How to Grow Christmas Cactus

Thanksgiving Cactus Schlumbergera truncates

Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera bridgessii

Toothed edges of Thanksgiving Cactus

Christmas cactus, formerly known as zygo cactus, is an easy to care for houseplant. With proper care, it will reward you with showy tubular flowers of red, pink, white, or purple.   Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus are often confused, as they are similar plants in the Schlumbergera genus.  There are three types of holiday cactus; you can anticipate when your plant will naturally bloom by looking at the leaves.   Thanksgiving cactus has pointed teeth while Christmas cactus have scallops or rounded teeth.  Easter cactus has wider, thicker, rounded leaves with brown fibrous hairs on the leaf joints and the flower shape is quite different.  Each will bloom around their named holidays unless forced into bloom with controlled temperature or light.  The care instructions for Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus are essentially the same.

Place your Christmas cactus in bright, indirect light.  An east or west window with a sheer curtain is ideal.  Direct sunlight can burn the leaves and cause flower buds to drop.  They are happy in room temperatures around 70 during the day and 60 - 65 at night. Avoid placing near a heat vent or in a draft such as near an outside door.

Water thoroughly, allowing the water to drain out through the pot’s holes.  Do not allow the pot to sit in water; always empty the saucer.   Allow the top inch or so to dry out before watering again.  Fertilize lightly during spring and summer if desired.  Reduce watering slightly in the fall to encourage blooming, but resume normal watering once the buds have set.

A well-drained soil such as cactus grower or one part sand with two parts potting soil is best.  Christmas cactus does not need to be repotted unless thoroughly pot bound, no more than every 3 years or so.  They can be grown as a hanging plant or on a table or shelf.

In the fall, your Christmas cactus should be in a room that does not use artificial lights in the evenings.  It will bloom when nights are around 14 hours long. 

To force blooming you can place your holiday cactus in a dark closet for 12 or more hours a night for 6 – 8 weeks.  Cool temperatures of 50 – 58 degrees will also encourage setting of flower buds.

Do not turn the plant once the flower buds have formed as they will stretch toward the light and can drop off.  A sudden change in temperatures or drafts can cause flower drop as well.  

Showy flowers of the Thanksgiving or Christmas Cactus

New growth on old woody stems

Christmas cactus will bloom year after year.  If a plant is kept in an ideal position it may bloom twice a year.  A well cared for plant can live 100 or more years!

After blooming, allow your Christmas cactus to rest. Water sparingly for about a month, just enough to prevent wilting. Do not be alarmed if a few of the leaves drop off.



Return to your normal watering schedule when new growth resumes in the spring. This is a good time to prune or shape your plant if desired.  Older growth will become woody with age and sprouts new leaves if you prune out longer stems.   Cuttings can be potted to create new plants.

Tips:

• Thanksgiving cactus: Schlumergera truncates
• Christmas cactus: Schlumbergera bridgessii
• Easter Cactus: Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri
• Schlumbergera are forest cacti (ephiphytes) from Brazil.  They grow in leaf litter in the trees, which allows the water to quickly drain off.
• If your plant gets waterlogged you can place it on paper towels to hasten drainage.
• Schlumbergera can be placed outside in a shady spot in warmer months or climates if desired.  Check for insect pests such as spider mite or mealy bugs before bringing back indoors. 

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All content and images original works of kittycooks. Copyright 2009