Overview

Introduce a splash of vibrant color and festive charm to your indoor spaces with our stunning mix Christmas cactus plants. These unique and popular live holiday succulents are renowned for their brilliant, tubular flowers that bloom just in time for the holiday season, typically from late November through January. Each order includes 2 individual plants, ranging from 4 to 6 inches in size, delivered as healthy bare root plants, ready for potting and nurturing. Unlike many other succulents, the Christmas cactus (botanical name: Schlumbergera) thrives in slightly more humid conditions and indirect light, making it an ideal houseplant for a wide range of home environments. Their cascading growth habit makes them perfect for hanging baskets or elevated planters, allowing their beautiful blooms to truly shine. These long-lived perennials can become cherished family heirlooms, bringing joy and color year after year with proper Christmas cactus care.

The beauty of these mix Christmas cactus plants lies in their varied flower colors, which can include shades of red, pink, white, orange, and purple, providing a delightful surprise with each bloom. Originating from the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil, these epiphytic cacti naturally grow on trees and rocks, absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air and rain. This unique background informs their specific care requirements, making them a fascinating addition to any plant collection. Enjoy the elegance and festive spirit these live holiday succulents bring to your home.

Key Benefits

Our mix Christmas cactus plants offer numerous advantages, making them a fantastic choice for both seasoned plant enthusiasts and beginners alike. Their striking appearance and relatively easy maintenance contribute to their widespread appeal.

• Vibrant Holiday Blooms: These plants are celebrated for their spectacular and colorful flowers that typically appear during the winter months, perfectly coinciding with the holiday season. The mixed colors ensure a dynamic and eye-catching display, brightening up any room with natural beauty.
• Low Maintenance: Despite their exotic appearance, Christmas cactus care is surprisingly straightforward. They require less frequent watering than many other houseplants and are quite forgiving, making them an excellent option for those new to plant ownership or with busy schedules.
• Long-Lived Perennials: With proper care, these live holiday succulents can flourish for many years, becoming a lasting part of your holiday traditions. They are known for their longevity, often passed down through generations.
• Air Purifying Qualities: Like many houseplants, Christmas cacti contribute to a healthier indoor environment by helping to filter the air. While not as potent as some dedicated air purifiers, they still play a role in improving air quality.
• Versatile Decor: The cascading nature of the Christmas cactus makes it suitable for various display options. They look stunning in hanging baskets, on shelves, or as a centerpiece, adding a touch of natural elegance to any decor. The Schlumbergera genus is known for its adaptable growth habit.
• Unique Gift Idea: A blooming Christmas cactus makes a thoughtful and beautiful gift, especially during the festive season. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, returning with beautiful flowers each year.
• Easy Propagation: For those who enjoy expanding their plant collection, Christmas cacti are relatively easy to propagate from cuttings, allowing you to share the joy with friends and family. This makes your mix Christmas cactus plants an even more rewarding investment.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your mix Christmas cactus plants is a rewarding experience that ensures their beautiful holiday blooms. As bare root plants, they will need immediate potting upon arrival. Choose a well-draining potting mix, ideally one formulated for succulents or cacti, or a standard potting mix amended with perlite or sand to improve drainage. A pot with drainage holes is essential to prevent root rot. After potting, water thoroughly, then allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out before watering again. Overwatering is the most common cause of problems for these live holiday succulents.

Light is crucial for robust growth and flowering. Christmas cacti prefer bright, indirect light. Direct, intense sunlight, especially during the summer, can scorch their leaves (flattened stems). An east or north-facing window is often ideal. During the spring and summer, when temperatures are consistently above 50°F (10°C), they can be moved outdoors to a shaded or partially shaded location. To encourage blooming, these plants require a period of cooler temperatures (around 50-55°F or 10-13°C) and longer nights (12-14 hours of darkness) for 6-8 weeks in the fall. Fertilize your Schlumbergera every 2-4 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce or stop fertilizing during fall and winter. Common problems include stem rot from overwatering and lack of blooms due to insufficient darkness or improper temperature. Consistent Christmas cactus care will lead to thriving plants.

Size & Details

This offering includes 2 individual mix Christmas cactus plants, each measuring approximately 4 to 6 inches in length from the base to the tip of the longest stem. They are shipped as healthy bare root plants, meaning they arrive without soil or a pot, allowing for safer transit and giving you the flexibility to choose your preferred growing medium and container. Upon arrival, these plants are mature enough to establish quickly and typically begin to produce their stunning blooms within their first holiday season with proper care. The exact flower colors will be a delightful mix, offering a surprise array of reds, pinks, whites, and other festive shades.

These live holiday succulents are known for their moderate growth rate, gradually developing into lovely, full plants with cascading stems. They can reach a mature size of 12-18 inches in height and spread, depending on the pot size and care. Expect these plants to become a central part of your holiday decorations for many years to come, with their vibrant flowers adding cheer and elegance to any indoor setting. The Schlumbergera genus is celebrated for its reliable and beautiful winter flowering.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these mix Christmas cactus plants get? A: Each plant is approximately 4 to 6 inches when shipped as a bare root. With proper care, they can grow to a mature size of 12-18 inches in height and spread, developing into a beautiful, full specimen over time.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While they can be placed outdoors in a shaded spot during warm summer months, these live holiday succulents are primarily grown as indoor houseplants, especially during cooler temperatures and for their holiday blooming period.
• Q: How much sunlight does a Christmas cactus need? A: Mix Christmas cactus plants prefer bright, indirect light. Avoid direct, intense sunlight, which can scorch their stems. An east or north-facing window is often ideal for optimal Christmas cactus care.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, Christmas cacti are considered relatively easy to care for, making them suitable for beginners. Their main requirements are bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, and proper watering to avoid root rot.
• Q: What condition will the bare root plants arrive in? A: Your bare root plants will arrive carefully packaged, healthy, and ready for immediate potting. They will not have soil or a pot, which is standard for bare root shipping to ensure plant health.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: With proper care, especially the cooler temperatures and extended darkness period in the fall, your mix Christmas cactus plants should bloom during their first holiday season after planting, typically from late November to January.
• Q: What’s the best soil for Schlumbergera? A: The best soil for Schlumbergera is a well-draining mix. A succulent or cactus potting mix is ideal, or you can amend regular potting soil with perlite or sand to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging.
• Q: Are these live holiday succulents pet-safe? A: Christmas cacti are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. However, it’s always best to prevent pets from ingesting plants, as any plant material can cause mild digestive upset.
• Q: When is the best time to repot my Christmas cactus? A: The best time to repot your mix Christmas cactus plants is in the spring, after they have finished blooming and before they begin their active growth phase. Avoid repotting during their blooming cycle.
• Q: How do I encourage more flowers on my Christmas cactus? A: To encourage abundant blooms, ensure your live holiday succulents receive a period of 6-8 weeks with cooler temperatures (50-55°F) and 12-14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night in the fall. This light and temperature control is key to successful flowering.