True Christmas Cactus
5.0 out of 5 (7 experiences)
Easy to propagate
Fast grower
About True Christmas Cactus
Did you know plants in the Schlumbergera genus are actually leafless? Instead of leaves, they use modified stems to capture sunlight! Unlike the Easter cactus, this species flowers in the later autumn or winter. They also have pointed wings at the corners, where its counterpart has more rounded edges. In the wild, they are epiphytes, meaning they grow on tree branches or rocks! 🌳 🪨
Taxonomy
Schlumbergera x buckleyi
Schlumbergera
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales
Also known as
Christmas Cactus and Holiday Cactus
How to care for True Christmas Cactus
How often to water your True Christmas Cactus
every 12
True Christmas Cactus needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
12
Finding light for True Christmas Cactus in your home
a window
True Christmas Cactus may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of True Christmas Cactus in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize True Christmas Cactus
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your True Christmas Cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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My Christmas cactus has been looking withered recently. I took her out of the window to repot tonight and she fell out of the pot without her roots. I don’t water her super often but when I do I drown her. This method has worked for several years but I suppose it’s led to root rot🥲 is there any saving her from this barely root bearing nub?? I do intend to pinch off some cuttings but I’d like to save all of her if I can. She’s a few years old now. Don’t go by my Greg last watering I always forget to update !! She was watered a few days ago & is normally watered every 2 weeks ish. #TrueChristmasCactus #ChristmasCactus #help #advice #christmascactuslove
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Christmas Cactus help My Christmas cactus has been looking withered recently. I took her out of the window to repot tonight and she fell out of the pot without her roots. I don’t water her super often but when I do I drown her. This method has worked for several years but I suppose it’s led to root rot🥲 is there any saving her from this barely root bearing nub?? I do intend to pinch off some cuttings but I’d like to save all of her if I can. She’s a few years old now. Don’t go by my Greg last watering I always forget to update !! She was watered a few days ago & is normally watered every 2 weeks ish. #TrueChristmasCactus #ChristmasCactus #help #advice #christmascactuslove
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Pest Problem #TrueChristmasCactus not really a pest, but kinda… how do I stop my kittens from eating Marilyn?! They also try to eat my spider plants and I believed have killed one past the point of no return. She’s just a wee baby start the I got a few months ago and I am worried she won’t have a chance! She’s had some new growth but it was eaten and now only has one of those leaves left. Will she survive?
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Is there hope for my cactus? 😭 #TrueChristmasCactus It’s been years and she’s held on, I moved her upstairs to my grow lights and it’s been about 2 months. At first she was fine, then she started to get droopier so I moved her further from light, then she started to get wrinkly so I stopped watering. I moved her again and she started to get firmer but was still pretty droopy. A couple new weak leaves grew on the ends. So I constructed these diy supports. Then, the other stalk that was in the pot fell almost completely over and when I picked it up, the bottom was mushy and brown, so I tossed it out. Picked this one up to check and popped back into the soil. Now here we are. The soil is pretty much dry, I don’t know if there’s anything left to do than wait for life or death? Sorry for the long post 🍃
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How often is everyone watering their Easter Cactus. Mine is in a terracotta pot and part of it is definitely overwatered 🥹 #EasterCactus
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What kind of soil is everyone using for your Thanksgiving cactus, regular soil or succulent and cactus soil? #EasterCactus
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Root rot or water deprived? My Christmas cactus’ leaves are thin and paler than usual. They were nice and plump how they should be and a deep green. I have been afraid of root rot so haven’t watered in a while. Is it root rot finally showing or does it just need watered? I used to water every week or every two weeks. #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #SucculentLove #CactusClique #ChristmasCactus #PlantTherapy #PlantCorner
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Want a fuller Christmas cactus—prop or wait? I got a single cutting of a Christmas cactus in April of 2022. It has since done really well and grown quite a lot, as you can see in the photos. I would like to start to fill out the plant more to establish a bigger cactus. This is my first Christmas cactus, and so I am unsure what the best route would be. In one of the photos, I have shown that there is a little air root reaching out. Is it best to try to propagate that piece of the plant? Any advice is greatly appreciated!
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My poor Big Momma is dropping leaves like crazy and has these bumps that I haven’t seen. Is it getting too much water or not enough? #HappyPlants #TrueChristmasCactus #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict
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My little cutting that I got this spring is doing so well. I have been blessed with a bloom. 🥹 #ChristmasCactus #BloomingSuccs #PlantsMakePeopleHappy
Care Summary for True Christmas Cactus
True Christmas Cactus
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 12 days
Placement
< 3ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Easy to propagate 6
Fast grower 5
Survivor 4
Large, lush leaves 3
Blooms easily 2
Browns easily 1
01/24/2022
This plant needs little care and blooms profusely.
Blooms easily
Easy to propagate
Fast grower
11/04/2021
I got this as a cutting from my father in law, and it’s been in the family for over 100 years. It had quite a bit of root rot when I got it, so I saved the best stems and I’ve been propagating it regularly to fill it out so eventually I can have a big, bushy hanging plant. It grows quickly and seems happy in a sunny western window with a quick mist every day.
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
07/22/2021
Hardy plant, fun to grow! If I took care of it better it would bloom more, but that’s why I’m here!
Easy to propagate
Survivor
07/06/2021
Had these guys in the house for my entire childhood, and they grow like mad when they’re in season. My tiny cutting has been sprouting offshoots every three days. Keep to a consistent watering schedule, give them some good light, and you’ll find yourself needing to set up supports soon just to keep it standing until it hardens off! When these guys bloom it’s truly a sight to behold, and never gets old. Recommend one of these for anyone who wants a low maintenance plant!
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Browns easily
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