How to repot Schlumbergera

Repot a holiday cactus after its main flowering period when roots fill the pot. Keep the plant snug rather than moving it into a large wet volume.

Plant coveredSchlumbergera spp.Christmas cactus · indoor container

Check the roots, mix and drainage

When to repot

What to inspect

Repot when the holiday cactus is root-filled or has fully outgrown its pot, not merely because a calendar reminder says so. A slightly pot-bound plant can flower well.

What changes it

RHS recommends repotting at the end of March, after the main flowering period, when the plant can resume growth without disturbing developing buds.

Use the smallest practical size increase

Choosing the next pot

Choose a pot only slightly larger than the current rootball and keep the plant snug. A much larger wet volume works against the group’s modest root-space preference.

Move the rootball without unnecessary damage

How to repot

Use standard cactus compost or the RHS peat-free mix of John Innes No. 2 with leaf mold and grit, loosen the rootball without unnecessary root reduction, and set segmented stems at the same depth.

Keep light, water and support steady

After repotting

Return the plant to a bright, dappled indoor position and its normal holiday-cactus watering rhythm, allowing the container to drain rather than leaving it in standing water.

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