Schlumbergera are just as easy to grow as Epiphyllums and are very profuse bloomers in winter when most other plants are sleeping. There vivid colored blooms are smaller than Epis but just as spectacular! They can even grow well if cared for inside as house plants too. They tend to bloom in the winter months when Epis go semi-dormant and daylight gets down to 8-10 hours a day or less, nights are cooler. Early bloomers are called 'Thanksgiving Cactus' later bloomers 'Christmas Cactus'.
You will also find varieties of Easter Cactus or (Rhipsalidopsis and Hatiora) offered, these have simular requirements but bloom in spring time.
General growing requirements for Schlumbergera
1) Soil mix-Epiphyllum soil mix is fine; add a little sand for new starts/cuttings. Even regular potting soil will work fine.
For more information on soil mixes visit our
Soil Mix Page!
2) Light - Part shade is best, full sunlight is ok for an hour or two but not much more than that.
3) Water-In summer water a few times a week and more often if hot, less if cooler. In winter once a week is usually enough. Schlumbergera are not desert cactus so they cannot be dry for many days. They like to dry out between watering so never water until the top 1/3 of the soil is dry. Lift any pots touching the ground to be sure they drain well.
4) Pots-Schlumbergera can be grown in hanging baskets or ground pots if tall or elevated due to the branches eventually curving downward once mature. Many varieties are upright when young but will eventually bend downward.
5) Fertilizer-Fertilize regularly every other month with any lower formula fertilizer 10-6-8 or equivalent.
6) Blooming- Unlike Epis Schlumbergera don’t need years from a cutting to bloom, even small plants can bloom if conditions are right. Cramped roots with several plants in one pot helps to increase your blooms along with regular fertilizing mentioned above. Schlumbergera will bloom when daylight gets shorter in winter, cooler nights also help with this. If you’re growing indoors in a cold region place them by a window that can be partially opened to allow a little cool air in to facilitate this beginning in late Sept. thru December.Also if grown indoors move to a spot where no extra artificial light is given until blooms open, then place in a spot it can be admired. Schlumbergera will reward you with many blooms when most plants are dormant, a nice way to add some cheerful color in the cold winter months. Many can bloom several times in one season.
How to make Schlumbergera-Christmas cactus bloom or (Induce the blooming period) can be done in 2 ways.
1) Temperature method -keep evening temperatures 55-60f anything above or below will give you some growth but no blooms.
2) Light method- short light less than 12 hours daylight or artificial light at temperatures above 60 f- this takes about a month to see results. Once buds show up give more light.
Note; If yours always blooms prior November keep it warm and lots of artificial light until the week before thankgiving then use light method and you will have blooms at xmas time or closer to it.
7) Temperatures- Schlumbergera are not desert cactus, there species mostly originate from Brazil so they like warmer temperatures to grow well and bloom at lower temps. Schlumbergera can not tolerate freezing temperatures so keep above 32 degrees in winter. They grow best in summer at 70-80 degrees but can tolerate a range slightly above and below this range just fine.
8) How to root cuttings-Each segment can be cut off and placed ½ way into potting soil mix with about 20% sand. Allow a few days for the cut ends to dry, leave in a cool dry spot until ready to plant/root.
Rooting cuttings is very easy! See below for step by step pictures of how to root Schlumbergera cuttings.
9) Repotting- If the growth looks robust and healthy you might not need to repot every year. Some large plants can go 2-3 seasons without repotting as cramped roots will ensure lots of blooms each season. If the folage looks poor or not darker green then repot right after blooming in late winter or spring. If you decide not to repot follow fertilization recommended above regularily for sturdy healthy looking plants.Its very normal for blooming sized Schlumbergera to have a maroon or reddish color in the foilage during blooming and right after. This can also be a sign of a little too much sunlight exposure.
Most of the Schlumbergera offered on this website are Hybrids with very showy flowers that were hybridized from species originating from Brazil. I listed some of the species below. These species grow in the branches of jungle trees, a few in cracks of large rocks or boulders.
Schlumbergera candidus
Schlumbergera gaertneri
Schlumbergera obtusangula
Schlumbergera opuntioides
Schlumbergera orssichiana
Schlumbergera russellianum
Schlumbergera truncata
Below shows three diagrams of the most often hybridized varieties from left Thanksgiving Cactus-(Schlumbergera truncata), Christmas Cactus-(Schlumbergera x buckleyi) , Easter Cactus-(Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri). Notice the points on the edge of the stems on the first diagram; Thanksgiving Cactus, and smoother edges of Christmas Cactus.
Explanation of scientific names:
Schlumbergera-named after Frederick Schlumberger, a student of plants.
Bridgesii- named for R. Bridges
Truncata-truncate, cut off square, in reference to the ends of the stems.
Gaertneri- named for E. Gaertner.
How To Root Schlumbergera Cuttings
Schlumbergera have segments where the stems get narrow at points, each of these points is where they can be cut and rooted.
The picture below show an example of three sizes of the typical Schlumbergera branches you will receive from Mattslandscape.com, at a minimum you will be able to make 3+ segments from any branch you receive-usually many more.
Below shows the smallest branch you could receive, marked #1 before it is cut into segments to be rooted and another picture showing it after segment separation into 5 segments. The tiny piece in the middle bottom is not used and should be discarded as its too small to root.
Each segment of the same variety is then planted into a small pot 3" to 4" in diameter. Placing each segment deep enough in the soil mix to stand up on its own, with no more than 1/2 of the individual segment being placed into the soil mix. We send a label with each variety you purchase. If the cuttings are received during bloom time remove any buds and or blooms prior to rooting, so the new cuttings can concentrate on rooting instead of wasting energy on blooming.Once there as large as the last picture below they are large enough to support the blooms.
In a few weeks your segments will get roots and should begin to show signs of new growth near the top of each segment. Water lightly every day or other day until well rooted. Change the soil every three months or so on smaller plants taking cuttings to start more as new growth allows. Upsize the container its in until you have a dozen or more in a large pot or hanging basket. You can also purchase several branches of the same variety to speed this up.
Below shows what to typically expect in a few months or in a season of what your small segments will become in that short time.
Once you grow Schlumbergera plants for a short while, you will realize how easy they are to care for. Should you have any questions or difficulty growing just e-mail us.
