Enjoy this tropical bloomer in the dead of winter. The Red Christmas Cactus covers its flattened, spineless stems with vivid blooms just in time for the holidays, and it is safe for cats and dogs. Bring some "happy" and "merry" in with this classic holiday plant.
Red Christmas Cactus Care & Buying Guide
Bright, indirect light. Don't put into direct sun or it will bleach out their foliage.
Water your Christmas cactus when the soil is dry on the top inch. Always consider the environment and time of year. If your Christmas cactus is outdoors in a hot, dry climate, they may require watering every two to three days, since they are from a more tropical environment. If you treat them like an indoor plant where they stay in a cool or humid area, they might require water weekly. In the fall and winter months, decrease watering to stimulate blooming. Use filtered, bottled, or tap water sitting 24 hours to release the chemicals and water enough that the water discharges out of the drainage holes. Once the water is fully drained, replace them into the cache or decorative pot.
The plant comes from the tropics and prefers a humid environment. Add them on a pebble tray filled with water but don't let the roots sit in water. Spritz them each day or add a humidifier next to it to maintain higher levels of humidity.
The Christmas cactus does best in warm temperatures during the day between 70-80°F and night temperatures from 50-55°F. In the winter months, raise the nighttime temperatures inside to 60-65°F and avoid any drafts or heat vents nearby.
Hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 9 to 11. Elsewhere, keep it indoors and bring it in before the first fall frost.
Water the plant before fertilizing to avoid fertilizer burn. Use a liquid fertilizer bi weekly throughout the spring and summer months, then stop during the fall and winter.
When receiving the plant, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months. Repot in the spring, using a 2" bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a planter could cause the soil to dry slower, which is not helpful.) Hydrate the plant before repotting. Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow them to drain. Use a succulent and cactus mix to repot when the plant becomes root-bound. This plant prefers a little less room around their roots to promote blooming, so if you skip a year, that's fine. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen. Inspect the roots. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim off with sterile pruners. Ensure the plant is sitting about 1 inch below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over. Water thoroughly, leaving the soil damp but not soggy. If settling occurs, add more soil. Water well to dampen the soil and let it drain.
Prune yearly if needed to tame unruly branches. Cut between two leaf segments. You can trim the entire plant down by a third each year if needed.
Take the cuttings from pruning and let the cut ends heal for a few days to callus over. Leave them laid out on a paper towel. Afterward, place cut side down into succulent and cactus soil. Keep the soil lightly moist. Within two weeks, roots will form, and you'll have birthed new plant babies!
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Red Christmas Cactus: Overview
The Red Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a beautiful epiphyte with fleshy, flat leaves and vivid red flowers. Formerly sold as Zygocactus, the Christmas cactus is a true cactus, but a tropical, forest-dwelling one rather than a desert species.
Native to Central and South America, the Christmas Cactus adapts easily to USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11, thriving in bright but indirect sun. This gorgeous tropical plant requires some extra care to make the most of its striking blooms, but the effort is well worth it. The ASPCA lists Christmas cactus as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
The Christmas Cactus with red flowers symbolizes joy, passion, love, and hope, investing it with a meaningful message when given as a holiday plant gift to your loved ones.
Prefer another color? Shop the snowy White Christmas Cactus or the Pink Christmas Cactus.
Christmas Cactus Plant: Benefits
- Relatively easy to care for
- Excellent pet-friendly plant
- Blooms for weeks through the holiday season
- A perfect plant for the holidays
- Boasts beautiful blooms
Schlumbergera Bridgesii: Common Names
- Holiday Cactus
- Crab Cactus
- Claw Cactus
Buying a Christmas Cactus Online
Choose a Small or Medium Red Christmas Cactus in a grower pot, an Eco Pot (Coconut, Earl Grey, Chai, or Macadamia), or a light basket, from $43. Add a gift note in the cart for Christmas cactus delivery straight to someone you love. It is safe for cats and dogs, and every plant is backed by our 100% Happiness Guarantee.
Holiday cacti look alike, and many sold as Christmas cactus are Thanksgiving cactus. Learn how to tell them apart, how to water, and how to make it bloom again in our Christmas cactus care guide.
Red Christmas Cactus: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants
The Schlumbergera Bridgesii Christmas Cactus is a gorgeous bloomer with eye-catching, vivid red flowers that introduce a festive note into any interior.
Best Locations & Uses
- Excellent holiday plant
- Suitable for beginners
- Relatively drought-tolerant plant for well-lit spaces
- Perfect holiday gift
- Ideal for pet owners
Companion Plants
Combine your Red Christmas Cactus plant with cute mini succulents or other flowering plants to enjoy blooms year-round:
- Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans): The beautiful Lipstick Plant is a vine with glossy green leaves and red flowers that resemble a tube of lipstick, giving this plant its name.
- Vriesea Bromeliad (Vriesea splendens): With its flower lasting several months, the striking Vriesea Bromeliad is easy to care for and makes an excellent statement plant.
- Black Flamingo Flower (Anthurium spp.): The unusual Black Flamingo Flower shows off glossy, deep green leaves and silky black flowers shaped like hearts.
Alternative Plants
Other easy-care succulents to consider for your plant display include:
- String of Pearls Plant (Senecio rowleyanus): The String of Pearls is a charming and easy-care succulent that's perfect for hanging baskets or wall planters.
- Jade Plant (Crassula ovata): Considered a lucky plant in Feng Shui, the Jade Plant has thick, rounded leaves, edged with red.
- Hoya Heart Plant (Hoya kerrii): Grown from a single leaf without nodes attached, the Hoya Heart is a popular gift plant for a variety of occasions.
Order a Red Christmas Cactus for Sale From Lively Root
Looking for a Christmas cactus for sale? Order a Red Christmas Cactus from Lively Root for delivery to your door, or send one as a holiday gift. Browse more Christmas plants.
