Christmas cacti are some of the most beloved holiday houseplants, and it's not hard to see why. With bright pink, red, and orange blooms that burst open for the festive season, they undoubtedly bring joy to interiors. Even better? When they start to trail.
If you've been growing a Christmas cactus for a few years (or perhaps you bought a larger one to begin with, like this Christmas cactus from Amazon), you'll notice its long stems start to spill over the edge of its pot and elegantly cascade. It turns this holiday houseplant into a botanical spectacle – but its vessel can make all the difference in truly showing off its sculptural silhouette
The Best Pot for a Trailing Christmas Cactus
There a couple of things to consider when choosing the best pots for a trailing Christmas cactus.
Firstly, these succulents have shallow root systems and often thrive best in smaller pots that don't hold onto excess moisture and risk root rot. For this reason, a pot with drainage holes is also beneficial, or you can use a soil moisture meter (like this from Amazon) to monitor water levels carefully where your pot doesn't have a drainage hole – an essential to have in your houseplant care kit.
Terracotta planters also work well for Christmas cactus plants because it's a porous material that helps moisture evaporate and allows air to the roots.
For a trailing Christmas cactus in particular, you can make a much more impressive display by opting for a hanging plant pot, a wall-mounted planter, or a pot on an indoor plant stand. These elevated positions allow the stems to trail freely.
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Of course, don't forget to keep your plant's size in mind when choosing a planter diameter.
No matter which plant pot you choose for your trailing Christmas cactus, take care to also provide a well-draining potting soil. You can even make a DIY Christmas cactus potting mix, or amend a regular houseplant potting mix with perlite (like this from Walmart) for added drainage.
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