Christmas Cactus dying?

Question

My Christmas cactus appears to be wilting and turning purple/ reddish at the ends of it. There aren't the flower, the green plant itself is turning purplish at the ends. It is also very thin too. The "leaves/ branches" are very very flat.

I repotted it but it's still all wilty

There are few flys around it too

any suggestions?

it kinda old...a few years....so is it at the end of its lifespan?

Answer 1

I've had the same problem and found I was watering it too much.

This may help you in caring for it.

How to Care for a Christmas Cactus
A beautiful holiday plant, the Christmas Cactus blooms only at Christmas time. The buds which bloom into glorious flowers grow from the tip of each leaf; their arrival announces Christmas holiday season. Flowers bloom in a variety of colors. 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. Perfect for indoor rooms or patios.
[edit] StepsKeep your Christmas Cactus in appropriate conditions. A Christmas Cactus will appreciate most a sunny location. Keep the plant in a well-lit location away from drafts from heat vents, fireplaces or other sources of hot air. Move an indoors plant outdoors in summer, to a shady location. Bright, indirect light is best.
Water a Christmas Cactus with care. Caring for a cactus plant can be a bit tricky as you need to take care not to overwater or underwater a cactus:


Care must be taken not to underwater it, for while a Christmas cactus is in origin a tropical plant, it is not quite as drought tolerant as its desert cactus cousins. If the soil gets too dry, the flowers buds will drop, and the plant will wilt. While they might not need as much watering as other plants, just keep in mind that unlike many cacti, this variety cannot tolerate completely dry soil.
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.
Water the cactus consistently. A good method is to water a cactus as follows:


Dry climate, outdoors: Water every two to three days when warm and sunny.
Humid, cool or indoors: Water every week.
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 before watering again.
Mist leaves as well as watering the soil.
During the fall and winter months, the plants should be watered less frequently in order to promote blooming.
Add fertilizer to assist plant growth. Plants that are actively growing should be given a blooming houseplant-type fertilizer. 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.
Prune the Christmas cactus after blooming. This will encourage the plant to branch out.
Encourage the flower blooming for the holiday season. The key to getting Christmas cactus to flower during the holiday season is proper light exposure, correct temperatures and limited watering.


During the fall months, the Christmas Cactus should be placed in a spot where it receives indoor indirect, bright light during the daylight hours but total darkness at night. This is similar to the exposure needed by a poinsettia except that a Christmas poinsettia requires warm temperatures whereas the Christmas Cactus needs a spot where the temperatures are cool during the fall months.
The Christmas Cactus requires long, uninterrupted dark periods, about 12 hours each night. 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 8 P.M. - 8 A.M. each night for 6-8 weeks or until you see buds forming. A closet or room are ideal places.
The Christmas Cactus should also be subjected to cool temperatures of about 50 to 55 degrees F. From September and October, the Christmas Cactus should be kept in a cool room where temperatures will remain around 50 degrees, give or take a few degrees. Be sure not to expose the plant to freezing temperatures. It's also very important they be kept in a room where no artificial light will be turned on at night. Plants should be blooming for the holidays if cool treatments are started by early November.
Propagate a Christmas Cactus by cutting off 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.
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.

Answer 2

Christmas Cactus Wilting

Answer 3

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Probably because you're treating them like a desert cactus. They are actually jungle cacti. They're used to cooler temperatures and moist, well-drained soil. Don't let them dry out completely the way you would with a desert cactus, but don't keep them constantly damp, either. Feed with normal liquid fertilizer during blooming and keep in front of an East window. That's got the perfect light for them--not too much direct sun but just enough brightness for them to know what time of year it is (they won't bloom until after they get about 12 hours of darkness every night). Additionally, allow them to finish blooming before you repot them. Repotting causes stress on the plant and they immediately stop producing flowers. Instead, wait until they've finished blooming and enter a rest epriod before you repot. Does that help?

Answer 4

The purple usually indicates a bit too much sun, however, unless it is getting direct sun it still should be alright. I have mine under artificial lighting and it does just fine. Also, like any succulent, Christmas cactus needs very little water. I water mine maybe once a month. If you want it to flower then you will need to put it somewhere it can experience some winter chill and light changes associated with the seasons.
Mine is in my bathroom that is not heated so it gets to experience a mild winter and it flowers every year.
Good Luck

Answer 5

I have had christmas and thanksgiving cactus live for decades. If you watered it and it is wilty, then you probably have root rot from overwatering. The flies are fungus gnats that live in wet organic potting media. Let the top of the soil dry out between watering. Check the roots, if they are mush, then start over. You can break off the sections of the stem and let them dry for a day. repot in well drained soil. Keep out of direct light until they root. They like to be pot bound, so do not repot until they are falling over. Fertilize once and a while during the growing season.

Answer 6

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RE:
Christmas Cactus dying?
My Christmas cactus appears to be wilting and turning purple/ reddish at the ends of it. There aren't the flower, the green plant itself is turning purplish at the ends. It is also very thin too. The "leaves/ branches" are very very flat.

I repotted it but it's still all...

Answer 7

How do you prune it? Please describe the process.

Answer 8

it was over watered, as evidenced by the flies.

make certain it isn't sitting in water. put it outside (in the shade) and allow it to dry out somewhat.

it may make it yet! :)