How to care for easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri)

Hatiora gaertneri

Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri) — an epiphytic cactus with spineless, flat, segmented stems with rounded scallops and star-shaped red, pink or white flowers in spring; about 15–30 cm tall and up to 60 cm wide. Easter cactus needs partial shade. Water it about every 7 days while it grows and about every 21 days in the winter rest.

Checked against sources: November 5, 2026

Watering and repotting easter cactus through the year

It lives indoors all year, so it has no sowing or planting dates: it grows from March to September and rests from October to February (the other way round in the southern hemisphere).

Repot it about every 36 months.

When to plant easter cactus?

Plant or repot easter cactus in spring, as it starts into growth; early to midsummer also works. It is a houseplant, so it has no outdoor planting date and no frost decides it: just avoid autumn and winter, when growth slows and fresh compost stays wet too long. After that, move it to a slightly larger pot about every three years, or sooner once roots circle the pot or grow through the drainage holes.

Watering in the growing and resting halves of the year: Watering and repotting easter cactus through the year.

Sources: RHS: How to repot a plant · Penn State Extension: Repotting houseplants

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Latin name	Hatiora gaertneri
Family	Cactaceae
Light	Partial shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Repotting	every 36 months
Grown in	At home

Easter cactus care by growth stage

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	—	phosphorus and potassium, 14 days into the stage; phosphorus and potassium, 44 days into the stage; phosphorus and potassium, 74 days into the stage; phosphorus and potassium, 104 days into the stage; phosphorus and potassium, 134 days into the stage; phosphorus and potassium, 164 days into the stage; phosphorus and potassium, 194 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 21 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright indirect light; direct sun, especially around midday, scorches the stems.

Soil

Moist but well-drained cactus potting mix; an epiphytic cactus compost suits it.

Care

Likes high humidity: mist with soft water, stand the pot on a tray of wet pebbles or keep it in a bright bathroom. Keep the mix moist but never soggy and water less in winter; too much or too little water makes it drop stem segments. Usual temperatures are 15–24 °C, and a cooler spell around 10 °C in late winter helps flower buds form. Buds appear around February–March as the days lengthen and it blooms from late March to May; in autumn keep it away from artificial light, because it needs long uninterrupted nights. Feed monthly with a dilute low-nitrogen fertiliser while it grows. A shady spot outdoors in summer hardens the new growth. Repot only after flowering, about every 3–4 years or when roots show through the drainage holes.

Pests and diseases of Easter cactus

3 problems are recorded for easter cactus; each has a page with symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Diseases

Grey mould

Pests

Other plants of the Cactaceae family

Easter cactus belongs to Cactaceae; 6 other plants of this family have a guide here.

Plant lists it is in

Part of: Houseplants · Flowering houseplants · Houseplants you rarely repot

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.