The Christmas cactus, as it’s name suggests, blooms in winter. This is an ideal plant to give as a gift or to keep for yourself due to the fact that it very easy to care for and can be grown indoors. The flowers that it produces vary in color from vivid pinks through to yellow and white.

• Common Name: Christmas Cactus
• Scientific name: Zygocactus
• Genus: Schlumbergera
• Related to: Easter cactus

Light and Temperature

If you want an abundance of flowers then treat the Christmas Cactus to plenty of light, however make sure that you don’t give it too much direct light as this can burn the leaves. When the flowers start to bud, make sure that you don’t rotate the pot. This is because the flowers grow towards the light and if you turn them the other way they will rotate towards the light and drop off. This plant also likes warm temperatures during the day and cool temperatures by night. To ensure flowers for the holiday season, keep your plant in cool temperatures during the months of September and October.

Soil and Feeding

Make sure that the soil is well drained and use soil suitable for succulent plants. Feed this cactus with fertilizer diluted to half strength from spring to late summer.

Watering

Although this is a cactus, it is a type of cactus that normally grows in tropical climates. Because of this you need to spray this plant occasionally with water (preferably soft water). When the top half of the soil feels dry give your Christmas Cactus a really good watering and only water the plant again when the soil feels dry. During the colder months you don’t need to water much at all – it is even suggested that you shouldn’t water during the month of October at all. You can keep the plant moist by placing the pot of a tray of wet pebbles.