Schlumbergera care requirements
Quick answer
For Schlumbergera, care requirements come down to this: Schlumbergera (winter-flowering) is a Brazilian epiphytic cactus commonly called Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus depending on bloom time. Unlike desert cacti, they grow in the rainforest understory attached to trees, requiring higher humidity and more frequent watering. The segmented, flat stem joints hang gracefully from baskets. The genus was renamed to Hatiora in recent botanical revisions but common names persist. Schlumbergera bridgesi blooms in December with magenta flowers; S. truncata (Thanksgiving cactus) blooms earlier with more rectangular segments.
Start here:
- 1. Water when top inch of soil approaches dryness — more frequent than desert cacti
- 2. Provide bright indirect light; direct sun burns the thin stems
What care requirements mean for Schlumbergera
Schlumbergera (winter-flowering) is a Brazilian epiphytic cactus commonly called Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus depending on bloom time. Unlike desert cacti, they grow in the rainforest understory attached to trees, requiring higher humidity and more frequent watering. The segmented, flat stem joints hang gracefully from baskets. The genus was renamed to Hatiora in recent botanical revisions but common names persist. Schlumbergera bridgesi blooms in December with magenta flowers; S. truncata (Thanksgiving cactus) blooms earlier with more rectangular segments.
How to meet Schlumbergera care requirements
- 1
Water when top inch of soil approaches dryness — more frequent than desert cacti
- 2
Provide bright indirect light; direct sun burns the thin stems
- 3
Maintain 50%+ humidity — higher than desert cacti
- 4
To trigger blooming: expose to cool nights (50-55°F) and short days in fall
- 5
After flowering, rest period with reduced watering for 6 weeks
Keeping Schlumbergera in range
Water when top inch of soil is dry; maintain 50%+ humidity; provide bright indirect light; cool fall nights trigger blooming.