The Christmas cactus is a popular houseplant for a reason: it’s beautiful! They produce gorgeous, tubular flowers in pink or lilac colors when they bloom. They’re a fantastic plant because of their lovely blossoms, long bloom time, and low maintenance requirements. We’re sure you have a Christmas cactus in your household!
About Christmas Cacti
The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) and its cousins do not live in hot, arid conditions like deserts or plains, unlike other cacti. These epiphytic succulents are native to southern Brazil’s tropical rainforests, where they grow on tree branches and absorb the high humidity, dappled sunlight, and moderate temperatures.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t treat a Christmas cactus like any other cactus or succulent. They can’t withstand the same hot, dry circumstances as other cactus. These cacti require more frequent watering than most succulents, but you must be careful not to overwater them. (For more information, see the thorough care instructions below.)
Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas Cactus?
Easter cactus (S. gaertneri), Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata), and Christmas cactus are the three primary types of “holiday” cacti (S. x buckleyi). Each holiday cactus blooms closest to the holiday for which it is named. Most “Christmas cacti” offered nowadays, on the other hand, are actually Thanksgiving cacti, which bloom from November to February and hence go unrecognized as Christmas cacti. See our post on the different types of holiday cacti and how to identify them apart for more information.
Note: On this page, we use the word “Christmas cactus” to refer to all three of these species because it is the most generally used term and our care advice applies to all of them!
When can I buy a Christmas cactus?
Christmas cactus are normally obtained in late autumn or early winter, when they are already in bloom or have buds. Avoid excessive temperature changes when transporting your Christmas cactus home, since this may cause some buds to fall off. Keep the soil slightly moist and place in a bright window for maximum results. During the winter bloom time, there is no need to fertilize.
Christmas cactus require as much light as possible after the final blooms have faded, and prefer to be kept cool during rest periods.
When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?
Place the mature plant in a dark room or keep it covered (under a box or bag works good) for at least 12 hours a day in late September or early October.
What colors do Christmas cactus come in?
Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) are popular fall and winter flowering houseplants native to Brazil. They come in a range of colors, including red, rose, purple, lavender, peach, orange, cream, and white. Schlumbergera species are epiphytes that grow on tree branches in shaded rain forests, and their pendulous stems make them ideal for hanging baskets.
Thanksgiving cactus bloom around Thanksgiving, about a month before Christmas cacti bloom, when grown under standard night duration conditions. The Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri; synonym Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) is another member of the group sold as holiday cacti, with pink or red flowers that bloom predominantly in the spring and occasionally throughout the year. The Thanksgiving cactus is most commonly found for sale during the winter holiday season due to its bloom timing. If the plants are nurtured at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, flowering can extend up to 8 weeks.
Examine the shape of the flattened stem segments, known botanically as phylloclades, to distinguish between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus. These stem segments of the Thanksgiving cactus have 2 to 4 saw-toothed serrations or projections along the borders. The Christmas cactus has more rounded stem edges. Because neither of these festive cacti has genuine leaves, photosynthesis takes place within the green phylloclades.
The hue of the pollen-bearing anthers is a second way to identify between these two Schlumbergera species. The Thanksgiving cactus has yellow anthers, whereas the Christmas cactus has purplish-brown anthers.
How long do Christmas cactus live?
With good cause, the Christmas cactus may be found all over throughout the holiday season. It’s a blooming succulent that’s easy to care for, has beautiful blossoms, and may survive for up to 100 years if properly cared for! That’s correct! This plant can last for decades, giving your holidays a splash of color for generations. That’s a fairly good return on investment for a plant as simple and low-maintenance as the Christmas cactus!
What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
Thanksgiving cactus, holiday cactus, and crab cactus are all names for the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata). The leaf-shaped stem segments with curled, sharp teeth or claws around the margins are known as crab claws. The leaf segments of the Easter cactus (Schlumbergera buckleyi) have rounded edges. They all originated in the gloomy, damp forests of southeast Brazil. They’re called epiphytes because they thrive on trees above ground, in places where branches meet and decomposing fallen leaves and mosses collect.
Despite the fact that this plant is called a cactus, the care it requires has little to do with its desert cousins. It’s a cactus that grows in the forest. Its requirements can be traced back to their source. The optimum time to plant a Christmas cactus is when it is warm “I’m stuck in a pot.” This entails keeping it in a small container for as long as possible before transferring it to a little larger pot. They prefer a nutrient-dense organic potting mix and should not be allowed to dry out. When the plant is blossoming, increase the amount of water it receives. They enjoy indirect light that is bright. As the plants begin to burn, the leaf segments might turn a dark crimson color.
‘The’ “The “secret” to getting your Christmas cactus to bloom in the years after you buy it boils down to two factors: light and temperature. These two are the keys to the kingdom of flowers. Flowers are produced by Christmas cacti in a chilly, short-day cycle. It takes at least eight days of 16 hours of darkness and 8 hours of light every day to start the creation of flower buds. Do not turn on the lights at night, even if only for a brief time, wherever the plant is put. This violates the required dark cycle. It should be around 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid placing the plant in an area where it will be exposed to cold or hot air drafts.
It’s as simple as putting the Christmas cactus on the window sill in a chilly room and not turning on the lights. If the plant was in a brightly lit room, the side closest to the window often grows buds, but the plant’s illuminated side does not. If the plant produces flower buds but then loses them, it’s usually due to either too much or too little water or a lack of air humidity. The good news is that if their temperature and light needs are met, Christmas cacti are reasonably straightforward to re-bloom.
What conditions do Christmas cactus like?
Schlumbergera can be found in jungle-like forests connected to trees in their natural habitat. They prefer a semi-shade environment versus the full light of desert-dwelling cacti. A well-lit, but out of direct sunlight, environment with a humid climate would be excellent. Use gravel-filled saucers to place your plants on and keep them moist to improve humidity.
To sustain healthy growth, repot once a year (or at least every two years). This can be done at the end of March, when their growing season begins. To help with drainage, use a regular cactus compost or a loam-based compost like John Innes No 2 with additional leafmould (or peat substitute) and grit. Choose only a slightly larger container for potting on, as they prefer to be tight in a compact pot.
Aftercare
- A time of rest is required after blossoming. Restrict the temperature to 12-15°C (55-59°F) and reduce the watering to only once or twice a week from late January to late March to avoid the compost drying up altogether. Moving to a cooler environment is a simple way to accomplish this.
- Increase the watering and start feeding with a houseplant liquid feed during the growing season, which runs from April to September. Maintain a temperature of 18-20°C (65-69°F) during the growing season if possible.
- They can be placed outside throughout the summer months, once the risk of frost has passed. This promotes flowering and helps to ripen new growth. Keep them in a shady area away from snails.
- With the shorter days and cooler temperatures, flowering buds begin to form around mid-September. With a second resting period, the watering and temperature should be reduced (as before). Increase the temperature to 18-20°C (65-69°F) and begin regular watering just until the flowering buds have formed.
- After that, your plant should bloom and provide you with a stunning display. If there are two resting periods with a reduction in watering and temperature, exact temperatures are not required to encourage flowering.
What should I look for when buying a Christmas cactus?
Its stem segments have scalloped or rounded edges rather than sharp teeth. Another approach to identify your cactus is to examine the flowers, which can bloom at any time during the fall or early winter.
Are Christmas cactus poisonous?
Humans, cats, and dogs are not poisoned by the Christmas cactus. The fibrous plant debris of the cactus can induce widespread vomiting and diarrhea.