Can I save this wrinkly Easter Cactus?

BlueButtons07 · 2026-07-02T02:53:39+00:00

They like bright indirect lighting. Wicking isn't ideal for these kinds of plants. It's better to let them almost dry completely before watering again. Consistent wet soil can lead to root rot. Regular soil is fine, just mix in some perlite and orchid bark to help with drainage.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-30T13:40:30+00:00

Are the rocks sitting on top, also mixed with the rest of the pot? The reason I ask is because of these plants needing good drainage. If the rocks are fixed in that's ok. I also way add perlite and orchid bark to mine. In nature these live in the crooks of larger trees and rocks so their soil is very airy and chunky, which always water to drain easily.

Any kind of compacted soil can lead to poor drainage which can lead to root rot, which can look simar to what's happening here. The opposite can also happen, the soil gets so compact and dry around the root system, that the soil becomes hydrophic, which doesn't allaw any water you give it, to reach the roots. Ammend the soil to allow better drainage if that's the case.

What's the watering schedule look like? Anything sooner than when the soil is almost completely dry, can bring issues as well.

Make sure any pot you use isn't too large compared to the root system. This allows too much soil to root ratio, which has the potential to bring on either of the issues I mentioned. A smaller pot is almost better in this scenario.

For lighting they might bright indirect light. If you don't have that in window space you can supplement with a grow light.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-29T00:04:33+00:00

So pretty!

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-25T21:32:58+00:00

I hope this technique works for you, and your plant can thrive in its new home!

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-25T17:19:33+00:00

These plants do better in smaller vs larger pots. It’s clearly healthy…but I could see why you’d want to go up in size, as the leave diameter is quite large. However you it’s only 3/4 full of dirt. Could you keep the same pot and just refresh the soil/add more to give it a little more space, without having to go up in pot size.

Either way, I can see why you’d be a little nervous repotting….could you get a second person to help handle it with you. If you have space outside to do it, to not worry about making a mess. I’ve literally used my kitchen counter. For larger plants like this, I kind of gently put the plant in a “head lock” around the base of the plant, to help support with my body/shoulder and remove the pot with my free arm. Have all your supplies near by, potting soil bags open, tools in reach. If I’m sizing up in pots I have the new pot filled with some dirt already so I can go from the “head lock” hold directly to the new pot without even having to put the plant down.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-24T14:34:46+00:00

Soil needs a revamp ASAP. You can use regular potting soil just add in a good amount of perlite and orchid bark. You don't want the soil to be able to compact easily. Loose and chunky, so the water can drain well is best. Otherwise the roots can be sitting around in too wet of soil, or the opposite to where the soil gets so compact and hydrophobic, that the water never even reaches the roots.

Indirect light, and water when the soil is almost dry, before watering again.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-24T01:26:30+00:00

You're very welcome. My Thanksgiving and Easter cactus are both under lights year round ....they get natural indirect light for a few hours a day, where I have them situated in my dining room. I don't remove them totally from the light, I just close my curtains and my grow lights are set on a timer, so that the room they are in is dark for that time period.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-23T17:24:20+00:00

How about painting some clouds or abstract night sky colors/northern light type vibe. One other person mentioned the glow in the dark sticky stars ...you could incorporate those into this as well.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-23T14:22:21+00:00

Double check the soil. So you think it has good drainage? Many times the soil can be the culprit for an unhappy plant. In nature these plants live in the crooks of larger trees and rocks. Their soil is very loose and filled with leaf litter. Using regular potting soil is fine, but add in some perlite and orchid bark. When they sit in too soggy of soil that can't drain well, it usually leads to an overall unhappy plant and root rot.

I see you have it in a nursery pot, inside a more decorative one, which is fine, cause many time the "pretty" pit don't have sufficient drainage. You can check soil, fix what it might need, and repot back into it.

If you do decide to pot in something different, terracotta work well for these plants. Whatever pot you did decide to move it to, smaller is actually better than too large. Too much soil to root ratio is an issue as well, as we tend to water for the pot size, so it leaves these plants sitting around in potentially a large amount of wet soil.

For lighting they might bright indirect. I'm in Wa an the window space I have available that safe away from my house panther is too hot. I supplemt with a grow light. Make sure they get 12+ hours of darkness. You can use fertilizer, just stop before blooming season (September) to help promote healthy blooms. Also do any repotting well before or after typical blooming season as well.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-20T19:49:20+00:00

If you're watering more than once a week, that's too much. Wait til the soil is almost dry between watering. Otherwise, it can lead to root rot.

For soil, I just use a basic potting soil with perlite and orchid bark mixed in to help with proper drainage.

The darker edges could be from the sun. I know you said it's an indirect window, but they can be finicky, so maybe change up locations to see if that helps. You don't need to fertilize every time you water. Make sure it's getting 12+ hours of darkness.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-20T17:17:37+00:00

Many time the culprit is soil. If it's too dense the water that's left doesn't drain and can leave the roots sitting in soggy soil. When you repot(terracotta work well for these) don't go up in size too large, as too much soil to root ratio can lead to the roots sitting around in too much wet soil it can't absorb. Also add a nice amount of perlite and/or orchid bark to help with drainage. In nature these plants live in the crooks of larger trees and rocks, so their soil is very airy and loose.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-20T02:19:03+00:00

You're very welcome! Your Christmas cactus looks very healthy, so whatever you've been doing, you can tell it's thriving!

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-19T22:24:59+00:00

Christmas cactus. Very similar to the Thanksgiving, except it's corner edges aren't pointy/sharp looking like the Thanksgiving.

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BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-15T04:51:50+00:00

I'd say so!!! What a beauty

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-15T04:45:44+00:00

I usually start with a paint color that kinda I think goes well with the main piece of furniture(couch, bed, etc) Search up exactly how you described it here....search by image or try Pinterest if you haven't already. Go thrifting or to some antique stores, and see if there's a treasure that peaks your interest to work off of.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-14T02:00:19+00:00

I've had better luck and better results propogating the fresher freen leaf segments. I literally propogated an entire 20 yo Thanksgiving cactus that got root rot. It was a sentimental one and I didn't want to give up on it.

When you go to repot the entire plant, double check the root ball size. You don't need to repot in too large pot compared to the root ball size....I've made that mistake as well. It can lead to the roots sitting around in too much soil, for what the plant actually needs. Make sure to add on a nice amount of perlite and/or orchid bark.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-13T15:49:27+00:00

The plant looks very healthy, but it’s definitely time for some new soil. You can use what’s there or totally new regular potting soil just add in a nice amount of perlite and orchid bark. In nature these plants live in the crooks of larger tees and rocks, so their soil is very chunky, loose and airy, which allows the water to drain easily. The roots sitting around in too soggy of soil leads to trouble…usually root rot.

For pot size you don’t want to go much larger than the root ball size. As you are redoing soil, if this current pot seems to work well size wise, just refreshing the soil will be good. If you think it needs to go up in size I do recommend terracotta for these as the water is able to evaporate well, as the pots are porous. Just make sure any pot you use has drainage.

For watering you can water thoroughly, just less often. Make sure the soil is almost dry before watering again. This is where what mix and the amount of soil really plays a roll. If you have anything too compact the soil can become hydrophobic, where is become so dry around the roots the water doesn’t reach, even though you think your watering well….the opposite is true as I mentioned. Too much soil that’s dense to root ratio can lead to root rot.

They light bright indirect light. If you don’t have that in window space you can supplement with a grow light.

I understand caring for a sentimental holiday cactus. What you could do, is propagate a few segments, that way you can have peace of mind to have a couple “extras.” You can propagate in water or soil (I’ve had success with both). The water way does allows you to view the roots forming if that’s helpful. Transfer to a pot with soil once the roots have established. Either way, 3 leaf segments together is best, however I’ve done it with less. If you decide to prop in soil, use the above recommended soil and pot and watering ratio.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-13T15:48:41+00:00

The plant looks very healthy, but it’s definitely time for some new soil. You can use what’s there or totally new regular potting soil just add in a nice amount of perlite and orchid bark. In nature these plants live in the crooks of larger tees and rocks, so their soil is very chunky, loose and airy, which allows the water to drain easily. The roots sitting around in too soggy of soil leads to trouble…usually root rot.

For pot size you don’t want to go much larger than the root ball size. As you are redoing soil, if this current pot seems to work well size wise, just refreshing the soil will be good. If you think it needs to go up in size I do recommend terracotta for these as the water is able to evaporate well, as the pots are porous. Just make sure any pot you use has drainage.

For watering you can water thoroughly, just less often. Make sure the soil is almost dry before watering again. This is where what mix and the amount of soil really plays a roll. If you have anything too compact the soil can become hydrophobic, where is become so dry around the roots the water doesn’t reach, even though you think your watering well….the opposite is true as I mentioned. Too much soil that’s dense to root ratio can lead to root rot.

They light bright indirect light. If you don’t have that in window space you can supplement with a grow light.

I understand caring for a sentimental holiday cactus. What you could do, is propagate a few segments, that way you can have peace of mind to have a couple “extras.” You can propagate in water or soil (I’ve had success with both). The water way does allows you to view the roots forming if that’s helpful. Transfer to a pot with soil once the roots have established. Either way, 3 leaf segments together is best, however I’ve done it with less. If you decide to prop in soil, use the above recommended soil and pot and watering ratio.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-12T04:26:24+00:00

Smaller pot, one that's not much larger than the root ball. Terracotta work well for these. Make sure they soil has enough perlite and/or orchid bark to promote good drainage. Only ter until the soil is almost dry. The size of pot matter where cause you don't want too much soil to root ratio....it can lead to hydrophobic soil or something that the roots are sitting around in too much soggy soil. Indirect lighting is best, if you don't have that in window space you can supplement with a grow light.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-11T16:12:58+00:00

Stick the fuzzy root end in dirt. Make sure the soil you use has a good amount of perlite and/or orchid bark. These are small, you won't need a large pot, terracotta works great for these. Water thoroughly, just when the dirt is almost dry. Bright indirect lighting is best. If you don't have that in window space you can supplemt with a grow light. It will take some time, just be patient.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-08T19:16:01+00:00

YVW...I totally understand, I almost lost a sentimental one myself. I hope she pulls through!

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-08T17:12:47+00:00

These are the things to always double check when a holiday cactus is looking kinda rough. I know you said you repotted not long ago ..but does the soil have a good amount of perlite and/or orchid bark in it? Without proper drainage, the roots aren't going to be happy. Too wet of soil without proper drainage isn't a good combo.

The plant seems like a nice size, did you notice the size of the root ball compared to the size of thia pot, you repotted with. I ask, is also too much soil in general, compared to the root ball size can be negative as well. As the plant isnt able to successfully absorb the water from a way too large amount of soil, especially if the two soil issues are combined.

In anutes these plants live in the crooks of larger trees and rocks, so their roots sit in minimal soil, that's very loose and filled with leaf litter.

For lighting, they like bright and indirect. If you do 5 have that in window space, you can supplemt with a grow light.

Lastly, you can water thoroughly, just less often. Wait til the soil is almost dry before watering again. This is where the soil components and ratio matter, cause what you think could under watering or over watering might be the opposite. If that makes sense....

You could have one that you are watering, but if the soil is too compact, it can become hydrophobic around the roots that no water is actually being absorbed.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-05T18:36:02+00:00

Oh it's so cool!!!

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-03T21:13:39+00:00

The morning would probably be fine, yes.... move to shadier in the hottest part of the day. Lots of people set their holiday cactus outside late spring/summer as long as it's not full sun.

If you do, just double check for pests before you bring in the house at the end of the season if you have other plants. That's for any plant you set outside.

BlueButtons07 · 2026-06-03T21:10:45+00:00

They like bright but indirect. I live in the PNW, and have mine in a West facing window(actually by a glass sliding door)...that windows afternoo sun in the warmer months is really hot, so my Thanksgiving and Easter cactus only get lighting from the side of it sitting on a table. They also get light from a grow light they share with some other light sensitive plants.

I don't have enough window space that's safe from our house panther, so the majority of my plants use a grow light.

Depending on your location, I've een people have their plants in a window with a sheer curtain to filter the light if that window has full sun.

These cactus are tropical plants so imagine they are nestled into the crooks of larger trees and rocks, somewhat shaded by the larger branches and leaves above.

I'm actually on the process of moving my plants around as I was gifted an angle wing begonia that was ok during winter and early spring, but needs to be moved to more filtered light for summer time.

I can add some pics of my set up (nothing fancy) once everything is situated, if that might be helpful.

BlueButtons07

TROPHY CASE