Why are the leaves shriveling?

It is likely thirsty or suffering from root damage due to poor drainage.

How do I get it to bloom?

Provide 12 to 14 hours of total darkness each night for 6 weeks in autumn.

Plant guide

Christmas cactus.

Schlumbergera buckleyi

Pronounced shlum-BER-ger-uh buck-LEE-eye

Also known as Christmas cactus

Crab Cactus — Photo by Victor Farjalla Pontes (CC BY) via iNaturalist

The Christmas cactus is a lovely succulent that produces vibrant, tubular flowers during the winter months. It's a forest dweller that prefers different conditions than your typical desert cactus. You'll find it makes a fantastic hanging plant for a bright spot in your home.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Epiphytic succulent
Light: Bright, indirect light is best to avoid scorching the stems.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Late autumn to early winter

Care

Keep the soil lightly moist while it's blooming, but let the top layer dry out between waterings. Watch for shriveled stems which indicate it needs more water, or mushy stems which suggest root rot from overwatering. It prefers cooler temperatures to set its flower buds in the fall.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back stems after flowering to encourage a bushier shape.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant becomes root-bound in its container.
Soil: Well-draining, peat-based potting mix
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.2
Temperature: 10 to 24°C
Humidity: 50 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 20 to 30 years
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
Stunted growth despite proper care.

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, but ingestion can still lead to mild stomach irritation.
Pets: This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The stems can be brittle and break easily, so keep it out of reach of curious toddlers.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and ingestion may cause gastrointestinal upset.

How to identify it

Segmented, flattened green stems
Smooth, rounded stem edges
Tubular, multi-layered flowers
Flowers appear at stem tips

Height: 0.3 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, evergreen
Flowers: pink, red, magenta, 5 to 8cm

Problems to watch for

Bud DropCommon
MealybugsCommon
Root RotCommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Check your christmas cactus from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: cuttings
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: Keep the plant in a cool, bright spot away from drafts and heaters. Reduce watering significantly during the winter months.
In containers: It grows beautifully in hanging baskets or pots with excellent drainage, requiring at least a 15 cm container.

Stem Cuttings

Twist off a Y shaped segment from the end of a stem.
Let the cut end dry for a day or two until it callouses.
Insert the calloused end into moist, well draining potting mix.
Keep the soil lightly moist until new growth appears.

Group plants with similar water needs together to maintain a consistent microclimate.

Grows well with

Peace Lily — They share similar requirements for indirect light and consistent moisture.
Pothos — Both plants thrive in similar indoor environments and humidity levels.

Similar species

Thanksgiving Cactus — It has more pointed stem segments compared to the rounded edges of the Christmas cactus.
Easter Cactus — It blooms in spring and has star shaped flowers rather than tubular ones.

Science

Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Schlumbergera
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil.
Conservation: This hybrid is widely cultivated and not of conservation concern in the wild.

It grows as an epiphyte in humid, shaded forest canopies where it captures moisture from the air.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: hummingbirds
Uses: houseplant, hanging basket specimen

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Moisture: 5/9
Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 4/9
Nutrients: 3/9
Temperature: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are the leaves shriveling?: It is likely thirsty or suffering from root damage due to poor drainage.
How do I get it to bloom?: Provide 12 to 14 hours of total darkness each night for 6 weeks in autumn.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors French collector Frédéric Schlumberger, while the species name commemorates William Buckley who created the hybrid.

Good to know

It is commonly known as the Christmas cactus.
It requires shorter days and cooler nights to trigger flower bud formation.
The stems are actually modified branches called cladodes.
It is an epiphyte that grows on trees in its native habitat.
It can live for several decades with proper care.

Keep your christmas cactus growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.