Well Entero, I can't really help you with these, as I don't grow them well (yet) myself. I am just posting to inform you that your description of your current mix sounds exactly like what peat based mixes tend to do & why many of us try to avoid it. It's soggy when wet, they dries out so completely & hardens off, that it become impossible to wet. If you choose to change mixes, you'll likely need to soak the plant to soften this rootball enough to get that mix off the plant. I suspect the center of your rootball is completely hard & likely bone dry, essentially depriving the plant of water.

June, I hope I'm allowed to disagree with all of the above. These are not succulents. They are jungle cactus called Epiphytic Cactus, they grow where they can in trees. I am quoting, in part, from the CSSA Journal December 2006. They need to be in hanging baskets. Soil can be changed if you insists, I find it hard to print the whole instructions here. It needs a fast draining mix with humus in it. Leaf mold, bark, and Med. size perlite for drainage. Keep the other junk out. Just add to your regular mix extra Leaf mold, or Orchid bark. It likes the same soil that Orchids grow in. It likes an occasional feeding of Osmocote 14-14-14 after it flowers. (Dec.Jan.) Apply 2-10-10 in Feb. or March. this will stimulate Spring flowers. Keep slighty damp and frequently misted until new growth forms within 6-8 weeks. Do not root in water! P.S. you may use an Epi mix as well. They grow in semi-shade, then they will flower. This was written by RW Kohlschreiber Christmas Cactus have reliable flowers in early January. The plant is indeed a Schlumbergera . If you wish a print out of the article, please send a self addressed envelope. I hope I have been of some help and didn't ruffle too many feathers. This is for information, and only a small part of the article. If you put in a pot too large it may take a while to reflower, if you are going to transplant do it now if it is not in bud. They like to be crowded. Remember that they grow in trees in jungles, so they drain rapidly, they grow in tree/insect waste. No one transplants them in the wild. Karen you may correct my spelling because it bothers you. Norma

temperature shock(in warm store out to briefly cold parking lot to load up and drive home ect..) do not move the plants once the buds form, you can move once buds begin to bloom that ok.

Well, they're not dead yet, so I suppose that's some form of success. I have 6 cuttings going, but noticed they didn't seem to be doing so well. So I un-potted them and I think I found the culprit -- the soil was too moist. Most of my lovely roots had rotted away! So I remixed the soil, added a lot more perlite for drainage, re-dipped the cuttings in rooting hormone, and drenched them in a soil drench that is supposed to stop damping off disease. So we'll see if they make it. If not, the "Mother Plant" is doing absolutely beautifully, and I feel confident that what I learn from doing this will help me to propagate her properly down the road. And, Oh Yes, one additional section fell off while I was watering the Mother Plant the other day, so it is now in gel awaiting root development. I am nothing if not persistent! MacThayer