What is the name of a true Christmas cactus?
Schlumbergera buckleyi
Schlumbergera buckleyi is the true Christmas cactus and this cactus has stem segments that are flattened and with smooth and scalloped edges that are not toothed ( see diagram below ).
What colors do true Christmas cactus come in?
You can find Christmas cactus in a wide variety of colors, including pink, red, scarlet, orange, gold, cream, and white — as well as bicolors where an individual flower shows multiple shades at the same time. This flowering houseplant is a cinch to grow, which has made it a popular holiday plant for generations.
Is Schlumbergera a cactus?
Schlumbergera, genus of six species of spineless cacti (family Cactaceae) native to rainforests in Brazil. The plants grow as epiphytes, mainly on trees or shrubs but sometimes in shady places among rocks. Several species are grown for their striking elongated flowers.
How do you take care of a Christmas cactus plant?
Temperature: Maintain an optimal climate of 65 degrees. Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist while your plant is blooming, misting it frequently. Light: Place the cactus in an east-facing window for moderate light and some direct sun. Fertilization: Apply a high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks once buds form.
Do Christmas cactus need a lot of sun?
Christmas cacti produce flowers in a cool, environment-short day cycle. To initiate the production of flower buds, there needs to be at least eight days of 16 hours of dark and eight hours of light each day. Wherever the plant is placed, do not turn on the lights at night, even for a short period of time.
How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom?
Regardless of which one you have, they can re-bloom more than once a year. Some Of Our General Houseplant Guides For Your Reference: Guide To Watering Indoor Plants.
Why is it hard to find true Christmas cactus?
Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera bridgestii “True” Christmas Cactus are seldom found for sale around the holidays. Their leaf segments are smooth and scalloped, and the branches hang down like a pendant. The plant is more brittle than the Thanksgiving Cactus, which makes it more difficult to ship.
Is Christmas cactus a cactus or a succulent?
The plant is not a true cactus and is not quite as drought tolerant as the name infers. However, it is a succulent plant and can store a reasonable quantity of water in the leaves. Christmas cacti are not only popular holiday gift plants, but they are also the subject of frequent debate among gardeners.
What’s the difference between false Christmas cactus and Christmas cactus?
The true Christmas cactus will have stems that dramatically arch downwards with a closed habit. The margins of the stems will be rounded with small visible points or nubs. True Christmas cactus flowers will be more rounded than the imposter and will follow the direction of the stem and point down.
How many times a year do Christmas cactus bloom?
Regardless of which one you have, they can re-bloom more than once a year. Some Of Our General Houseplant Guides For Your Reference: Guide To Watering Indoor Plants. Beginner’s Guide To Repotting Plants.
How do I get my fake Christmas cactus to bloom?
In order to further force a Christmas cactus to bloom, you’ll need to move the plant where it will receive about 12 to 14 hours of darkness. Bright, indirect light during the day is fine, however, Christmas cactus requires at least 12 hours of darkness at night in order to encourage bud development.
What does Schlumbergera X buckleyi look like?
Schlumbergera x buckleyi is a cactus with fleshy stems divided into flattened leaf-like segments with scalloped margins. The stems start outgrowing upwards, then droop down as they lengthen. They do not have spines. Trumpet-shaped flowers with narrow petals develop on the ends of the stems.
What is the difference between buckleyi and Christmas cactus?
This Christmas Cactus has stem segments with ROUNDED teeth. The flowers hang down below the horizontal, different from the Truncate Group–Thanksgiving Cactus which has POINTED teeth & is usually above the horizontal. Buckleyi also generally blooms later (between later Dec. to Jan.) than members of the Truncata Group which makes it hard to find.
Why is the Christmas cactus not called Thanksgiving cactus?
Typically being labeled as the Christmas Cactus. This is simply because the majority of the world do not celebrate “Thanksgiving” and so the name doesn’t have as much impact from a marketing point of view.
What is the best way to display a buckleyi?
Buckleyi also generally blooms later (between later Dec. to Jan.) than members of the Truncata Group which makes it hard to find. It’s best displayed in a hanging basket or on a pot on a stand so that the long chain of stem segments may hang downward freely.