Are you feeling festive? There are 16 days left until Christmas, and our plant of the week today is the very fitting Christmas Cactus!
The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x Buckleyi ) is named for the time it blooms, which coincides with the Christmas season. There are other holiday cacti varieties as well, which bloom during Thanksgiving and Easter. Schlumbergera species first appeared in Europe in the early 1800s, with the Thanksgiving Cactus arriving around 1818.
This cactus is native to the coastal mountain rainforests of Brazil, growing on trees or on rocks in cool, humid, shaded environments. Because of this, the Christmas cactus is typically grown indoors as a houseplant. Unlike other cactus species, Schlumbergera lack sharp spines. Lastly, Christmas cacti are known to live decades, with some sources saying that they have been passed down through generations, even ranging from 100 to over 200 years old. Let us know if you have any questions!