Scientific Name
Schlumbergera × buckleyi (T. Moore) Tjaden
Common Name(s)
Christmas Cactus, True Christmas Cactus, Holiday Cactus
Synonym(s)
Epiphyllum × buckleyi, Schlumbergera bridgesii
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Rhipsalideae
Genus: Schlumbergera
Etymology
The specific epithet "buckleyi" (pronounced "BUK-lee-eye") honors William Buckley, an English botanist who created this hybrid at the Rollisson Nurseries in the 1840s.
Origin
Schlumbergera × buckleyi is the result of a cross between Schlumbergera truncata and Schlumbergera russelliana. Extensive hybridization and selection have resulted in more than 200 named cultivars, which differ mainly in flower color, ranging from white through pink to fire engine red, and even peach, yellow, and orange. Most cultivars bloom around Christmas, but some bloom earlier or later than Christmas.
Description
Schlumbergera × buckleyi is a much-branched, epiphytic cactus with fleshy, spinless branches divided into flattened, leaf-like segments with rounded marginal notches. The branches start outgrowing upwards, then sprawl downward over the container edges in pendant chains as they lengthen. The stem segments can measure up to 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) in length and 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) in width.
The trumpet-shaped flowers, with narrow petals, develop at the ends of the stems. They are bright magenta to pink, bilaterally symmetrical, and can reach a length of 3 inches (7.5 cm).
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30°F (-1.1°C) to 50°F (10°C).
How to Grow and Care
These plants are easy to grow and are often passed down through the generations. With Holiday Cactus, the million-dollar question isn't how to grow it but how to make it bloom. With a little extra attention during the fall months, you can have your plants blooming for the holidays. Don't expose these plants to freezing temperatures! Despite their love of cooler temperatures, they are still tropical plants that won't withstand freezing conditions. They prefer a humidity level of about 50% to 60%, which can be achieved using a pebble tray. Never place your Holiday Cactus near a heat register, exterior door, or drafty window, and keep it out of burning sunlight.
Don't fall into the trap of constantly repotting into a bigger pot. Holiday Cacti like to be root-bound, and repotting every 2 to 3 years (even back into the same pot) is sufficient. If you repot, use sterile, well-draining potting soil.
Holiday Cacti can easily be propagated by cuttings. First, pinch off a stem section with 2 to 3 jointed segments. Let the cuttings dry for a few hours, then plant them in a small pot using the same planting mix as the adult plant.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Holiday Cactus.
Links
- Back to genus Schlumbergera
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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