The biggest misconception with the Christmas cactus is that it hails from the hot, dry desert, and therefore should be cared for like a true cactus plant. The Christmas cactus is a unique kind of cacti that blooms close to the holiday in early winter, hence its name. The Christmas cactus is a Brazilian coastal plant known as an epiphyte. Learn more about poinsettias as traditional Christmas plants here. PollyDot … You can even grow them outdoors during summer in part shade before bringing them back inside for fall. Even reference sources differ on the specifics of Holiday Cactus nomenclature. The Christmas cactus (scientific name Schlumbergera) is a succulent houseplant native to Brazil that produces bell-shaped blooms in shades of red, pink, or white.This tropical plant has a November-to-December bloom time, and it’s also known as holiday cactus. Don’t overwater, but also keep in mind that this type of cactus doesn’t retain water like its succulent colleagues. While Thanksgiving cacti, or Schlumbergera truncata, bloom in late fall, Christmas cacti, or Schlumbergera bridgesii, bloom about a month later. Light: Christmas cacti will adapt to low light conditions but will produce better blooms if they receive a good dose of morning sunlight. They'll burn in direct sunlight, so if it's indoors near a west or south-facing window, make sure it's filtered with a sheer curtain. As for potting soil, just regular potting soil is fine, or a cactus mix will do. Aloe Vera is the most popular species. Hi Lee, these are very closely related to the Christmas Cactus, Schlumbergera, but as you say, much bigger! Good humidity. Two species have cylindrical stems more similar to other cacti. 5. But in order to keep these plants looking beautiful, you need to follow all the steps involved with proper Christmas cactus care. Well you're in luck, because here they come. amazon.com. It prefers even moisture but should be watered from the bottom (a saucer works well) so water doesn’t accumulate at the top of the corm and cause it to rot. How nice to know a Christmas or Hanukkah gift plant may keep giving for years to come! To start, a Christmas cactus doesn’t act like a cactus—at least, not the kind of cactus you see in Phoenix. Like the poinsettia, the Christmas cactus needs to follow a pretty strict regimen in the fall to bloom at holiday time. Weihnachtskaktus in German, cactus de Noël in French, and cacto de Navidad in Spanish). Story | Copyright, Copyright © 2009-var today=new Date() There is a lot of confusion surrounding the holiday cacti: Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus. Common Christmas Cactus Problems. Schlumbergera is a small genus of cacti with six to nine species found in the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. $11.00 SHOP NOW. Learn how to care for a Christmas cactus. Their flowers and stems are similar and it is quite common for people to mistake them for the same plants. In its native Brazil, the Christmas cactus has very specific growing conditions. Indoor Watering Can. This is the ideal temperature range during the day to help them thrive. Since most people find the foliage relatively unimpressive, the seasonal specials are always sold in bud or with newly-opened blooms. Moth orchid (Phalaeopsis spp. Difference between Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus: How to Tell. Many times it's used as a miniature Christmas tree on a porch, but it can be brought inside and grown for the holidays if returned outdoors for winter dormancy. Gardeners typically grow Christmas cacti indoors, but you can grow them outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11. POTEY Cement Pots 4.3″ Medium Pot with Drain Hole. However, if you move them outside during the summer, you'll have the most success in a partially shaded location, as too much direct light can burn the leaves. Many of the season’s star indoor plant performers are surprisingly easy to care for. Blossom Drop. And no matter which one it is, it will likely View source here. Do not over prune at this point, just help the plant keep its shape. Location: This houseplant will thrive in an east-facing widow.They like bright light, but not direct sunshine. Christmas cactus is a beautiful house plant that’s perfect for the holiday season. Poinsettia. This plant has a flattened body and the leaves are actually its stems, from which the red-pink flowers bloom during the holiday season. The “Xmas Fantasy” has more of a peachy color bloom with hints of purple. A beautiful holiday plant (botanically known as Schlumbergera or Zygocactus), the Christmas Cactus unsurprisingly blooms at Christmas and also sometimes around Easter time if cared for properly.A month prior to Christmas you will be able to watch the tips of the leaves beginning to grow. This genus of plants, in particular, accumulates water in its stems, so when we talk about the leaves of the Christmas cactus being wrinkled, we are referring to its stems that look like this. Paperwhite Narcissus, commonly called paperwhites, are so easy to grow you don’t even need soil. Plants are popular gifts, but novice and experienced gardeners alike can use some tips on how to care for them after the holidays have ended. $11.70 SHOP NOW. It does best in medium light and humidity, with a quick-draining bark mix allowed to dry slightly between waterings. It is also known that coffee contains a measurable amount of magnesium and potassium – two building blocks for plant growth. They also lack the little horns on the leaves of Christmas cactus, just for a quick way to ID them.Expect it to bloom with spectacular flowers in the late fall, once light levels start to change which triggers bud set. To help increase the humidity around your plant, fill the pot saucer with pebbles and add water to just below the tops of the pebbles (the pot shouldn’t be sitting directly in water). Remember, Christmas cactus plants like soil that consistently has more moisture than the soil preferred by most other succulents. Everywhere else it’s a handsome houseplant with a graceful, evergreen habit year-round that grows about 6 or 7 feet tall; however, ‘Gracilis’ has a more compact size. I have Christmas cactus and this plant looks similar.Drought Smart Plants reply:Hi Lisa - great score! The Christmas cactus (scientific name Schlumbergera) is a succulent houseplant native to Brazil that produces bell-shaped blooms in shades of red, pink, or white.This tropical plant has a November-to-December bloom time, and it’s also known as holiday cactus. These two plants look very similar, but there are a few key characteristics that can clear things up about your plant's true identity. In order for the plant to form flower buds for holiday blooms, it needs extended darkness for at least four weeks prior. The most popular color? Avoid overwatering as this can cause the flower buds to drop. Growers encourage the Christmas show by limiting the amount of light plants get in fall. Just like an orchid, Christmas cacti grow on top of other plants, trees … The Christmas cactus actually hails from a tropical Brazilian environment. I put the pot in a holiday container decorated with a bow and bring it out to star with my Norfolk pine as part of the holiday decor. In order to bloom, the Christmas Cactus needs to be pot bound. This is indeed similar in appearance and cultivation to Christmas Cactus, the Schlumbergera; there are many such epiphytes which originate in jungle situations. Soil: Cactus and succulent soil is great for a Schlumbergera. Orange is a perfect color for fall, and luckily, many orange varieties bloom in October and November. Finally, the Easter cactus has very rounded leaf segments with shallow indents on its side. The long, tubular flowers, which appear at the ends of the stems, are made up of many … Christmas cactus can do ok when it has become rootbound, but you should still repot your holiday cacti every four years, increasing the size of the pot by two inches each time you repot. ... Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust: Amazon Second Chance Pass it on, trade it in, give it a second life : In general, water a Christmas cactus when the top inch or 2 of soil is dry. Christmas cactus plants, Schlumbergera bridgesii, native to central and South America, are one of the most popular houseplants sold during the holiday season. $19.07 SHOP NOW. Kalanchoe can be grown indoors year round and will re-bloom when nights are long and temperatures are cool, similar to the Christmas cactus. Lemon cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) adds to the holiday spirit in two ways: with its chartreuse evergreen foliage and its lemony fragrance. The best way to know when your Christmas Cactus needs to be watered is to check the soil. Hand-Painted Geometric Designed. You guessed it: green. Follow the same general guidelines for care on the Schlumbergera page, and I'm sure that this relative to the Epiphyllum will amaze and delight you with its fantastic and extravagant blooms.Happy Succulent Growing!Jacki, Drought Smart Plants | Privacy Policy | Contact |  About Me | Write for This Site, Site Map | Affiliate Disclosure | Advertising | My SBI! Christmas Cactus Soil Requirements. Like the poinsettia, the Christmas cactus needs to follow a pretty strict regimen in the fall to bloom at holiday time. The Christmas cactus is a unique kind of cacti that blooms close to the holiday in early winter, hence its name. There's also an Easter cactus, or Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, which flowers in—you guessed it—late winter to early spring. The Christmas cactus has a similar boxy-shape, but with notched sides, rather than teeth. The “Malindi” cactus has purple buds that turn into bright orange flowers. Plants, even those blooming now like the Christmas Cactus, should not be fertilized from December to the end of February. Move your Christmas cactus plant when ready to bloom to a bright, sunny, spot away from drafts. In the event that your Christmas desert plant is presented to stress or pressure, the plant will probably drop its blooms. Caring for Poinsettias, Christmas Cactus, and More. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) Christmas Cactus Plant . Using coffee grounds on Christmas cactus can also increase the acidity of the soil (you want your soil to be between 5.8 – 7 pH). It has large, trumpet-shaped flowers in white, pink, red and bicolors that appear before the foliage. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats that are generally shady with high humidity, and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins. They’ll send down roots to access the water. This could be identified with the measure of light, or an abrupt change in temperature, as examined in above plant care area. They are also beautiful, especially when in bloom. If your plant seems to be jumping the gun, it's likely not a Christmas cactus at all, but a Thanksgiving cactus. 4.6 out of 5 stars 3. 9GreenBox - Red Christmas Cactus Plant - Zygocactus - 4" Pot. In Brazil, it’s known as the May flower. amazon.com. They have such similar characteristics it is obvious that they are closely related. It did not come with a tag. All three cacti are epiphytes, growing naturally in trees in the rainforests of Brazil. Epiphyllum. Poinsettias are beloved not for the tiny flowers but for the colorful bracts surrounding those flowers. Most Christmas cacti now in cultivation are considered to be hybrids of the Thanksgiving, or crab, cactus (Schlumbergera truncata, formerly Epiphyllum truncatum) and S. russelliana. They also make fine holiday gifts. is often sold as a dormant bulb grown for winter blooms. Pruning & Re-potting – Christmas Cactus Care . (Brandon, FL), I bought this plant for $1.50 at my local nursery. Christmas cacti and Thanksgiving cacti belong to the same botanical genus, Schlumbergera, meaning they’re closely related. Link to Lowe's Home Improvement Home Page, How to Care for a Christmas Cactus: Bloom Cycle and Tips. Soil: Cactus and succulent soil is great for a Schlumbergera.. Light: Christmas cacti will adapt to low light conditions but will produce better … Christmas Cactus Care . You can take it outdoors in summer if placed in a lightly shaded spot with no direct sunlight. Learn more here. Instead, use an all purpose indoor plant food like above. Like all succulents, the Christmas cactus accumulates water in its structure. Hardy outdoors in Zones 7 and higher, lemon cypress is a well-behaved indoor plant if given a window with plenty of sunshine. It comes in a range of flower colors, including white, yellow, pink and purple — many with attractive spots or stripes on the petals. You can even let it vacation outdoors in the summer in full sun or part shade. Thanksgiving cacti have flattened leaves with pointed teeth. This popular, winter-flowering houseplant makes a great addition to nearly any indoor setting. Pink Christmas Cactus Plant - Zygocactus - 6" Pot From Jmbamboo. Be careful it isn't in hot, direct sunlight, because this may cause the plant to droop. The Easter cactus, the Thanksgiving cactus, and the Christmas cactus are all closely associated. There are 10659 christmas cactus live plant for sale on Etsy, and they cost $18.02 on average. Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca var. To tell the three cacti apart, pay attention to their leaf shapes and flowers: Christmas cacti have flattened leaves with rounded teeth on the margins of the leaves. Christmas cactus is a beautiful and exotic winter-blooming plant native to Brazil, and is a popular alternative to Christmas plants such as poinsettia. This is also the name used in Canada. This plant (Schlumbergera bridgesii or Schlumbergera truncata), although known as a cactus, is really a succulent, having its origins in the tropics. This plant is very popular in medicine as it has a lot of health benefits. But keep out of direct sunlight as this may scorch the leaves. Propagating and planting a Christmas cactus from an existing mature plant is relatively simple. Water: Water well in the summer months, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. Keep reading to learn about soil requirements for Christmas cactus. Don’t worry if the cacti sheds its buds. 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More about poinsettias as traditional Christmas plants here all succulents, the Christmas has... Let it vacation outdoors in summer and when flowering, but you can grow them outdoors during in. The specifics of holiday cactus nomenclature their names for the plant to droop that turn into bright flowers. Plants get in fall can plant the spruce in the summer months, keeping your desert! Most people find the foliage a perfect color for fall poinsettias, and more to form flower have... Naturally in trees in the tree tops in full bloom or cut back to about 6 inches and allowed dry! Is often sold as a houseplant, but it ’ s easy for even the well-trained eye mistake!