is robust and lockable.
Cons
No excuses, mess, mixing – all very clean and easy.
Why Best
The product is packaged well and arrived safely.
The liquid is thick like a gel and stays in place with a pipette.
Schultz Cactus Plus Liquid Plant Food 2-7-7, 4 oz – SPF44300
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It is great for cacti, Christmas cactus, and other plants that tend to be picky eaters.
This plant food will help to keep your plants healthy and happy all year long.
The Schultz Cactus Plus Liquid Plant Food is made from 100% organic ingredients and has no synthetic pesticides, silicones, phosphates, or petroleum products.
The Schultz Cactus Plus Liquid Plant Food contains no artificial dyes or colors.
Pros
Simplicity of use.
Easy to use dropper liquid fertilizer.
No scent
Cons
Measurement is a little tedious.
Why Best
The instructions are easy to follow and this stuff really works.
How to Care for Christmas Cactus?
The Christmas cactus care consists of several factors that help your plant grow properly. If you are a first-time or newbie, knowing exactly what those factors are will help you avoid mistakes while caring for your Christmas cactus and therefore result in a vibrant healthy plant that stays in bloom longer than expected.
Blooms
The number and quality of the blooms depend mostly on how much darkness the plant received every day. That’s why the first thing you should do when growing this plant is to put it in complete darkness starting in the middle of October.
It’s best to put it in its own container because you will need to control the temperature as well.
Make sure its temperature stays between 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit every day for 4 to 8 weeks.
As soon as you see some buds coming out from the plant, you can slowly return it back to its original place and routine. After a few weeks or months, you will start seeing some blossoms sprouting out from this wonderful plant.
It requires full sunlight in the summers to bloom abundantly. But once the days start getting shorter in autumn, you should move your plant indoors to a cooler spot with less light or even total darkness.
One way to do this is to make a special box with flaps on all sides and place it over your plant. If this seems too complicated, you can also just move your plant away from any windows.
Seasonal Care
You don’t need to fertilize the flower when it is in bloom. You should not use fertilizers during that time. You can start fertilizing in April and then continue until October. Your plant will need fertilizers once a month or every two weeks. These plants require the most food when new leaves begin to appear. Use a high-quality fertilizer or plant food.
The Christmas cactus needs a lot of magnesium. You’ll need to do more. I would suggest mixing 1 tbsp Epsom salt with 1 gallon of water. This should provide enough magnesium.
However, you can’t make sure that fertilizers aren’t used at the same moment you use this solution. This could lead to a situation you don’t want.
You could also use coffee grounds occasionally. It’s best to use less than one or two tablespoons of coffee grounds. You can simply place the coffee ground on the drip line.
Don’t forget to water down your coffee grounds or any other amendments.
Additional Care
Christmas cactus is a kind of plant that needs a lot of attention. It’s not just enough to put it in favorable conditions. You also have to be careful in taking care of it. These plants are very sensitive and you can easily kill them.
First, keep the plant away from heat sources such as air conditioners or heat ducts (except if you want the plant to bloom). These things change the temperature drastically, making it hard for these plants to grow.
Second, limit watering when the plant isn’t flowering. Only use water when the soil is completely dried. But when the buds appear, don’t forget to keep them moist. Otherwise, you might risk losing the buds.
Third, repot the plant every 3-4 years. This is also an advantage as you get to put down fresh soil and all kinds of organic fertilizers into the pot.
The Right Fertilizer for Christmas Cacti
When you look at the package of fertilizer for your Christmas cactus, you’ll notice that it says how often and how much you should use on your plant. If you were to follow these directions to the letter, you’d risk over-fertilizing your Christmas cactus.
There are two reasons why you want to avoid over-fertilizing your Christmas cactus: it can kill it and cause burns on the roots in the process or it can cause yellowing of the leaves.
If you’re using a liquid fertilizer with a high potash content, then reduce the quantities indicated on the package by a third to a half. This is how you avoid over-fertilizing the Christmas cactus.
Do Not Fertilize After Purchase or Repotting
The Christmas cactus is one of the most popular holiday plants. They are very easy to care for, which makes them a good choice for beginners. But if you’re not careful, they can also be one of the most frustrating plants around. The first time a Christmas cactus is repotted or fertilized incorrectly, it usually dies.
The key to success is knowing exactly when and how to repot, or fertilize. If you want your plant to live long, you should never repot or fertilize too soon after buying it; the roots are simply not ready.
A Christmas cactus should be allowed to grow in its new home for a while before requiring additional nutrients or soil.
If you follow these rules, your plant should last as long as you want it by providing you with months of bright colors every year.
Tips for Keeping a Christmas Cactus Healthy and Happy
It grows best when you keep its stem exposed to indirect light. It can handle direct sunlight for short periods of time (for an hour or two), but over time too much sun will burn its delicate leaves and flowers.
Take note that artificial light does not count as natural sunlight: try to keep your Christmas cactus away from electric lights for their entire lives.
your Christmas cactus likes to stay somewhat dry. This means that you shouldn’t water it if there are still any wet spots on top of the soil.
The plant will let you know when it needs more water by getting droopy and wrinkled—don’t ignore these signs! Only water your Cactus if the soil is completely dry.
Make sure your Christmas cactus has good drainage, otherwise stagnant water will form at the bottom of the pot.
What to Look for in Christmas Cactus Fertilizer?
It is difficult to choose the right fertilizer or other gardening product for your indoor garden.
Christmas cactus doesn’t need much – as you can see indoor conditions are fine for it to develop and grow, but it will not blossom without fertilizer.
When you’re picking plant food for your Christmas Cactus, consider the following:
1. Formulation
This means that NPK formulation should be 20-20-20.
You can even opt for 10-10-10 as a lower amount of nutrients can still increase the growth of flowers.
Magnesium is another important element to consider when formulating fertilizer. A fertilizer with magnesium that is applied once per month will suffice to supply the Christmas cactus with this element.
2. Solubility
The salt buildup is extremely sensitive in this plant.
It is important to wash the plant when this happens.
Use fertilizers that dissolve in water to avoid salt buildup.
To determine the maximum water amount to be added to a gallon of water, follow the instructions on the package.
3. Type of plant food
These liquid fertilizers are best for Christmas cacti.
One bottle of fertilizer can last the entire season, as the plant doesn’t need to be fed often.
These fertilizers are also water-soluble so I would prefer them to be slow-release because there is less salt buildup.
You can also try the continuous release plant food if you’re concerned about overfertilizing the Christmas cactus. Just be careful with the dosage.
4. Organic or synthetic
The Christmas cactus is susceptible to different pests.
Pests are attracted to synthetic fertilizers more than any other, so many gardeners spend a lot of money on pesticides.
Organic fertilizer is recommended because your plant may be at risk from certain insects.
This type can also draw insects, but they are good for your plant and can be used to help you fight the bad.
Conclusion
Since we are looking at different fertilizers, the main points of comparison should be the properties of each product. These properties include the type of fertilizer, quality, and price for starters. I think that Miracle-Gro Liquafeed Advanced Starter Kit + All Purpose Plant Food Refill is a good choice for anyone who has always wanted their Christmas cactus to look beautiful.
These are highly effective plant fertilizers and are recommended for pots and planters, soil mixes, and hydroponic systems. They have a water-soluble formula for easy application and contain slow-release nutrients that ensure the healthy growth of your plants all season long. Miracle-Gro Liquafeed Advanced Starter Kit + All Purpose Plant Food Refill is one of their best products yet at a very reasonable price.