Growing Holiday Cactus

Latin Name Pronunciation: shlum-bur' ger-ah   

Holiday Cactus, blooming around traditional winter celebrations in the Northern Hemisphere, are true cacti—succulent perennial plants that store water in their flattened stems (they have no leaves). Schlumbergera is a genus of just a few species and many hybrids, growing not in the desert, but rather, epiphytically on trees and rock outcrops in the shade of jungles on cool coastal Brazilian mountainsides. S. truncata, with pointy stem segments resembling lobster claws, is the Thanksgiving Cactus. Clusters of tubular flowers emerge from buds that form when triggered by cool nights and short days. Their native habitat makes plants well-adapted to low light levels indoors.

Also known as the Thanksgiving Cactus (or Crab Cactus, Lobster Cactus), this easy-to-care for plant is native to rainforests of Brazil, where it grows on rocks or in trees in light shade. It's an easy houseplant and can spend the warmer months of the year outside.

LIGHT: Provide partial shade or bright indirect light. During the winter months, when the sun is not as strong, more sunlight is acceptable. Too much sun can burn the leaves or turn them yellow.

WATERING: Water when the potting mix is dry 1 inch below the surface. Avoid over watering (which will cause the roots to rot) or letting the potting mix dry out completely. Provide less water from fall through spring.

TEMPERATURE: When plants are in active growth (April to September), provide temperatures between 60-80°F. Sudden changes in temperature may cause buds and flowers to fall off.

FERTILIZER: When plants are in active growth (April to September) apply a balanced (20-20-20) houseplant fertilizer monthly, diluted to 1/4-strength.

CONTINUING CARE: During the shorter days (and longer nights) of fall, the Holiday Cactus forms its flower buds. For a period of about 8 weeks, plants should be kept in the dark 13-14 hours a day and given night-time temperatures of 55-65°F and daytime temperatures of 65-70°F.

Plants bloom best when pot-bound. Repot every 3 years or so using a well-drained potting mix designed for houseplants and a container that is about an inch wider than the previous one.