The Home Growns
6. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) – The Festive Friend
Next up is a real charmer, especially when the holidays roll around: the Christmas Cactus! You might also hear it called Holiday Cactus, and its scientific name is Schlumbergera bridgesii (though there are closely related ones like Thanksgiving Cactus, Schlumbergera truncata, that look super similar). This plant is like a little gift that keeps on giving, and it’s a fantastic pet-safe option.
Why a Christmas Cactus is a Gift That Keeps on Giving (All Year!)
What’s so great about the Christmas Cactus? Well, the most obvious answer is its beautiful, vibrant blooms! These flowers are just stunning, typically showing up in shades of pink, red, purple, yellow, or white, usually right around the holiday season. It’s such a treat to see them burst into color when everything outside might be a bit grey.
But even when it’s not blooming, it’s a lovely green plant year-round. Its segmented stems have this really interesting, almost architectural look. Unlike desert cacti, this one is actually a tropical cactus, native to the rainforests of Brazil, so it has a more leafy, drapey appearance.1 It’s a plant that truly earns its keep in your collection throughout every season.
My Holiday Secrets: Getting Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom
Now, getting your Christmas Cactus to bloom reliably for the holidays – that’s the million-dollar question for many folks! Christmas Cactus care is generally easy, but blooming requires a little trick. They prefer bright, indirect light for most of the year and moderate watering. You should allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. I usually water mine when the top inch or so of soil is dry.
But here’s the secret to those gorgeous holiday flowers: they need specific light/dark cycles to encourage blooming. Starting about 6-8 weeks before you want it to bloom (so, think early to mid-October for Christmas blooms), your Christmas Cactus needs about 12-14 hours of complete, uninterrupted darkness each night.2 This mimics the shorter days of fall and signals to the plant that it’s time to set buds. You can achieve this by putting it in a room that’s not used at night (like a spare bedroom or even a closet, though that’s a bit more effort!). Or, if it’s in a brighter room, you can cover it with a light-proof cloth. Reduce watering slightly during this period too. Once you see buds forming, you can bring it back to its normal spot and resume regular care. It sounds a bit like work, but when those flowers pop, it’s so worth it! It took me a couple of tries to get this right with my first one, but now it’s like clockwork!
Deck the Halls (and Shelves!) with Christmas Cacti
When it comes to home decor fit, Christmas Cacti are wonderfully versatile. They look absolutely wonderful in hanging baskets where their unique, segmented stems can drape and trail beautifully. Imagine those colorful blooms cascading down – such a cheerful sight!
They also do very well on shelves or plant stands for the same reason. Because their stems tend to cascade, giving them a bit of height allows them to really show off their form. They add such a festive touch during winter, and I can just picture one brightening up a cozy Philadelphia home when it’s cold outside. They bring a bit of that holiday houseplant magic indoors, but in a way that feels natural and green, not just like a temporary decoration.
A Furry-Friendly Holiday Bloom!
And here’s the part we all love: the Christmas Cactus is non-toxic to cats and dogs! This means you can enjoy all that holiday cheer and those stunning blooms without any worry about your curious pets. It’s such a relief to have beautiful, pet-safe holiday plants like this one around. So, if your cat wants to bat at a dangling stem (gently, we hope!) or your dog gives the pot a curious sniff, it’s all good. You can truly enjoy the festive spirit with this worry-free bloomer.
A Christmas Cactus really is a special plant, bringing color and unique charm to your home, especially when you need it most. Ready to see what elegant, air-purifying classic is next on our list?
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