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This family of plants, sometimes called holiday cactus, has undergone a number of name changes. Formerly known as Zygocactus, its official botanical name is now Schlumbergera.

The Christmas Cactus is a native of the mountainous rainforests of Brazil, where it grows on trees rather than in soil. When you are dealing with these plants think jungle, not desert. These cacti are not desert plants and do not like full sun or dry conditions. In Brazil these epiphytes grow high up in trees, in pockets of leaf mold and other organic matter.

Habits/Blooming Period:

They are epiphytic cacti with tubular flowers with reflexed petals produced singly or in pairs at the end of protruding stems. The spindle shaped buds are about one inch long . The flowers come in a wide range of translucent colours: white, yellow, orange, pink, red, magenta. Individual flowers last about one week; one plant's display may last three weeks.

Planting/Maintenance:

• Soil: Holiday cacti prefer an acidic soil high in organic matter and very good drainage. A potting mix of 1 part sterilized loam, 2 parts peat and 1 part perlite is good. Refresh the soil every three to four years.
• Light: Give your plant bright, indirect light. You cannot count on a plant bought in flower at a nursery or grocer on December 15 to repeat bloom at the same time the next year. Growers manipulate light and temperature to push flowering forward or to hold it back.
• Temperature:Ordinary house temperatures about 20 degrees C are fine, but cooler nights are beneficial. Blooms will last longer at lower temperatures. Ideal location after flowering is a cool room (above 6 degrees C) with bright, indirect light.
• Watering: Water blooming plants to keep the soil evenly moist, but not saturated.
  After blooming, cut back on watering slightly but do not let the leaves begin to shrivel.
• Humidity: A minimum of 30% humidity is best.
• Fertilizing: Withhold all fertilizer during blooming cycle. When new growth begins in spring, fertilize at each watering with a soluble fertilizer applied at one half to one third strength.

Propagation:

Cuttings root easily. Take stem cuttings in summer, breaking off a terminal “leaf” pad or stem tip. Allow the cutting to dry for a few days before inserting it in a peat-based compost.

Diseases/Insects:

Organic Controls:

Plants with mealy bugs should be isolated until free of insects. The insects can be removed by washing the plant with mild soapy water or by wiping the leaves with alcohol applied with a cue tip. Plants with scale insects should be isolated until free of these pests. The insects can be scraped off. If severe do not retain the plant.

There is no way to control or eliminate viruses.

Recommended Species:

Christmas Cactus (S. x buckleyii), Thanksgiving Cactus (S. truncata), and Easter Cactus (S. gaertneri) are readily available. Other hybrids have been created by early breeders who crossed Schlumbergera truncata with Schlumbergera russelliana.

Tips/Special Considerations:

• Positioning: In June you can move the plants outdoors, into a shaded or semi-shaded position. Hanging in a tree is ideal. Keep away from slugs.
• Bringing on flowers: The end of the summer is the time to start inducing flower buds for the coming holiday. In early September stop fertilizing until flowering is finished. Cool outdoor nights are beneficial, though not critical, for bud set. Bud set is influenced by hours of darkness. Once the longer nights arrive after the fall equinox in the third week of September, the plants must have total darkness every night for at least three weeks (provide 12 hours of darkness). Outdoor street lights or porch lights can inhibit bud set.
• Bud drop: Bud drop can occur for a variety of reasons. When you move plants indoors try not to shock them with drastic changes in light or temperature. Christmas cacti are infamous for dropping their buds when brought indoors. The cause is usually a change in temperature thanks to the proximity of a fireplace, radiator or hot air vent.
  Ethylene gas can also be a problem. Keep blooms away from ripening fruit.
  Try to keep the soil evenly moist, because sudden dryness of the soil may cause buds to drop. A change in orientation, once the buds are set, may also result in bud drop. Try not to move the plants at that time.

References:

• The Toronto Botanical Garden Weston Family Library is an excellent source for horticultural information.
• Hassayon, D. G. The New Houseplant Expert. London, England: Transworld Publishers Ltd, 1999.
• “Christmas Cactus”, National Gardening, December 1996. Burlinton, Vermont

Factsheets are produced by the Toronto Master Gardeners in association with the Toronto Botanical Garden. They provide introductory information about a broad range of horticultural topics and are intended for personal use and study purposes. Should your gardening group or organization wish to use multiple copies we ask that you inform the Toronto Botanical Garden at info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca.

Date revised: January 8, 2006