Christmas cactus is a popular succulent houseplant with bright pink or red flowers that will bloom on command for the holidays if you give it filtered sunlight and well-drained soil.
Type
Cactus
Life Span
Long-lived perennial
USDA Zones
9-11
Light
Bright, not direct
Water
Well-drained soil
Where to Plant
Enjoys humidity
Design Tip
Red, pink, white
Companions
Succulents
Peak Season
Winter flowers
Christmas Cactus: A Field Guide
Don’t let the cactus classification fool you: Schlumbergera loves the rain forest. A native of Brazil, the Christmas cactus enjoys the shade and humidity in that country’s coastal mountains. What makes it a cactus, actually, is the tiny areoles from which flowers grow.
As a houseplant, the Christmas cactus prefers cool nights (about 50 degrees Fahrenheit) and more than 13 consecutive hours of darkness to coax it to bloom. Turn off the light or put it in a closet to get things rolling. Sometimes Schlumbergera will surprise with blooms again in early summer.