← All plant care guides

Christmas Cactus

Plant care guide

How to care for Christmas Cactus

Schlumbergera (Schlumbergera x buckleyi and S. truncata hybrids)

Care level: EasyNon-toxic to cats & dogs

The Christmas cactus is a forest cactus from Brazil with no sharp spines, just flat segmented stems that trail gracefully and burst into pink, red, white or salmon flowers in late fall and winter. With a little attention to light and cool nights, it can bloom year after year and easily outlive the person who gave it to you.

Also known as: Christmas Cactus, Holiday Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, Schlumbergera, Zygocactus, Crab Cactus

Just arrived? Your first week at home

  1. Open the box right away, lift the plant out by the pot (not the stems), and gently free any stems caught in the sleeve.
  2. Place it in bright, indirect light, such as a few feet back from an east or west window, away from heater vents and cold drafts.
  3. Push a finger an inch into the soil; if it is dry, water until it drains from the pot, and if it is still damp, wait a few days.
  4. It is normal for a few buds or stem segments to drop after shipping; the plant is adjusting to new light and temperature.
  5. Avoid moving it around once you pick a spot, especially if it has buds, because sudden changes make buds fall.
  6. Leave it in its nursery pot for at least two weeks before thinking about repotting.

Every plant is covered by our 30-day plant health guarantee. If your plant arrived damaged or isn't doing well, email a few photos to support@rootandreachbotanicals.com and we'll help you troubleshoot or make it right.

Light

Bright, indirect light suits it best, such as near an east window or set back a few feet from a south or west window. Gentle morning sun is fine, but strong afternoon sun through glass can bleach the stems red or yellow. In low light it will survive but rarely blooms.

Water

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, which is usually every 7 to 14 days depending on light and season. Water thoroughly, let the excess drain away, and never leave the pot sitting in water. Limp, wrinkled stems with dry soil mean it needs a drink, while limp stems with wet soil and a dark, soft base point to overwatering and root rot.

Humidity

Unlike desert cacti, it comes from humid forests and appreciates average to slightly higher humidity. Normal household humidity is usually fine. In very dry winter homes, a pebble tray or grouping it with other plants helps keep buds from drying out.

Temperature

Keep it between about 60 and 75 F during the day. Cooler nights around 50 to 60 F in fall are what trigger flower buds. Keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and doors that let in icy blasts, and never let it go below about 45 F.

Soil & repotting

Use a loose, fast-draining mix, such as a cactus or succulent mix blended with some orchid bark or perlite. It blooms best when slightly root-bound, so repot only every two to three years, and only into a pot one size larger with a drainage hole. The best time to repot is in spring after flowering ends.

Feeding

Feed every two to four weeks from spring through summer with a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength. Stop feeding in early fall so the plant can set buds. Do not feed while it is blooming or during winter rest.

Troubleshooting common problems

  • Buds droppingcaused by sudden changes in temperature, light or watering; pick a spot and leave it there while buds form.
  • No flowersusually too much warmth or light at night in fall; give it six weeks of long, dark nights (12 to 14 hours) and cooler temperatures starting in September or October.
  • Limp, shriveled stemscan mean either thirst or rotted roots; check the soil and roots before watering more.
  • Reddish or purple stemstoo much direct sun or cold stress; move it to softer light.
  • Stem segments falling offoften overwatering or shipping stress; let the soil dry a bit more between waterings.
  • Mealybugswhite cottony spots in stem joints; dab them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Tips to help it thrive

  • Propagate by twisting off a piece two or three segments long, letting it dry for a day, and pushing it half an inch into barely moist soil; roots form in a few weeks.
  • For holiday blooms, keep it in a room that is not lit at night from late September on, and keep it slightly drier until buds appear.
  • Once buds are the size of a grain of rice, resume normal watering and do not rotate or move the pot.
  • It looks lovely in a hanging basket or on a plant stand where the stems can arch over the edge.

Pet safety

Christmas Cactus is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. As with any houseplant, it's still best to discourage pets from chewing the leaves, which can cause a mild upset stomach.

Shop this plant

Questions about your plant? Email support@rootandreachbotanicals.com. A real person reads every message.
Browse all plant care guides · Shop pet-safe plants