About Christmas cacti
Natural habitat
Christmas cacti are hybrid species created from crosses between Schlumbergera truncata and russelliana, a member of the same genus, and their natural habitat is unknown.
Both are jungle cacti, found in tropical southeastern Brazil, where they thrive in moist, high-altitude forests, absorbing humidity, sunlight, and balmy temperatures, unlike their other cactus cousins that inhabit arid habitats.
Both are jungle cacti, found in tropical southeastern Brazil, where they thrive in moist, high-altitude forests, absorbing humidity, sunlight, and balmy temperatures, unlike their other cactus cousins that inhabit arid habitats.
Description
Christmas cacti, also known as Zygon cacti, are epiphytic succulents belonging to the Rhipsalideae tribe, commonly found on trees due to their distinctive growth pattern.
Plants lack true leaves and instead produce flattened, green stem segments called cladodes, which resemble long trailing leaves and are utilized for photosynthesis.
A Christmas cactus’ stunning tubular flowers, grown on segmented stems, are triggered by short days and long nights, starting blooming around the holiday season and can re-bloom in late winter with the right conditions.
Christmas cacti are among the beautiful blooming cactus varieties, as many other flowering cactus varieties also provide a stunning display.
Selective cultivation has resulted in a diverse array of vibrant flower colors, including classic red and pink, yellow, orange, white, and multicolored.
Cultural significance and lifespan
The plant holds cultural significance and is a popular houseplant used in the US and northern hemisphere to brighten homes during the holiday season in November and December.
Did you know? In its native Brazil, in the southern hemisphere, this plant is known as “flor de maio.” This is because it blooms there when winter is around the corner in May, rather than in December!
Christmas cactus, available in mid-fall, are sold at low prices during bloom and are often discarded after flowering, often viewed as a one-time holiday houseplant.
The Christmas cactus, a long-lasting succulent, can be kept as a houseplant year-round and can live for 20-30 years, potentially up to 100 years.
Imagine passing down a houseplant or a Christmas cactus as a living heirloom to your children or grandchildren, or inheriting an old cactus that becomes the family matriarch.
A Christmas cactus is a simple and easy plant to care for, with only a few special attentions needed to encourage repeat blooming in fall and winter. It can still be healthy even if it doesn’t bloom every year.
Christmas cactus varieties
The Christmas cactus is a hybrid plant, Schlumbergera x buckleyi, with several similar species. As a hybrid, Christmas cacti have a wide variety, with some resembling parent plants without being classified as a specific cultivar. Additionally, selective breeding has resulted in an endless array of colors in their flowers.
The University of Massachusetts offers a page to familiarize oneself with some of these concepts.
The specific cultivar is often not listed on local plants for sale, making identification a guessing game.
Christmas cactus vs. Thanksgiving cactus vs. Easter cactus
The name “Christmas cactus” is loosely applied to a number of similar jungle cacti.
There are three main holiday cactus types, each a member of the genus Schlumbergera, although they have been placed in and removed from various genera over the years.
- True Christmas cactus, or Schlumbergera x buckleyi :The hybrid holiday cactus, recognizable by its rounded leaf segments, is a common houseplant with late blooming and is not commonly grown commercially.
- Thanksgiving cactus, or Schlumbergera truncata: Stores often mistakenly label a different species, despite it being different, with earlier blooming and more pointed leaf segments.
- Easter cactus, or Schlumbergera Gaertner (Hatboro Gaertner until very recently): As the name suggests, this variety blooms in spring, not winter. It’s not too difficult to tell apart from the other two, as its flowers aren’t elongated and the leaf segments are more rounded.
Caring for a Christmas cactus
Jungle cacti, like the Christmas cactus, are not difficult to care for but are often misunderstood as regular cacti due to their tropical forest origins, which require more water and less harsh sun than their desert counterparts.
Light and temperature
Although some morning or late afternoon sun is perfectly fine and probably appreciated, your Christmas cactus doesn’t need the intense light that desert cacti do. It likes a bright spot on a windowsill, but indirect light is mostly the way to go.
Exposure to direct sun can cause stress coloration in Christmas cactus, turning their leaves dark brownish red. This is not harmful but a natural protective mechanism. To bloom successfully, cactus need lower temperatures during late fall, but it’s crucial to remember that Schlumbergera, a tropical genus, doesn’t like cold. Normal room temperature is ideal, but a bit hotter won’t be a problem. Avoid letting temperatures drop below 50°F.
Water and humidity
Christmas cacti store water in their fleshy leaf segments, but are less efficient than desert cacti. To prevent wrinkling and dropping foliage, keep the soil lightly moist from spring to blooming. After that, let the soil dry slightly, but never go bone dry. Water the cactus twice a week in summer and every week and a half in winter. Keep the cactus in a well-lit spot and avoid leaving them without water.
Christmas cacti thrive in tropical environments, so running a humidifier in dry homes can be beneficial for both you and your houseplants.
Soil and planting
Christmas cacti are not fussy about soil, but as natural epiphytes, they prefer loose, water-retaining mixtures on trees, as they grow on trees rather than soil.
Christmas cacti thrive in Bromeliad soil, which is also known as “orchid soil” or “orchid potting mix.” This acidic soil mixture with gritty material allows excess water to drain and peat to maintain moisture. For my Christmas cacti, I mix a normal houseplant potting soil with about 30% perlite. For better drainage, add more perlite or orchid bark, or if the soil drains too quickly, add coco coir or peat moss. The cacti do not seem to mind this simple mix.
Planters with drainage holes are ideal for watering excess water. Terracotta is ideal for quick soil drying, while plastic is better for underwater protection. Hanging planters are ideal for larger Christmas cacti, as stems tend to hang down as they grow. Plastic is better for those concerned about underwatering.
Recommended products for Christmas cactus plant care:
- Leaves & Soul Premium Potting Soil for Orchids, Bromeliads, and Epiphytic Plants
- Espoma Organic Potting Mix for Orchids and Bromeliads
- Good Earth Organics Premium Potting Soil
- Perfect Plants Organic Perlite
- Emily’s Naturals Neem Oil Plant Spray Kit
Fertilizing
Christmas cacti are not heavy feeders but still need occasional boost. Fertilize once a month during the growing season, stopping when buds form in fall. Winter fertilization is unnecessary as the plant isn’t actively growing. A diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer or potted succulent and cacti plant food is suitable.
Read more: Best liquid fertilizer for Christmas cactus!
Recommended fertilizers for Christmas cactus:
- Houseplant Resource Center Liquid Fertilizer for Houseplants
- Instant Biologics Instant Plant Food (Fizzing Nutrient Tablets)
- The Grow Co. Succulent & Cactus Plant Food
- Cute Farms Cacti, Succulent & Aloe Fertilizer (Liquid Pump Bottle)
- Job’s Organics Succulent Fertilizer Spikes
Pruning
The author has never pruned their Christmas cacti, preferring their longer stems. However, if they need to be shortened, pinching the segments loose is easy. However, this isn’t recommended for budding or blooming plants. If pruning is necessary, refer to the propagation section for instructions on how to regrow cuttings.
Dividing or repotting
The Christmas cactus is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t require a large pot and doesn’t require frequent repotting. However, if the soil starts to dry out quickly, it may indicate root-boundness and may require a larger pot size. If it’s been a year or two since the last fresh soil was received, it might benefit from a refresher and easy division. The plant is often made up of multiple loose stems potted together.
Propagating a Christmas cactus
Because it’s so easy to pinch a few segments off your Christmas cactus, and they can technically regrow from a single leaf, you can imagine that propagating these plants isn’t exactly a challenge.
tip: How to grow a bigger Christmas cactus?
To multiply your Christmas cactus, take sections of a few segments and place them in soil. They can root in water but take easily in soil. To create new plants, place three to four cuttings in a small pot, mist the soil regularly, and gently tug them. If resistance occurs, they’ve rooted and can be watered normally. For a fuller look, place cuttings back into the mother plant’s pot.
How do you make a Christmas cactus bloom?
To ensure your Christmas cactus blooms as beautifully as when purchased, it’s essential to mimic fall and winter conditions indoors. These conditions trigger blooming in these plants, so it’s crucial to imitate that environment to stimulate bud formation.
A harsh routine of minimal watering, increased darkness, cooler temperatures, and no fertilizer can cause your Christmas cactus to bloom abundantly in fall and winter. To ensure this, follow these tips:
- Reduce temperature. Although Christmas cacti don’t like being too cold, temperatures around 60°F starting late October can help kickstart things.
- Reduce light. The days are naturally shorter during winter, but in the home, we often leave the lights on until late. You can place your Christmas cactus in a space where it stays dark after the sun goes down. Some houseplant enthusiasts even put theirs in a closet at night.
- Reduce water. In the section on watering, I mentioned these plants like to stay lightly moist until they finish blooming. There’s a little exception: during the bud formation period, it can be helpful to let the top layer of the soil dry out.
During the Christmas season, place your Christmas cactus in a garage or shed. Once the buds are established, return the plant to its usual home position.
