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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

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 10/16/2023 - 14:42

Hi Alma,

Christmas cactus store water in their stems and when there is a lack of water available, the stems can become deflated or limp. When a Christmas cactus is dehydrated, the leaves shrink because the plant does not have enough water to store in its reserves.

While it is a cactus, this plant is native to tropical rainforests and its important to water them more regularly. Just be sure not to water your Christmas cactus excessively because it does not do well with too much water. Limp stems can also be a sign of excess water, which can lead to root rot. If you feel that your plant has received too much water or the water is simply not draining from the growing medium, you can remove it from the pot and examine the roots. If all looks well, replant it in new growing medium and a new container and resume a regular watering schedule.

 <span>Dee</span> Thu, 09/28/2023 - 09:45
About a month ago I repotted my Christmas cactus… it was a very green & healthy looking plant. Now it’s droopy & a little pale. What can I do to get my plant back to looking healthy again?
<span>Bea Matthews</span> Sun, 09/24/2023 - 16:00
Just received small start of cactus. It is beginning to put out green at proper sections. What should I be doing now September 24, 2024. I have it on my covered porch. Zone 7. West TN Light water, fertilize, ? Thank you. God Bless
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 09/26/2023 - 08:57

Hi Bea, Thanks for your note! It sounds like your cactus is doing great! You'll want to take it inside soon. A daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an evening temperature of 60-65°F (15-18°C) is preferred.

As we recommend in the article, you've got it exactly: water lightly and fertilize monthly. Sounds like you'll be blooming for Christmas!

—The Editors

 

 <span>Kim</span> Sat, 09/23/2023 - 22:45
My Christmas cactus is dropping leaves/stems. It was on the back porch which was hot from our very hot summer. I moved it inside to about a 73-74 degree regular temperature. I try to water regularly when I feel the soil dry. Would the dropping leaves be from stress, too much heat, over watering or under watering? Thank you.
<span>Rose</span> Mon, 12/04/2023 - 00:26
Too much heat is probably the culprit, and stress.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 09/26/2023 - 09:00

Hello, Kim!

Yes, it sounds like your plant was stressed, and maybe didn't receive sufficient water, and may need even a cooler location. A daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an evening temperature of 60-65°F (15-18°C) is preferred. Continue to water lightly when dry, and feed monthly. This should promote new growth in place of the dropped leaves and stems. 

—The Editors

 <span>Joanne</span> Tue, 01/31/2023 - 22:46
How can I get my C. Cactus to grow roots again.. it was accidentally lifted above soil. Plant has bloomed for 3-4 years.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 09/05/2023 - 12:00

Hi Joanne, thank you for your note.

From what you've shared, it sounds like the entire plant was out of its soil or potting mix, and now won't re-root. First, check for root rot. If present, you'll want to discard any rotted material and re-pot the remainder in clean soil The best way to get your plant to root overall is to put it into water. If it's too large, we suggest taking cuttings of the plant and rooting them in water, then planting them in potting mix after roots form. 

—The Editors

 <span>Barbara</span> Mon, 12/19/2022 - 18:11
I have what I believe is a Christmas cactus (could be an Easter one) and it blooms several times each year, including in the summertime! It seems to know the holidays, too, as it blooms around July 4th, among other holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). It bloomed at Thanksgiving and is still producing some flowers. I do need to repot it though as the roots are coming up, though someone once told me that this type of plant likes to be pot-bound. I water it every couple of weeks and it is in a north/east-facing window where it gets the morning sun.