Fact Check: Is African Violet Fertilizer Good for Christmas Cactus?
My Christmas cactus never bloomed after I received it as a gift in 2022. I tried all the options, including putting it in the dark for 12-14 hours daily for 2 weeks. One day in 2024, I tried something that surprised everyone in my home. Guess what?
I fertilized with African violet food during the growing season (spring and early summer), and when Christmas came, it was in full bloom. I also applied Epsom salt solution, but not at the same time I used the fertilizer. So, this fertilizer is good for Christmas cactus.
African violet plant food has approximately equal amounts of the primary nutrients, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which is the recommended N-P-K ratio for Christmas cactus fertilizer. It also has trace elements including boron, copper, iron, manganese and zinc.
Using African Violet fertilizer for Christmas cactus
Like most houseplant fertilizers, African Violet food will only give the best results when used as directed. Always read and follow what the manufacturer recommends on the product label. In addition, there are a few more things I would like you to consider.
Use urea-free formulations
Besides having the correct NPK ratio, it is important to make sure that your Violet Food contains the right elements. Some fertilizers may contain impurities that can be harmful to your Christmas cactus.
Urea nitrogen, for example, can cause root burn. The damage can cause your cactus to wilt and die due to its inability to absorb water and nutrients. Your Christmas cactus turning purple and diminished flowering is the obvious sign.
So be sure to check on the label. If urea nitrogen is listed it will always be listed. Additionally, choose African violet fertilizer that is 100% water-soluble. Dilute it to half-strength before applying on your Christmas cactus.
Avoid overfertilizing
Another important consideration is the issue of overfertilizing. While you may be eager to give your plant much of the nutrients it needs, too much can be harmful. Among other problems, overfertilizing can cause stems (leaves) to become brittle.
In addition, certain elements in excess can actually stifle your cactus’s ability to absorb other elements. For example, an excess of magnesium may prevent a Christmas cactus from absorbing enough calcium.
Likewise, an excess of either phosphorus or zinc may prevent it from absorbing enough copper or iron. Excess of either calcium or magnesium has also shown to prevent plants from absorbing enough potassium.
Such nutrient imbalances can cause a number of problems, including drooping, leaf drop, and diminished flowering.
Do not fertilize during dormancy
The best time to fertilize your Christmas cactus is during the growing season in spring and early summer. During cold months in fall and winter, avoid fertilizing. During this period, the cactus will heavily focus on blooming as it uses the stored nutrients.
Fertilizing during dormancy can prevent flowering. Additionally, it may cause accumulation of salts in the soil. There are some cases where the play may even wilt and die. To avoid all these, always follow instructions provided on the fertilizer label by the manufacturer.
Avoid slow-release formulas
Quick release African Violet fertilizers often give the best because nutrients and other essential elements are made immediately available to the plant. They mainly come in water-soluble formulations which makes application easy during watering.
Slow release fertilizers, usually formulated in coated granules are designed to release nutrients slowly over time. While that reduces the frequency of application, it is easy to overfertilize. So using them needs a lot of experience and patience.
Final thought
Like the African violets, the Christmas cactus likes a well-balanced fertilizer. The African violet food fertilizer has the right amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This can help your Christmas cactus grow well and bloom.
What’s important, use a water-soluble fertilizer. Mix it at half the normal strength. Apply every 2 to 4 weeks when the cactus is growing. Do not fertilize in winter when the plant rests, and always use lees. Too much can harm the roots.
My name is Diane M Lewik, and I am the founder of this website. I am a degree holder in plant biology from the University of California – Berkeley. Over the years, I have cultivated a vast collection of succulents and I have learned a great deal about how to grow and care for these unique plants. Feel free to ask any questions in the comment section below.
