If you’ve been keeping a Christmas cactus and have noticed that its leaves have turned purple, you’re not alone! This is a common problem with these plants, and there are several reasons why it might be happening. In this article we’ll take a look at some of the most likely causes of this issue and how to fix it. So if your asking yourself why is my Christmas cactus turning purple, read on for some solutions!
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Why Is My Christmas Cactus Purple?
There are 3 likely causes of your Christmas cactus turning purple, with one being more likely than the others. If I were to guess without looking at your holiday cactus, I would guess that it’s getting too much light and that’s causing the purple coloring. Other reasons can also include soil issues (either root bound and not enough soil, or lack of nutrients) or problems with watering, either too much or not enough.
Light Problems
Christmas cacti prefer bright, indirect light and need to be kept in an area where they don’t get more than 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. If your plant is getting too much direct sunlight, it can cause the leaves to turn purple as a defense mechanism against sunburn.
Light problems can often cause your Christmas cactus to turn purple or red. And while this is the most likely cause of the plant changing colors, try and check and see how much light your plant is getting before jumping to this conclusion.
To fix the issue of too much sunlight, you should move your plant either away from the sun or to a different window where they still get bright light but aren’t in direct intense sunlight!
Soil Problems
Soil issues can also be a common cause of why your Christmas cactus is turning purple. If the plant isn’t getting enough nutrients or is rootbound and unable to uptake enough water, it can cause the leaves to turn purple as well.
To fix this problem, you should make sure that your plant is potted in a large enough pot that the roots have space to grow (keep reading on best pots for Christmas Cactus here), or fertilize/repot the cactus into fresh soil, keeping it in the same pot.
Watering Issues
The last potential cause of why your Christmas cactus is turning purple could be due to watering problems. If you’re either over or under watering the plant, it can cause stress on the plant and lead to discoloration of the leaves.
If you think that this might be the issue, take a look at our guide on overwatered Christmas Cactus, or look for other signs that you’ve got a watering issue, like the plant going limp or dropping leaves.
To fix this problem, make sure to water your Christmas cactus about once a week, depending on the temperature and humidity. Be sure not to overwater it or let it sit in standing water for too long, as this can lead to root rot. And make sure to always check the soil to ensure its dry before giving it any more water!
Other Things To Consider
While those 3 reasons are the most likely culprit for a Christmas cactus turning purple, it can also be affected by the season, humidity, and temperature of the room. Especially temperature fluctuations from day/night near an open window.
In Summary: Why Is My Christmas Cactus Turning Purple?
There are a few reasons why your Christmas cactus might be purple! The most likely being too much light, followed by soil/nutrient issues and then finally watering. To fix these problems, first figure out which one is the culprit – look at the light it’s getting, think about how long it’s been since you’ve fertilized or repotted your cactus, and feel the soil to see if it’s dry or soggy.
Then adjust the amount of light your plant is getting, fertilize or repot the cactus into fresh soil, and make sure to properly water the plant about once a week (depending on temperature and humidity). Hopefully you’ll be back to having a green-leafed Christmas cactus in no time!
