| How to Give a Neck Massage Posted: 25 Nov 2016 06:00 PM PST People who sit at desks or drive for long periods of time often experience a lot of pain in their neck and shoulders. Giving them a neck massage is a great way to relieve that tension. Massages can also improve blood circulation, ease headache pain, improve someone's mood, and give an energy boost.[1] Giving a good neck massage is a wonderful gift, whether to a friend, loved one, or a professional massage client. EditGiving a Seated Massage - Place your partner in a comfortable seated position.[2] What's important is that his back can be comfortably straight. You must also be able to access his shoulders and upper back.
- Use a stool that gives you full access to his back.
- If you use a chair, make sure the back of the chair is low enough to give you access to the back of his shoulders.
- If you don't have an appropriate chair or stool available, place a comfortable cushion on the ground. Have your partner sit cross-legged on the ground while you kneel behind him.
- Use light, long strokes.[3] When we think of massages, most of us immediately think of the Swedish massage. It uses long, gentle motions along the surface of the muscles instead of the intense pressure of a style like the deep tissue massage.
- When you find tension knots, you can apply focused pressure.
- For the most part, though, keep the pressure firm but not intense.
- Warm the muscles up. Rushing into intense massaging before warming up the muscles can cause your partner to tense up even more under your touch. Ease into the massage by using your fingertips to loosen up and prepare the neck and shoulders. This will put him in the frame of mind to relax into the experience.
- Place the ring, middle, and index fingertips of your hands where the base of your partner's head meets the neck. Apply light but firm pressure.
- If that feels uncomfortable, use whichever fingertips feel right to you. You might use just index and middle fingers.
- Slide your fingers down the sides of his neck, sweeping over onto the shoulders.
- Make sure to apply even pressure throughout, running your fingers over the muscles.
- Knead your thumbs into the tense muscles. In the previous step, you may have felt hard knots in the muscles. These knots indicate tension, and they need focused pressure from your thumbs.
- Place your thumbs on the tension knot.
- Place your other four fingers on each hand on the front of your partner's shoulder to stabilize your thumbs when you apply pressure.
- Apply firm pressure with your thumbs in a kneading, circular motion to release the tension in the muscles.
- Do this throughout the shoulder muscles, but especially on tension knots.
- Glide your fingers up and down the neck. The muscles in the back and sides of the neck also carry a great deal of stress. You will use one hand to warm up the neck muscles for more focused attention.
- Place your thumb on one side of the neck, and the tips of your other four fingers on the other side of the neck.
- Apply and maintain firm but gentle pressure.
- Glide you hand up and down the length of the neck.
- Move along the width of the neck as well. Glide along the muscles along either sides of the spinal column on the back of the neck. Widen your hand to loosen the muscles on the sides of the neck as well.
- Pinch along the back of the neck.[4] You want to apply the same focused pressure along the sides of the neck with your thumb. But, you need your other four fingers to stabilize the pressure you're applying with your thumb. Working with both hands at once would force you to wrap your other fingers around the front of the throat. This would cause your partner pain and discomfort. Instead, work with one hand at a time.
- Stand behind and slightly to his right.
- Place the thumb of your left hand on the right side of his neck.
- Wrap your other four fingers around to the left side of his neck to stabilize your thumb's pressure.
- Just as you did on the shoulders, knead your thumb in circular motions up and down the length of the neck.
- Focus attention on any tension knots you encounter.
- When you've finished the right side of your partner's neck, move to stand behind and slightly to the left of him. Repeat the process with your right thumb on the left side of the neck.
- Glide your hands down the sides of the neck. It can be difficult to massage the sides of the neck without bothering your partner's throat. To do this, you will glide your hand in a downward motion from the top of the neck to the front of the shoulder. Begin on the left side of his body.
- Place your left hand on his left shoulder to stabilize him.
- With the fingers on your right hand facing downward, place your thumb on the back of the neck and your remaining fingers on the side of it.
- Applying pressure, glide your hand in a downward motion.
- At the end of the motion, your thumb should be on the back of the shoulder and your other fingers should be on the front of the shoulder.
- Knead your fingers into any tension points you feel.
- Apply pressure to the outsides of the shoulder blades. Press your fingertips into the shoulder blades and apply firm pressure. Move your hands in a circular, kneading motion to release tension from the muscles in the upper back.
- Use the heel of your palm between the shoulder blades. Because the spine is in the center of the back, it can be difficult to massage that area. Applying focused pressure to the spine will cause pain. Instead, use your palm to apply broad pressure.
- Move so you're standing at your partner's side.
- Place one hand on the front of their shoulder to stabilize him.
- Place the heel of your palm between his shoulder blades.
- Apply firm pressure in a long, deliberate stroke from one shoulder blade to the other.
- Massage just under the collar bone. Although most of the massage focuses on the shoulders, neck, and upper back, a little attention to the upper chest can help relieve neck pain.
- Standing at your partner's side, place on hand on their back to stabilize him.
- Use your fingertips to rub firmly in circular motions just under his collar bone.
- Make sure not to press on the bone itself, as this will cause pain.
- Massage the upper arms. The arms may seem unrelated to the tension felt in the neck and shoulders, but they're not. The muscles in the arms, shoulders, and neck all work closely in the movement of the arms. So, relieving tension in the upper arms will also benefit the neck.
- Place your hands on his shoulders, applying gentle but firm pressure.
- Maintaining that pressure, run your hands down from the shoulders to his upper arms, then back up. Repeat this a few times.
- Rub up and down the upper arms, loosening those muscles.
- Cycle through these motions in an un-patterned manner. If you focus too long on one area with one massaging motion, your partner will grow acclimated to the sensation. Move from muscle group to muscle group and vary your hands' motions to make the experience more pleasurable for him. The less he can predict the sensations, the better the massage will feel.
- The muscles in the shoulders, neck, back, and arms are closely related. By paying attention to a wide area of muscles instead of the few muscles that may hurt, you are more likely to ease his muscle pain.
- Use all parts of your hand. Many amateur massagers use their thumbs exclusively when giving massages. While the thumbs are excellent for focused pressure, you can cause pain and discomfort to yourself by over-using them. Instead, use all parts of your hand while giving a massage. Use your thumbs for focused pressure to tension knots.
- Use your palms to apply light pressure over larger areas of skin and muscle.
- Use your fingertips for firmer pressure.
- Use your knuckles on particularly tight muscles.
- Do not massage your partner's bones. Applying pressure to bones — the spine especially — can cause pain. Apply pressure only to muscles.
- Continue for as long as necessary. A massage does not have to be long to be effective. A quick five-minute massage can make a world of difference. But, a long massage of half an hour to an hour will make him feel pampered and cared for.
EditGiving a Supine Neck Massage - Place your partner in the supine position. "Supine" means that he's laying down on his back. Ideally, you can find an elevated surface for him to lay on which allows you to stand or sit in a chair at his head. If he lays on the ground, you'll have to bend over quite a bit, and this could hurt your back. .
- Tie long hair back so it doesn't hang in your partner's face.
- If he has long hair, sweep it back and over the side of the table or bed so you don't accidentally pull it during the massage.
- Ask him to either remove their shirt or to wear a top that exposes his chest from the collarbone up.
- You should provide a towel or blanket if he's uncomfortable with exposing his chest.
- Choose a massage oil or lotion. You can sometimes find massage oils at department stores, but if not, they can be purchased online.
- Some household oils, like coconut oil, also make wonderful massage oils.
- Olive oil, almond oil, and sesame oil can work well, but they tend to be heavy and thick. Use smaller amounts of these oils for a massage.
- Make sure your partner doesn't have any nut allergies before using almond or sesame oil.
- Work the oil or lotion through your hands by rubbing them together. This warms the product up to make it more comfortable for him.
- Warm up gently. Standing behind his head, place the heels of your palms against the sides of the neck. Use long, gentle Swedish strokes to apply pressure down the neck and over the shoulders.[5]
- Place your thumbs under the neck and run the inside of your index finger down the length of it. Begin at the ear and work down to where the neck meets the shoulder.
- Fan the motion out over his shoulders as well. You can use your middle, ring, and pinky fingers on the front of the shoulders.
- Apply more focused pressure to the neck.[6] Place four fingers ''under'' both sides of the neck. Apply firm pressure, running your fingers from the base of skull to the shoulder.
- Loosen the muscles further by pulling your fingers up and away from the table or mat. In doing so, his head head should almost be lifted from the surface.
- Repeat this motion with your fingers all along the length of the neck.
- Work the neck and shoulders with your thumbs. Lifting your index through pinky fingers in the air, place your thumbs on the sides of the neck, just below the ears. Applying firm pressure, glide your thumbs down the sides of the neck. Slide them over the the shoulders, all the way to the edges where they meet the arms.
- Use the length of your thumb, not just the tip. This applies diffused pressure rather than focused pressure.
- Stay away from the exposed front of the throat. Applying pressure there will cause a good deal of pain.
- Massage the chest. The muscles in the front of the chest work in concert with those in the neck, so it's important you give them some attention.
- Place your thumbs lightly against the back of the shoulders.
- Place your other four fingers along the front of the shoulders.
- Apply kneading pressure both to the front of the shoulders and to the upper chest, under the collarbone.
- Make sure not to apply pressure directly to the collarbone, or any bone. This can be very painful.
- Apply rolling pressure under the neck. Place your index, middle, and ring fingers under both sides of your partner's neck. Beginning up by the ears, apply pressure in a rolling motion away from the head, toward the shoulders.
- Be firm, but not rough. Your motion might lift his shoulders a little bit off the surface, but he should not be flinching.
- Focus on each side of the neck. Turn his head to the side to expose the side of his neck to you. Support his head by keeping one hand placed under it. When you've finished working one side of the neck, gently turn his head the other way and work the other side.
- With your free hand, use your fingertips to apply long, firm strokes from the earlobe down to the chest.
- Use your thumb to knead the side of the neck in small circles.
- Apply deep tissue pressure to the sides of the neck. Deep tissue techniques can cause pain, so you need to be alert to your partner's reactions while doing this. However, the muscles behind the ears can become very tense, so you must apply more intense pressure there to break up the knots. For this technique, the head should still be turned to the side, with one of your hands cradling it from below.
- Make a loose fist with your free hand and push the side of your fist into the side of the neck, just behind the ear.
- Apply intense pressure and move your fist very slowly down the side of your neck. Work your way down to where the neck meets the chest.
- The intense pressure can be very painful if you move your hand too quickly down the neck, so move at a glacial pace.
- Be careful to watch for signs of pain. Deep tissue massage, while relaxing in the long run, can be uncomfortable in the moment.
- Give him a break and have him take deep breaths if he feel pain. Begin again when he's ready.
- Work your fingertips in circular motions behind the ears. The muscles behind the ear, just below where your head meets your neck, tend to grow quite tense. Return your partner's head to an upright position for this technique, so you can work both sides of the neck at the same time.
- Place your fingertips on those muscles and apply firm (but not painful) pressure.
- Move your fingertips in a circular motion to break up the tension in that area.
- Massage the muscles just above the collarbone. You'll feel a small dent right above the collarbone. Use your fingertips to gently massage the muscles in that area using both circular and kneading motions.
- If you feel bumps or knots in the neck or shoulders, work them out by slowly kneading them with 1 or 2 fingers until you can no longer feel the bump.
- Never try to crack the neck or back. A professional should do this.
- Be very gentle when wrapping your hands around the neck. Do not press down on his or her throat.
EditThings You'll Need - Chair
- Bed or mat
- Massage oil or lotion
- Hands
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Give Emotional Support Posted: 25 Nov 2016 12:00 PM PST You may have a natural inclination to help others who are going through a tough time. However, if you aren't careful, you could end up saying or doing something that makes the other person feel invalidated. With this in mind, it really is beneficial to learn effective techniques to use when offering emotional support for others. EditListening Actively - Walk to a private area. It is important to make sure that the person who needs your support feels a sense of confidentiality. An empty room is the best option if it is available. However, an unoccupied corner is sufficient if no rooms are open. Be sure to talk in a low voice, especially if you are in an area where others can potentially walk by and hear.
- Reduce distractions as much as possible. Try to select an area that is quiet where you won't be distracted by the television, radio or other electronic devices. Also, be sure to avoid doing other things like texting or looking through your wallet while the person is talking.
- An alternative to sitting in a private area would be a "walk and talk."[1] Instead of sitting in one place, you and the other person could go for a leisurely stroll as you talk. This often allows the person to feel more comfortable discussing her problems.
- Active listening can also be accomplished over the telephone. However, it is important that you have the conversation when there aren't a lot of distractions.
- Ask questions. You can ask the person about what happened or how she's feeling. The key here is to assure her that you're there to listen. It's important that the person feels like you are truly interested in hearing what she has to say and that you really want to support her.
- Use open-ended questions to help guide the conversation and stir discussion. Good open ended questions will give you a glimpse into what the person is thinking[2]
- Your questions should start with words like "How" and "Why" and should evoke discussion rather than one word responses.
- Some examples of open-ended questions are: "What happened?" "What will you do next?" "How did that make you feel?"
- Listen to the person's response. Look at the person as she speaks to you and give her your undivided attention. Having your undivided attention will help her feel more valued.
- Making eye contact is important so that the person knows that you are listening to her. However, make sure the eye contact isn't excessive. Be careful that you don't end up staring.
- Use open body language and other nonverbal cues to show her that you're listening.[3] Try nodding occasionally and smiling when appropriate. Also, be sure that you do not cross your arms because this reflects defensiveness and the person may not respond well to that posture.
- Restate what the person is saying. Demonstrating empathy is a key component to helping someone feel supported. To reflect more empathy, it is important that you clearly understand what the person is trying to communicate. Acknowledging and reflecting back to her what she is saying is a great way to make sure that you understand. She'll also feel more supported and better understood.
 - Don't just repeat back to her the exact same sentence that she states in a robotic fashion. Use paraphrasing to be more conversational in your approach. Just be sure that as you restate what the person is saying, you are using her words.[4] You could say things like "It sounds like you are saying…" or "What I'm hearing is…" or other similar statements. This helps the person to know that you really are listening.
- Don't interrupt the person when she is talking. Instead, show support by allowing her the opportunity to express what she is thinking and feeling without interruption. Only reflect back what she is saying when there is a natural silence in the conversation or when it's clear that she's waiting for feedback.
- This is not the time to pass judgment or be critical.[5] Listening and showing empathy does not mean that you necessarily agree with what the person is saying; rather it is reflecting that you care about her and what she is experiencing. Avoid saying "I told you so," "It's really not that big of a deal," "It can't be that bad," "You're blowing it out of proportion" or other critical or minimizing comments. Your job during this time is simply to show support and empathy.
EditValidating Emotions - Guess what the person is feeling.[6] Try to figure out how the person is feeling as you're talking. Some people struggle to put a label on their emotions or may even try to mask their feelings. This happens often when other people have criticized their emotional sensitivity in the past. Others may be confused about what they're feeling. For example, someone may confuse frustration with anger or happiness with excitement. Helping the person identify what she is actually feeling is the first step to validation.
- Don't tell the person how she is feeling. Instead, provide suggestions. You could say "It sounds like you're feeling pretty disappointed" or "You seem pretty upset"
- Observe the person's body language and facial expressions as she speaks. Also, her tone may give you an idea of how she is feeling.
- Remember, if you guess wrong, she will correct you. Do not dismiss her correction. Accept that she is the only person who truly knows how she is feeling. Accepting her correction is also validation of her emotions.
- Focus on understanding the person. This means putting aside your own thoughts or preconceived notions about the situation. Really be present and pay attention to what she is saying. Your agenda should not be to fix the problem or find the solutions. Instead, focus on providing a safe space where the person will feel heard.
- Avoid trying to offer advice unless you are asked. Trying to give advice may make the person feel like you're being critical and invalidating.
- Do not try to talk the person out of feeling a certain way. Remember, she has a right to feel how she is feeling. Demonstrating emotional support means acceptance of her right to experience her emotions, whatever they are.
- Reassure the person that her feelings are normal. It's important that the person feels safe expressing her feelings. This is not the time to be critical of the person or the situation. Your goal is to make her feel supported and understood. Simple brief statements are best. Here are some examples of validating statements:
- "That's a lot to deal with."
- "I'm sorry that this is happening."
- "It sounds like that really hurt you."
- "I understand."
- "That would make me angry too."
- Observe your own body language. Most communication is done in a nonverbal manner. This means that your body language is just as important as your verbal language. Make sure your body language reflects that you are paying attention and are demonstrating empathy and not criticism or rejection.
- Try to nod, smile, and make eye contact as you're listening. Research has shown that people who demonstrate these nonverbal behaviors are often rated as more empathetic by observers.[7]
- Smiling is especially helpful because the human brain is prewired to recognize smiles. This means that not only will she feel more supported but both the giver and receiver of a smile often feel better quicker.[8]
EditShowing Support - Ask the person what she wants to do. If the person feels that she needs more emotional support, it's likely that something is imbalanced in her life. This is a great opportunity to help her explore what actions she can take to become emotionally centered again.
 - The person may not have the answer immediately and that's okay. Don't push for a decision right away. She may just need to be heard and feel validated first.
- Ask "what-if" questions. "What-if" questions will help the person brainstorm possible action steps that she may not have considered before.[9] Presenting options in a question format is less threatening and the person probably won't feel like she is being told what to do. This approach allows you to give her suggestions in a supportive manner without stripping away her power.
- Remember, you are not fixing the problem for the person. You are simply providing her support in finding the solution to the problem herself.
- For example, if your friend is struggling financially, you could ask, "What if you and your supervisor had a discussion about a pay raise?" Maybe your niece is feeling overwhelmed with work and home responsibilities. You could ask, "What if you planned a stress-free vacation for your family?" Any appropriate "what-if" question could be helpful.
- Identify an action step. The person may not have all of the answers immediately, but it's important to support her in taking small steps to resolve the problem.[10] Identifying the next step is important, even if it's something small like the person agreeing to have another conversation with you the next day. People tend to feel more supported when they know that they have dependable people in their corner who will help them see the bigger picture.
- Continue to support the person in taking action steps until the problem is resolved. It may be a slow process but she'll appreciate your support.
- When a person is grieving, there may not be any specific action steps. People grieve differently and grief can last up to a year or longer. When you are supporting someone through grief, listening to the stories she wants to share and accepting her feelings without minimizing her loss is very important.[11]
- Sometimes an action step may mean getting help from a mental health professional.
- Show your support in tangible ways. Sometimes it can be convenient to say things like "I'm here for you if you need me" or "Don't worry. It's all going to work out" instead of actually doing something to help. However, it's really important to actually show your support instead of just giving lip service. After spending time actively listening to the person, you'll probably have some idea about specific things that you could do to help her feel more supported. If you're stuck, here are some guidelines to get your thoughts rolling:[12]
- Rather than saying "Everything will be fine" you could do everything in your power to help make things better for the person. For example, you could help a sick friend find a good medical specialist or help her research treatment options.
- In addition to saying "I love you" you could do something for the person that you know she'll appreciate. This could include buying her a gift, spending more time with her, or taking her somewhere special to help her de-stress.
- Instead of just saying "I'm here for you" you could bring the person dinner or help with tasks that she needs to do in order to accomplish the action steps.
- Follow up with the person. Everyone has a schedule and things get hectic sometimes, but it's important to make time to help the person. She has probably received a lot of verbal support, but this deeper level of support would be appreciated much more. Remember, small acts of kindness really do go a long way.[13]
- Don't minimize the person's experience. Although it may not seem significant to you, if she is experiencing emotional distress then the situation it's probably pretty stressful for her.
- Avoid giving your opinion unless you are asked directly for feedback. There is a time and place to give unsolicited advice, especially in dangerous situations. However, if the situation just warrants you showing emotional support, it's best to avoid giving your opinion until she asks for it.
- Remember, being supportive doesn't mean you agree with the person's decision. If you think that something is detrimental, you don't have to agree with the person to show emotional support.
- When you are exploring solutions, using "What-if" questions is a great way to suggest healthier more balanced solutions without appearing overpowering.
- Remember, you aren't making the decisions for the person. Your job is to show support and assist her in making her own decisions.
- Make sure you're calm. Before attempting to provide support for someone else, make sure that you are in an emotionally healthy place yourself. It doesn't do her - or you - any good if you are frantic yourself as you attempt to provide her with support.
- Be sure that you follow through with whatever you commit to doing to help out. It is better to volunteer for things that you know you can really commit to rather than risk disappointing the person by going back on your word later.
- Stay focused on the other person. Be careful about sharing your own experiences when you're trying to show support to others. Although it is sometimes effective to share your own experiences, at other times it may backfire particularly if the person feels that you are trying to minimize their situation or feelings. So it's probably best to stay focused on her situation.
- Gut feelings can help when you are trying to understand the other person and show empathy.[14] It's okay to go with your gut when guessing what someone is feeling or making suggestions. However, if the person corrects you, accept her correction. Unconditional acceptance is a huge part of emotional support.
- Research has shown that some physical touch is good when you're trying to show support.[15] However, it is very important that you limit the touching unless you know the person well. A hug might be okay for a good friend but for an acquaintance even a simple hug might trigger a trauma related response. So be sure to limit touching and ask permission before hugging another person.
- If you are showing support during a crisis, be sure to be observant of your environment to ensure everyone's safety. If medical assistance is needed, make that a priority.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Care for a Christmas Cactus Posted: 25 Nov 2016 06:00 AM PST A beautiful holiday plant (botanically known as Schlumbergera or Zygocactus), the Christmas Cactus unsurprisingly blooms at Christmas and also sometimes around Easter time if cared for properly. A month prior to Christmas you will be able to watch the tips of the leaves beginning to grow. The tips grow darker as each day passes, until a bud forms. At Christmas time, as if by magic, the buds open to a beautiful flower that will add color and warmth to any holiday season. EditChoosing Your Spot, Soil, and Set-Up - Give your Christmas Cactus bright but indirect light. Keep the plant in a well-lit location (like near a window) away from direct sunlight – too much heat and light can stunt growth and burn the leaves. It should also be away from drafts, heat vents, fireplaces or other sources of hot air.[1]
- Move an indoors plant outdoors in summer to a shady location. It is best to keep in a normal house temperature range, about 65 to 75°F (18 to 20°C). That being said, cooler night temperatures can be used to initiate blooming. We'll discuss getting it to bloom in the final section.
- If it's in a north or east-facing window, you won't have to worry about light. But if it's in a south or west-facing window, diffuse the light with semi-transparent curtains or some other light-diffusing device.
- Provide the plant a source of humidity if you live in a dry environment. Put a tray of water next to the plant so that the water evaporates and provides humidity. Alternatively, you can make a humidity tray by placing the pot on a waterproof saucer that is filled with gravel and halfway filled with water.
- 50 to 60% humidity is the ultimate goal.[2] If your environment is close to that, you should be fine.
- Use a well-draining container and well-draining soil. For the container, some of the cheap nursery planters will work well, and orchid planters (the plastic basket kind) work well also. Pair this planter with a planter that will hold water and allow the basket to fit down into it. Then, place a few medium sized rocks into the bottom so that the basket container will be held about an inch above the bottom. [3]
- Use a combination of 3 parts potting soil to one part sand for the potting medium. An alternative is one part potting soil, two parts peat moss or compost, and one part sharp sand or perlite.[4] Whichever way you go, pour about two inches of room temperature water into the outer container and set the basket container inside. After about twelve hours, pour out any remaining water. Repeat this as often as the plant needs water; it will vary based on your home's condition. Monitor its need with a moisture prod and adjust accordingly.
- Add fertilizer to assist plant growth. Plants that are actively growing should be given a blooming houseplant-type fertilizer. This is best done for a plant that is 2-3 weeks old. Follow the label directions for how much and how often to feed.
- Fertilizing is important to keep the plant in good condition; the joints are fragile and can break apart if the plant descends into poor health. Generally, it should be fertilized 2-4 times a year with a 20-20-20 feed, but stop feeding about a month before the buds appear (this usually means stopping by the end of October).
EditWatering Your Christmas Cactus - Water a Christmas Cactus with care. Caring for this plant can be a bit tricky as you need to take care not to overwater or underwater it:
- A Christmas cactus is a tropical cactus, not a desert cactus. Unlike most desert cacti, this variety cannot tolerate completely dry soil. If the soil gets too dry, the flowers buds will drop, and the plant will wilt. Feel the soil with your fingers; if it feels dry, it's time to water.
- Too much watering will cause spots from white rot to appear on the leaves, and the leaves will likely fall off. The soil should be evenly moist for best growth. The rule of thumb is less water is better than too much water.
- When watering, thoroughly water the plant. Before attempting to water the plant again, check to see that the top inch of soil has dried thoroughly first. Mist leaves as well as watering the soil.
- Change your watering schedule seasonally. Water the cactus based on your environment and the time of year. A good method is to water a cactus as follows:[5]
- Dry climate, outdoors: Water every two to three days when warm and sunny
- Humid, cool or indoors: Water every week
- During the fall and winter months, the plants should be watered less frequently in order to promote blooming.
- Stop watering around October. When October hits, your watering duties are over. You can carefully resume a light watering in November. If it's dry where you live, feel free to place the pot over a tray of moist pebbles. This is all to set up the bloom happening around Christmas.
- The only other time you should cease watering is after the plant blooms. At this time, cease watering for about 6 weeks to allow the plant to rest. New growth will still appear – and that is when watering should be resumed.
- Watch out for bud drop. One of the most frustrating things that can happen to Christmas cactus is after the flower buds have developed they drop off the plant. Bud drop can be caused by several different conditions. Usually it's because of over-watering, but it can also be due to a lack of humidity or insufficient light.
- If this starts happening, water the plant less and add some fertilizer to the pot. Move it to an area away from a hot radiator or vent and try a new spot where it can get a bit more sunlight.
EditGetting a Timely Bloom - Encourage the flower blooming for the holiday season by lowering the temperature. The key to getting Christmas cactus to flower during the holiday season is proper light exposure, correct temperatures and limited watering. If you manipulate these things yourself, you can time a bloom just how you'd like.
- Because this plant is thermo-photoperiodic, it will set buds when day length is about equal to night length and when the temperature drops to 50 to 60 degrees F for several weeks. If the temperature drops further, the plant will not bloom.
- From September and October, the Christmas Cactus should be kept in a cool room where temperatures will remain around 50-55°F (10-12°C), give or take a few degrees. Don't expose the plant to freezing temperatures. Plants should be blooming for the holidays if cool treatments are started by early November.
- Keep the plant in a dark room during the night. During the fall months, the Christmas Cactus should be placed in a spot where it receives indirect, bright light during the daylight hours but total darkness at night – it requires long, uninterrupted dark periods of about 12 hours or more.[6]
- Begin the dark treatments in about mid-October to have plants in full bloom by the holidays. Place the plants in a dark area from about 12 or more hours each night for 6-8 weeks or until you see buds forming. A closet or unused bathroom are ideal places.
- Be especially careful with watering at this time. Reduce the watering slightly. Do not soak the soil after a dry period; only moisten the top few inches, since buds, flowers and even leaves can fall off if the roots are suddenly saturated.
- When you see flower buds forming, increase light and humidity. The "dark ages" are over when your plant starts budding. At this point, you should increase, humidity, light, water (not too much, of course), and the temperature. In other words, continue as you were a few months ago.
- If the buds form too early, you can lower the temperature to stunt them. When you're ready, up the temperature and they should resume their progress.[7]
EditCaring for Your Cactus Post-Bloom - Prune the Christmas cactus about a month after blooming. This will encourage the plant to branch out, especially after a period of "rest" has been granted. It will not look very pretty after the blossoms have faded. Some people wait until March or so, when new growth begins, to prune the cactus.
- As mentioned before, cease watering for 30 days post-bloom. When you see new growth forming, you can begin watering again.
- Propagate a Christmas Cactus by cutting off short, Y-shaped sections of the stem. Each section must consist of two or three joined segments. Allow each section to dry for a few hours before pushing them into a 3-inch pot that contains the same potting soil as the parent plant. Plant halfway down the first segment and water sparingly to prevent rot from developing.[8]
- Treat the cuttings as mature plants. In about four to six weeks, the cuttings should have rooted and will begin to show some new growth. They grow quickly, and should take in about two or three weeks. You can fertilize after the cutting has grown one new segment.
- Repot every 2-3 years. Your plant should be fine for a couple of years unless the root system gets diseased or harmed. Apart from this, a new pot is needed when the roots have filled it or when the soil has been officially depleted of nutrients. Most people do this in the spring.
- When replanting or repotting, use new, fresh soil. It's worth the few extra dollars since it will probably be sitting in that soil for a long time. Your plant is a living thing like you, so it deserves the best.
- The best time for repotting is between February and April, about once every three years.[9] Just be sure not to give it a pot that's too big; the Christmas Cactus flowers best when it's pot-bound.
- Be sure to turn plants at regular intervals while encouraging new growth. Otherwise you will get lush bloom on one side and few if any on the other.
- The cactus will only grow to the circumference of its pot. If you want it to get bigger, you have to put it in a wider pot.
- Christmas Cactus is a beautiful plant that can bloom year after year; you will want to keep it even after the holidays pass. You can even pass it down through generations.
- The blooming instructions are based on having a cold Christmas. If you reside in the Southern Hemisphere, you may have more difficulty finding this plant around Christmas time, and they'll need more controlled conditions in order to bloom during the holidays. You'll probably have better luck getting them to bloom during the coldest months of the year.
- ASPCA animal poison control center shows Christmas cacti as non-toxic to dogs and cats.
- Any sudden changes in temperature, light and watering will damage the Christmas Cactus. Drafts and temperature extremes can cause the flower buds to drop from the plant before they have a chance to open. Introduce changes gradually.
- The Christmas cactus should never be placed near a door that opens and closes to the outside. Likewise, keep it away from heating ducts or near the fireplace or drafty areas.
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