False Christmas Cactus
4.7 out of 5 (32 experiences)
Survivor
Blooms easily
Also known as
Holiday Cactus, Crab Cactus and Thanksgiving Cactus
Taxonomy
Schlumbergera truncata
Schlumbergera
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales
What other plant parents say
Survivor 23
Blooms easily 15
Easy to propagate 9
Fast grower 8
Pet friendly 7
Pest magnet 1
03/07/2021
Great fun looking plant! Remember not to treat it like a true cactus - it does like to be watered more frequently than a typical cactus would. It is a tropical epiphyte, and loves humidity as well. Iā¦
04/07/2021
I got this as a random grocery store plant one day, and itās stayed alive and reasonably happy for about 5 years now. Itās low-drama as long as it has enough light and I remember to clean it off everā¦
04/10/2021
I love this one. This was my first plant I didnāt kill. Grows fast, always as little babies growing. Only bloomed once in the two almost 3 years Iāve had it.
02/15/2021
My plant is over 50 years old and needs to be repotted again but it still continues growing slightly.
@Lilyyandow
Bedford, NH
02/16/2021
i donāt have a lot of experience with it but it seems fairly easy and it is pretty when blooming
@Gigicolt
Lakewood, WA
02/23/2021
There so easy to grown there more like plants that like to be alone lol but grow so amazing
03/14/2021
As Dustyās name implies, this beauty takes little care & still blooms annually.
@Gathererofnā¦
Lincoln, NE
03/02/2021
A wonderful plant that will provide lots of beautiful flowers when cared for!
@Ronald
Columbus, OH
03/31/2021
The easiest plant to care for...just leave by light and water occasionally.
@Ronald
Columbus, OH
03/31/2021
The easiest plant to care for...just leave by light and water occasionally.
How to care for False Christmas Cactus
Water
How often to water your False Christmas Cactus
every 9
False Christmas Cactus needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesnāt 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
9
Light
Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.
Select a city to check sunlight intensity
Finding light for False Christmas Cactus in your home
a window
False Christmas Cactus may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves š, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your city to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of False Christmas Cactus in your home š”.
Nutrients
How to fertilize False 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 itās likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your False Christmas Cactus after it doubles in size or once a yearāwhichever comes first.
Care Summary for False Christmas Cactus
False Christmas Cactus
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 3ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4ā pot your plant is in, and that it doesnāt get direct sunlight.
