Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Christmas Cactus.
Schlumbergera × buckleyi
Pronounced shlum-BER-ger-uh buck-LEE-eye
Also known as Schlumbergera × buckleyi, Christmas cactus
The Christmas Cactus is a festive succulent known for its beautiful, pendulous blooms that appear during the winter months. It thrives in indoor environments and is quite easy to keep happy with the right light and moisture levels. These plants are actually epiphytes, meaning they grow on trees in their native Brazilian rainforests.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Epiphytic succulent
- Light
- Bright indirect light
- Indoor light
- bright-indirect
- Water
- Every 7 to 14 days
- Mature size
- 30 to 60 cm
- Growth rate
- medium
- Hardiness
- USDA 10 to 12
- Bloom time
- Late autumn to winter
Care
Keep your plant in bright, indirect light and ensure the soil stays slightly moist but never soggy. To encourage blooming, provide cooler temperatures and longer nights during the late autumn. Watch for shriveled stems, which often indicate the plant needs more water.
- 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
- Prune lightly after flowering to encourage bushier growth.
- Repotting
- Repot only when the plant becomes root-bound.
- Soil
- Well-draining, peat-based potting mix
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 6.2
- Temperature
- 15 to 24°C
- Humidity
- 50 to 60%
- Drought tolerance
- low
- Lifespan
- Perennial, can live for several decades with proper care.
- Deer and rabbits
- moderate
Signs it needs repotting
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
- The plant has stopped growing despite good care.
- Water runs straight through the pot without soaking in.
Safety
- People
- The plant is generally considered non toxic to humans.
- Pets
- This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
- Children
- The stems are brittle and can be a choking hazard if broken into small pieces by curious children.
- Contact allergens
- There are no known significant skin irritants associated with this plant.
- Airborne allergens
- There are no known significant airborne allergens associated with this plant.
- Edibility
- While not considered toxic, the plant is not intended for consumption and may cause digestive upset.
How to identify it
- Segmented, flattened, leaf-like green stems
- Smooth, rounded stem edges
- Pendulous, tubular flowers
- Flowers appear at stem tips
- Height
- 0.3 to 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.3 to 0.6m
- Leaves
- green, evergreen
- Flowers
- pink, red, white, purple, 3 to 8cm
Common problems
- Root rot — This occurs when the soil stays too wet for too long, causing the roots to decay.
- Mealybugs — These small white insects hide in the joints of the stems and suck plant sap.
- Bud drop — Sudden changes in temperature or light levels can cause the plant to drop its flower buds prematurely.
Growing it
- Propagation
- cuttings
- When to plant
- spring
- Overwintering
- Keep the plant in a cool room with bright, indirect light. Reduce watering significantly during the winter months, allowing the soil to dry out more between waterings.
- In containers
- It grows very well in containers and prefers a pot that is just large enough to hold its root ball.
Stem Cuttings
- 1. Twist off a Y shaped segment of the stem.
- 2. Let the cut end callous over for a day or two.
- 3. Insert the calloused end into a moist, well draining potting mix.
- 4. Keep the soil lightly moist until roots develop.
Group plants with similar humidity needs together to create a microclimate that keeps them all happy.
Grows well with
- Phalaenopsis Orchid — They share similar light and humidity requirements in an indoor setting.
- Peace Lily — Both plants thrive in indirect light and appreciate consistent moisture.
Keep away from
- Succulents — Most desert succulents require much more direct sun and less water than this tropical cactus.
Similar species
- Thanksgiving Cactus — It looks very similar but has more pointed, claw like projections on the stem segments.
- Easter Cactus — It has rounded stem segments and blooms in the spring rather than the winter.
Science
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Genus
- Schlumbergera
- Order
- Caryophyllales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Native range
- The parent species are native to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil.
- Conservation
- This hybrid is a cultivated plant and is not found in the wild.
In its native habitat, it grows in the crotches of trees where it collects moisture and nutrients from decaying organic matter.
- Value to wildlife
- nectar source
- Pollinators
- hummingbirds
- Uses
- indoor ornamental, hanging basket specimen
Through the year
Ecological indicators
- Moisture
- 5/9
- Salinity
- 1/9
- Soil reaction
- 5/9
- Light
- 4/9
- Temperature
- 6/9
- Nutrients
- 3/9
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Questions people ask
- Why is my Christmas cactus not blooming?
- It likely needs longer periods of darkness and cooler temperatures for several weeks in the fall to set buds.
- How much water does it need?
- Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, but never let it sit in standing water.
Where the name comes from
The genus honors Frédéric Schlumberger, a French cactus collector, while the specific epithet honors William Buckley, who created the hybrid in the 1800s.
Good to know
- It is commonly known as the Christmas cactus because it typically blooms in late autumn or early winter.
- Unlike desert cacti, this plant is an epiphyte that grows on trees in its native tropical rainforest environment.
- The flowers are zygomorphic, meaning they are bilaterally symmetrical.
- It requires short days and cool nights to trigger flower bud formation.
Is your christmas cactus looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
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.