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How To Care For a Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, or Easter Cactus

Christmas Cactus Flower in a terracotta pot on a table
Image Credit:
Boryana Manzurova/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Schlumbergera spp.
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun
Bloom Time
Spring
Fall
Winter
Flower Color
Pink
Purple
Red
White
Plant Type
Cacti/Succulents
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

The Christmas cactus brings cheerful winter blooms just when we need them most. With its dazzling pink and lilac flowers, this tropical beauty thrives indoors during the chill of winter. 

Whether you’re looking to keep yours blooming bright or share its charm by propagating new plants, this festive succulent is a gift that keeps on giving!

About Christmas Cacti

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) is a popular houseplant that blooms indoors in the winter, so it’s popular at holiday time and makes a great gift, too. Unlike regular cacti, however, this is not a plant from a dry, hot desert location. Instead, this is a succulent native to tropical rainforests, where they grow on tree branches and soak up the high humidity, dappled sunlight, and warm temperatures.

The bottom line: Don’t treat a Christmas cactus like a run-of-the-mill cactus! It’s important to water these cacti regularly, but also to be cautious of keeping them too wet. (See detailed care instructions below.)

Holiday Cactus Types

There are three main types of “holiday” cacti out there: the Easter cactus (S. gaertneri), the Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata), and the Christmas cactus (S. x buckleyi). For simplicity’s sake, we refer to all three species as “Christmas cactus” on this page since the care is the same. See our article on the different types of holiday cacti and how to tell them apart.

Christmas cactus infographic

Planting

Potting Christmas Cacti

  • When selecting a pot for a Christmas cactus, be sure to choose one that has a drainage hole in the bottom. This helps to keep the soil from getting too wet.
  • Christmas cacti grow well in most potting mixes formulated for succulents. The important thing is that your potting soil drains well.

Where to Put a Christmas Cactus

  • Plants should be kept in bright, indirect light. An east-facing window or a bright bathroom is ideal. Too much direct sunlight can bleach the sensitive leaves.
  • A daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an evening temperature of 60°–65°F (15°–18°C) is preferred.
  • Christmas cacti prefer a more humid environment, which makes a bright bathroom or kitchen a good spot to keep them.
  • In the summer, Christmas cacti can be placed in a shady spot in the garden or on an unheated porch until temperatures get below 50°F (10°C). Keep them out of direct outdoor sunlight.

Growing

How to Care for Christmas Cacti

  • Prune plants in late spring to encourage branching and more flowers. Simply cut off a few sections of each stem; the plant will branch from the wound.
    • If you wish, place the cut pieces in a lightly moist potting soil—they root easily after a few weeks and make for excellent Christmas presents!

Christmas cactus in a window with buds

How to Get Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom

The blooms of Christmas cacti and its relatives are triggered by the cooler temperatures and longer fall nights. The three main types of holiday cacti generally bloom according to this schedule:

  • Thanksgiving cacti are the earliest and longest bloomers, typically producing flowers from late fall through midwinter.
  • Christmas cacti tend to bloom from early to midwinter.
  • Easter cacti bloom from late winter to mid-spring.

If your cactus is NOT blooming, it may be receiving too much light or living in conditions where the temperatures are too high. Here are some tips to encourage yours to produce flowers!

  • To trigger blooming, nights need to be at least 14 hours long and days between 8 and 10 hours for at least 6 weeks. If you have strong indoor lighting that’s on at night, you may need to cover your cactus or move it to an area that’s exposed to the natural light cycle.
  • Flower buds form best when the plant is kept in temperatures between 50° and 60°F (10° and 15°C).
    • You can kickstart the budding process by exposing the plant to temperatures of about 45°F (7°C) for several nights in a row.
  • Make sure that you are consistent with watering while the plant is in flower. If the plant dries out too much, it may drop its buds.
  • If the cactus sheds its buds one winter, don’t worry—it should bloom the following year!

Pests and Problems

Blossom drop: If your Christmas cactus is exposed to any stress, it will likely drop its blossoms. This could be related to the amount of light or a sudden temperature change, as discussed in the above plant care section. Also, ensure your soil doesn’t get too dry while buds form.

The plant may be susceptible to mealybugs and, if overwatered, root rot. If you have problems, remove infected areas and repot in clean soil.

Water
Plan to water every 2 to 3 weeks, but only water when the top one-third of the potting mix feels dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 6 inches of growing medium, water when the top 2 inches feels dry. (Use your finger to check!) When the potting mix is sufficiently dry, soak it until water runs through the pot’s drainage holes. Place a tray underneath the pot to catch the water. After 10–15 minutes, discard any excess water in the tray so that the pot doesn't sit in water.

It's especially important to water well while the plant is flowering.
Fertilizer
From spring through early fall, feed every 2 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. Feed the cactus monthly in the fall and winter to encourage successful blooming.

Types

There are three main types of “holiday cacti” available:

  • Thanksgiving cacti (Schlumbergera truncata) bloom from late fall to midwinter and are often mislabeled as Christmas cacti.
  • Christmas cacti (S. x buckleyi) bloom from early to midwinter.
  • Easter cacti (S. gaertneri) bloom from later winter to mid-spring.
a giant Thanksgiving cactus in bloom
A giant Thanksgiving cactus in bloom. Photo by Catherine Boeckmann.

Wit and Wisdom

  • When the buds of a Christmas cactus look like they’re about to open, ensure you water the plant regularly and keep it cool.
  • Late spring is the best time to propagate cuttings because that’s when most holiday cacti emerge from their winter rest and initiate new growth.

Houseplant Guides

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening, so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Patricia Pung</span> Sun, 06/10/2018 - 16:29
I purchased 2 baby size Christmas Cacti 4 years ago. I planted them in the enclosed pots and fed and watered the way my mom did hers years ago. Mine have not grown at all in 4 years. A couple of the end leaves will shrivel and fall off then a couple of new ones will emerge. I remember my mom saying they are one of the few plants that have to get rootbound before growing. Is this true? Should I replant both of them in the same small pot?
<span>Carolyn</span> Wed, 11/21/2018 - 11:50
I have never fed mine, how much food do they require?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 06/14/2018 - 10:51

Christmas cacti don't need to be pot bound to grow, though they do prefer it. Your cacti's lack of growth probably boils down to an issue with either light or water, however. 

Christmas cacti like bright, indirect light, so an eastern window is ideal. Keep them out of direct, intense sunlight, as this can burn their leaves.

As for water, these cacti are a tropical species, so they require more water than the usual cacti. That said, they don't like to sit in water, so use a well-draining potting mix (such as a succulent mix) and a pot with drainage holes. Water when the top inch or so of soil is dry.

Your best course of action would be to repot both cacti in a well-draining potting mix in separate pots with drainage holes, then see if they do any better than they are now!

 <span>Marilyn</span> Mon, 02/05/2018 - 19:47
are they poisonous to cats? the Amaryliss? What plants are poisonous? What are safe...indoor plants...indoor cats
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 02/06/2018 - 12:03

Christmas cacti are not toxic to dogs or cats, but Amaryllis are. Here are some common plants that are unsafe for pets: https://www.almanac.com/content/plants-are-poisonous-pets 

 <span>Paula Hemphill</span> Tue, 11/27/2018 - 17:27
My cactus has been on our screened porch, looks very healthy but has no buds. Should I fertilize it? It was getting into the 30’s at night this week so I brought it and some ferns in. Really hope it will bloom!
<span>Ron Kling</span> Mon, 01/15/2018 - 12:22
We have two supposedly Christmas cactus but the labels that came in the pots say spring cactus. They have never bloomed. What are they.
<span>Sue Madeux</span> Fri, 12/15/2017 - 10:44
I think mine have little flying bugs in the dirt...how do I treat this?
<span>Linda Adamski</span> Thu, 10/11/2018 - 21:52
My plant I keep it outside during the summer on my open porch & bring it inside in Oct. About 1-1/2 mos. ago I repotted it as existing pot was to small. I use all new soil special for this type of plant, had drainage matter in bottom of pot along with drainage hole.
<span>Linda Adamski</span> Thu, 10/11/2018 - 22:03
to finish my story above..during summer months the leaves do get a redish color. I brought the plant indoors and noticed the branches were coming off. I have fertilized the plant and watered it as needed. I just noticed some little flying bugs (like fruit flies) around the plant. I took it outside and used a plant spray on the leaves and directly in the spoil. What can I do to save this plant. It use to bloom beautifully each year. Help!!