This tough epiphytic succulent has showy flowers that bloom in the winter, usually around Thanksgiving, hence the most popular common name Thanksgiving Cactus. It is also known by many other common names and is sometimes confused with the true Christmas Cactus ( Schlumbergera x buckleyi ).

Schlumbergeras are a group of flowering succulents that make popular gifts for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

In their natural habitat, they are epiphytes (air plants), they grow on other plants and rely on them for physical support, but they are not parasitic.

Schlumbergeras thrive in the mountainous jungles of Brazil and shady areas of cliffs and rock outcrops.

They don’t have true leaves, but their round and flat stems are often confused with leaves.

Young plants can have an upright form, but as they mature, they tend to droop and become pendant-like.

There are three different, yet very similar, types of Schlumbergeras/Holiday Cacti: the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii), Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata), and the Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri).

Most succulents labeled as Christmas cacti on the market are Thanksgiving cacti.

The Christmas cactus blooms in early winter, the Thanksgiving cactus blooms in late fall, and the Easter cactus blooms in mid-spring. But, as mentioned above, with proper care, these succulents can bloom more than once a year.

These succulents will generally grow up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) in height and 24 inches (60cm) in diameter.

The hanging branches of the Schlumbergera are flat, glossy, and green and they can grow up to 36 inches long. The flowers bloom at the tip of these branches, have several tiers of flowers, and are about 3 inches long.

Their flowers are tubular and have a flower-within-a-flower aspect.

The Schlumbergera is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in average home conditions. This succulent doesn’t mind low light environments, but it produces blooms only when exposed to indirect bright light. Since it is a coastal plant the Schlumbergera accepts more humidity than other succulents and cacti do and it requires extended periods of darkness to begin its flowering process.

This plant will usually bloom just in time for the winter holidays. The flowering period of the Schlumbergera spans over several weeks and the flowers last for a few days.

It is worth mentioning that direct sunlight can burn the leaves of the Christmas cactus, so if you want to keep it outdoors, make sure it gets partial shade. The perfect temperature for Schlumbergeras ranges between 60 and 70°F (15-21°C).

As mentioned above, the Christmas cactus prefers an average level of humidity. So, if you keep the plant in a dry environment, you can place a tray of pebbles filled with water beneath its planter to increase the levels of humidity.

By the end of the flowering season (usually in fall or six to eight weeks before the next flowering period), the Christmas cactus needs to become dormant. During this period, the plant needs less humidity, a cooler environment (50-55°F/10-12°C), and less light (12-14 hours of darkness).

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PACKAGE
1 x Starter Plant