They kind of do . I will say he doesn't need that much Sun they can of do well in indirect sunlight. Think of them in the wild th actually growing on trees so they're never really in direct sunlight I had one in a shower with a small window and it grew huge.

You might also try to propagate several leaves in that same pot so that it looks Fuller they're very easy to propagate

It doesn't look like Christnas cactus - they do not have 'points' on the leaves. It is likely Thanksgiving cactus. Flowers will also help with exact ID.

Could it be too wet? Maybe too much sun all of sudden?

Why did you repot?

What is in the soil/what kind did you use?

What was the light exposure before?

Mine started hanging/drooping when it got longer like yours is now. Are the "leaves" or whatever they're called still firm feeling? If so, I wouldn't worry and give it a chance to acclimate. Agree that they don't like direct sun, indirect is better. They also like being a bit pot bound so don't need to move them up to bigger pots that frequently. It looks healthy from photo!

It's not drooping, it's a hanging, trailing habit. That's natural, normal growth for the plant, that's how it grows. This one I'm showing IS an Xmas cactus.

Here's some of my small ones I have growing hydro (in a small bit of water, supported by porous clay balls called Leca stones).

One can't propagate these by single leaves, one needs at least a small cutting of 3 segments minimum.

Since you're new, pls search around here abt Holiday cacti, of which this is one. They aren't ordinary, arid land cacti folks tend to think of when they think cactus. These are tropical jungle cacti from jungle forests of South America where they growing hanging in the trees, under dappled light in pretty humid conditions.

Thanks everyone for the responses. It's always been getting that amount of sunlight. It is in a west facing window and where I live it is now getting quite dark by 8pm so it gets less light than it has been previously but I will take note on the sunlight issue! I dont think it is too wet, I have been watering it the same as always and letting it almost dry out completely before watering. I only repotted it because it was in one of those cardboard pots and so I moved it to the same size pot but just didnt want the cardboard one anymore. I would say it is definitely not root bound as the rootball was not very big. I used the same soil it was already in so I am really not sure what the mixture is. The leaves do still feel firm. I also agree it still looks healthy that's why I was confused about the sudden drooping. I would say they definitely don't look wilted. I will probably try and propagate off the long section that's touching my table. I was just confused as even the smaller section started to droop.

Less light is no problem - as Karen said, they are 'jungle' cacti.

It is possibly OK, just getting bigger, and probably recovering from repotting. I have 3 Christmas cacti that I received in trade recently, and repotted them into hanging baskets. Mix I used is some bark, little soil, perlite and grit. I will take photos in the morning. Here they are when received - they were in same pots as yours was:

As you can see, they are also 'droopig' - I should say trailing.

Here is older Thanksgiving cactus - it isn't drooping as much, but it is older plant and has quite woody stems:

I am not sure about any plant liking being potbound - if they have choice, they like space (JMO...)

As promised, photo of recently repotted Christmas cactus. Two are in one hanging pot, single in another. All branches have new growth. Received them in May, repotted just month ago (beg. of August). No potbounds here - pots are large enough. They are still outside, since the day I brought them:

@rina May I ask what you potted the Christmas cactus in? Or are the small peddles (?) acting’ like a mulch so to speak?

@Rina thank you so much for the detailed explanation and the photo ...

I have many Jungle cacti, and the number 1 thing I do is forget them, but don't forget to water them. Seriously, I just water them with no inspection of them. In the summer they are on the deck where there is predomintly indirect lighting.

What pretty cacti y'all have!

Some plants "prefer" being rootbound because of forcing different features, Christmas cacti included: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/should-you-repot-your-plant-happy-root-bound-house-plants.htm

Just because plant is potbound, it doesn't mean it is 'happy'. It is stressing, and that may result in more flowering - because plant 'feels' it is threaten and may bloom, to produce blooms and eventually seeds, to be able to replicate itself. Or, it will produce more offsets. But that doesn't mean it prefers these conditions. In their habitat, plants have usually much more space to grow: even if growing in crevices that may be very thight, roots may be able to grow deeper and/or spread below. Christmas cactus, a tropical jungle plant, grows on trees (sometimes on rocks), where it has lots of room to spread its roots.

Consider Bonsai: plants are grown in quite small and shallow containers. Roots have to be pruned regularly to make plant 'fit' it. The aim is to restrict growth, to keep plant small comparing to what it would grow in other conditions = to produce artificially dwarfed tree or shrub.

It is often adviced not to overpot, especially succulents. This is not because plant like being potbound, but because ppl usually use water retaining soil. Big pot = lots of soil = it will stay moist much, much longer. This could happen - and does - with smaller pots, that's why well draining potting mix is recommended (and drainage hole in a container).

All that said, plants usually do not die from being potbound (but could). Potbounding could cause roots to circle pot, and unhealthy roots are bigger problem for plants health. That is why there is so much attention to roots health in Bosai.

There are many other techniques recommended to induce flowering: example is to keep CC (and some other plants) in complete dark for number of hours a day (including putting it in a closet or covering with a box...)

My TC, that I own since 2012, has never been kept darker than what night naturally is, yet it blooms quite profusely every year (and sometimes 2x/year):

To some extent, most growers do restrict roots somehow: growing in a pot is not the same as growing in the ground. We all have to, growing in pots gives plant only so much room - but we have to consider space to keep poted plants in :)

Giving plant best possible conditions will keep it healthy. That includes pot big enough not to cause unnecessary stress.

Don't know that I agree with the premise that some plants prefer to be root bound. I think it usually is a question of the potting mix that's used. When you have a water retentive, heavy mix, many plants would do better in small pots when root bound, simply because there's less mix to get soggy and airless. They do fine not root bound when in a airy,. fast draining mix.

I used to grow Clivias extensively. Conventional wisdom says to keep them root bound and in small pots. They actually did better in a somewhat larger pot and not root bound as long as they were in a fast draining mix like 5-1-1 or similar.

Guess Rina posted a much better explanation while I was writing :-)

Yep! I put "prefer" in quotes for a reason. An overly simplified explanation, re: succulents for sure (that "pot bound" really = smaller pot to not water logging). But, I'm sure we've all had different success with different techniques. That's the fun of gardening! those are lovely blooms, indeed.

sld

I tend to write long posts - that's all! We have same thoughts anyways.

Kanerm

You are correct - different ppl, different techniques. I guess it all depends on what one wants from plant. I don't mind if they do not bloom at all, but certainely enjoy nice blooms :)

I should have said that if there is second blooming same year, it is usually little less than first - my thinking is that plant quite exausted itself (maybe I am wrong?) - so I do not try to stress it more.

I remember my mom saying that many plants bloom nicer (more prolific) just before their demise...:) She had few 'ideas' - like talking or even singing to plants. And I did see video about plants responding to music - maybe she was on the right track! :)

Rina, I have heard that as well. It seems that a lot of plants that are dying will have a flush of bloom. Kind of a last gasp attempt to spread their seed around. I don't think I want to stress my plants quite that much :-) I do talk to my plants sometimes...

I do too, lol. Potted plants, garden beds, birds, even insects...Should anyone be waching, they probably think I lost it...

sld and Rita, do y'all grow African violets? I may need to start a different tread and pick your brain...

Nope, no African Violets. I do have some Streptocarpus and an Aeschynanthus, but that's it for gesneriads for me. Much as I'd like to, I don't have room to grow everything :-)

That is a Thanksgiving cactus. I use orchid mix for mine and Easter cactus as well. They like bright light, no direct sun as it tends to burn them, turning the leaves a red/purple color.

No African violets here either - same reason as Karen gave :)

tommy

Yes, they grow very well in dappled shade. I have few Holiday cacti, and few are in quite a bit of sun - one I posted blooming few posts above, receives most sun. Probaby 5hrs/day now, bit more in high Summer. It doesn't get sunburn since it is well acclimatized to lots of sun. It does get redish/purplish tint on the leaves, but no sunburn. Many ppl like that coloring. But they are very nice, fresh green color in little or mostly no sun. CC I posted photos of get only about 1hr of very early morning sun; after that, sun is much filtered because of mature trees. They are much greener. I like them either way.