It neither comes from the desert nor enjoys blazing sunshine. The Christmas cactus overturns almost everything we expect of a cactus: it bursts into flower in the depths of winter and can live for decades.
The Christmas cactus belongs to the genus Schlumbergera, native to the humid rainforests of south-east Brazil. It’s easily recognised by its green, fleshy, segmented stems, which trail and drape as they grow. In its natural habitat, it grows on trees and rocks, sheltered from direct sunlight. The classic Christmas cactus is Schlumbergera × buckleyi, a hybrid of S. truncata and S. russelliana, though S. truncata is often sold under the same common name.
As a tropical plant, it can thrive in Lanzarote provided it gets plenty of light without being exposed to the island’s intense direct sun. Outdoors, find it somewhere bright but sheltered. Indoors, place it near a window where it gets indirect light or partial shade. It likes mild temperatures and a bit of humidity, and it doesn’t cope well with sudden changes.
It needs a light, well-drained compost and a pot that lets excess water drain away easily. Water moderately, letting the surface layer of soil begin to dry out before watering again, and never let it become waterlogged. Once flowering has finished, you can cut back on watering.
During its growing season in spring and summer, feed it periodically with a fertiliser formulated for cacti or houseplants. In March or April, once flowering is over, repot it if it’s outgrown its container, and give it a light prune to maintain its shape and encourage branching. This is also the best time to propagate it, using cuttings made up of several stem segments.
The real magic happens in winter, when tubular flowers appear at the tips of the stems in shades of pink, red, white, orange, cream, yellow or purple. Each flower stays open for several days, and the plant as a whole can remain in bloom for weeks.
To encourage flowering the following year, avoid exposing it to artificial light at night during autumn, as this can prevent buds from forming. Sudden changes in temperature or watering can also cause buds to drop. Get all that right, and it will flower again the following winter, and the one after that. With the right care, a Christmas cactus can live for decades. You may even find yourself passing it down to the next generation.
