Christmas cacti or one of many of its other regional names is Schlumbergera. While Poinsettias are still seen as the number one Christmas plant, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) are increasing in popularity as a Christmas associated plant. These cacti have been kept as Christmas plants since the 1800’s. The original Christmas cactus was developed by French botanist Charles Lemaire and named after French plant collector, Frédéric Schlumbergera. Schlumbergera is the correct botanical name.
The ancestors of today’s Christmas cactus were discovered in Brazil in the early 1800s. There are now hundreds of hybrids of Schlumbergera that flower at different times of the season and therefore become associated with our own holidays. Schlumbergera truncata flowers October to November therefore associated as a thanksgiving plant and nicknamed a thanksgiving cactus. Schlumbergera bridgesii flowers late November to January which is associated with Christmas and often called Christmas cactus 
. Schlumbergera russelliana flowers between February and April and therefore associated with Easter and nicknamed Easter cactus.
This plant is really a winter-flowering houseplant and is one of a group of epiphytic cacti native to the South American jungles. The plant is not a true cactus and is not quite as drought tolerant as the name suggests. They can often outlive their owners and we regularly hear stories of these plants being passed down through generations and plants still thriving forty and fifty years and becoming more woody as they mature. They are happier in cooler temperatures between 10c to 14c and will produce flowers and keep flowering longer in a cool bright position away from direct heat sources like radiators, open fires etc.
Watering, keep them moist without overwatering them and allow them to dry back without drying them out completely. Keeping your plant sat in a pebble tray that is filled with water, preferably rain water is a bonus to creating the perfect humidity but ensure the water level is kept below the top of the pebbles as schlumbergia will not tolerate constant wet feet!
How to bring your plant back in flower in time for Christmas. Your plant shall need equal amounts of day and night to trigger flowering. We suggest doing this from mid October will ensure your plant has a good show of flowers for Christmas. A cool dark cupboard is ideal for this between 8pm until 8am minimum temperature 10c. This plant will happily live outside from May onwards and throughout the summer once there are no frosts. A bright but shaded area will suit, direct sunlight could scorch this jungle cactus. You can begin to introduce it back in your home around mid September, again a bright position without direct sunlight is recommended. It then has around a month to acclimatise before you begin the equal day and night process.
Repotting your plant. It is happy to be fairly pot bound but after flowering and during the summer if the plant is drying quickly it might suggest it’s time to repot but don’t be tempted to increase the pot size too much. A popular commercially grown pot size is 9cm. We suggest going up to 12cm using a good quality cactus compost and not a general multi purpose!
Feeding, From April until September using a liquid feed which is high in potassium such as a tomato fertiliser, or a specialist liquid cacti feed, we stock both ?
Good luck with your Christmas cactus and remember, we are always happy to help with your questions. We would also love to hear your stories and hear how you have kept yours or even better see your pictures. Christmas Eve Tuesday 24-12-2024, if you visit our shop, we shall gift you a Christmas cactus which we hope you keep and maybe pass on to friends or family one day. There is no purchase necessary, one per customer whilst stock lasts. All we ask is for you to share this post and tag us using @yourhouseplants in your post. Come in and meet all the team of YhP between 10am till 1pm on Christmas Eve. We would love to welcome you all with a coffee and a mince pie in our tropical paradise.