With Christmas getting closer by the day, our look at popular Christmas houseplants just wouldn’t be complete unless we talked about the one plant that actually is named after the season. Schlumbergera spp., or Christmas cactus, is a unique Brazilian cactus whose stunning orchid-like flowers have become virtually synonymous with the Christmas season.
Unlike most cacti that hail from hot, dry and arid regions of the world, the Christmas cactus is naturally found in very humid and cooler, but still warm, conditions. While most cacti are sun worshipers, Christmas cacti prefer shady conditions such as those found in thick forests. It is actually in the canopy of these forests that you will find Christmas cactus in their natural environment. Epiphytes, Christmas cactus prefer to grow with their roots firmly entrenched in the bark of their host tree rather than in mineral soil. Some Christmas cactus plants do grow on rocks but still in shady humid conditions. This information is well worth noting if you plan on keeping a Christmas cactus on a long term basis. Unfortunately, as is the case with many seasonal flowering plants, huge numbers of Christmas cactus plants are purchased annually as a short term decorating option and then thrown away when the blooms fade.
In the wild, the Christmas cactus relies on humidity and rain channeled down tree bark for its moisture. What little nutrients it gets are mostly provided in the form of droppings from birds and small climbing mammals. Essentially, the Christmas cactus is quite adept at getting by with very little. This helps make them an exceptionally easy plant to care for in the home setting.
The first step in caring for your new Christmas cactus is getting the most out of it during the flowering period. First, discard the idea of traditional cactus care. Christmas cactus plants should not be in direct hot sunlight but do appreciate a few hours of direct light each day. They also should not be allowed to dry right out as you would any other cactus. Instead, when the top centimeter or two of soil becomes dry, water your Christmas cactus thoroughly but do not allow it to sit in a saucer of water. What it would appreciate is sitting in a saucer of pebbles or marbles that have water, but not high enough to touch the bottom of the cactus’ pot. These trays allow water to evaporate up around your plant and increase the humidity in the plant’s immediate vicinity. Remember, Christmas cactus normally live in very humid environments. While your Christmas cactus is in bloom you can add a little flowering plant food to the water but err on the side of feeding lighter rather than heavily. The most important aspect of Christmas cactus care is to avoid all hot air drafts as these will cause the buds and flowers to drop prematurely. Beyond this, while your Christmas cactus is in bloom, just enjoy. These are easily amongst the most stunningly beautiful flowers on the planet and you can have them growing happily right on your kitchen table.
After the bloom period is over, treat your Christmas cactus like any other houseplant. They will add their own touch of green to the house for the next several months until the nights start getting longer and cooler again. At this time the thermo-photoperiodic characteristic of these plants becomes evident. Cool temperatures in conjunction with long dark nights stimulate Christmas cactus plants to set flower buds. If you really want to put in the effort you can research their exact needs and control this phenomenon. Personally, I’m happy just letting nature take its course. I’m rarely disappointed.
While Christmas cacti generally bloom in white, pink, red or purple I’ve also seen them with rare yellow flowers. Christmas cactus is often confused with Easter cactus which as far as I can tell only blooms in shades of pink and red. The flattened stem segments of Christmas cactus, called cladodes, have jagged pointed edges while the same segments of Easter cactus are oval and smooth edged. These two plants, while very similar in appearance, are actually different genera and each blooms in accordance with its namesake holiday. One variety of Schlumbergera can also bloom as early as Thanksgiving and are often named as such. In fact, many people who believe they have Christmas cactus plants actually have Thanksgiving cactus.
While Christmas cactus have only been cultivated as houseplants for about two hundred years, annual sales of these flowers are well into the millions.
Looking for that perfect last minute Christmas present? Consider a Christmas cactus!