Violet flower of Schlumbergera truncata
Truncated end of a Schlumbergera truncata leaf
Flowering Christmas cactus in pot
Purple Christmas cactus flower
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Schlumbergera truncata, a cactus like no other
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Although a member of the Cactaceae family, Schlumbergera truncata has neither spines nor fleshy stems. And while other succulents flower in spring, the Christmas cactus blooms in December.
How to recognize the Schlumbergera truncata?
Schlumbergera truncata likes to grow tall, supported by other plants. Indoors, it rarely grows taller than 45 centimetres. Its upright, then drooping habit makes it ideal for hanging baskets, like pothos or chain of Hearts.
The stems of the Christmas cactus are made up of cladodes linked by a central rib. Each dark-green segment is four to six centimetres long and one-and-a-half to three-and-a-half centimetres wide. Flattened and smooth, they have no spines, but teeth on the sides and tips. In fact, it's the end of the cladodes, which seem to have been truncated, that gives the variety its name.
Schlumbergera truncata blooms as the days shorten. In autumn, buds appear at the end of the stem. In December, the flowers, often pink or red, open. They persist until the end of winter.
In addition to brightening up our homes, Schlumbergera truncata may also help to clean them up. Although its properties are still a matter of debate, the fat plant is unanimously considered to be non-toxic to humans and animals.
Our maintenance tips
Christmas Cactus is a low-maintenance plant. But it's also fragile. It doesn't like direct sunlight, draughts or changes of location. Avoid moving it during flowering, as your Christmas cactus will lose its flowers!
Watering
Allow the potting soil to dry for at least a centimetre. Water the substrate with rainwater at room temperature.
Empty any stagnant water from the saucer or planter. It will rot the roots and may kill your Christmas cactus.
Spray
In addition to regular watering, misting prevents the plant from drying out due to heat in summer and heating in winter.
Christmas Cactus do not like hard water. Preferrainwater or filtered water.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Schlumbergera truncata to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
Christmas Cactus blooms best when the plant is cramped. For repotting, choose a terracotta pot two to five centimetres in diameter, larger and deeper than the previous one.
In a perforated pot, place a layer of clay balls or gravel to improve drainage. Add potting soil for flowering plants. You can also make your own mixture of heather soil and sand.
Remove any residual potting soil from your Schlumbergera truncata root ball. Plant in the center of the pot and press down.
To improve humidity, place the pierced pot on a bed of moist pebbles or clay balls.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Feed your Christmas cactus with a special liquid fertilizer for flowering plants.
Prune
To make your Christmas cactus bloom again, prune the plant after it has finished flowering.
After flowering, cut off the spent flowers. You can do this by hand, or use a clean, sharp tool such as a pair of scissors or pruning shears.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Section a branch about ten centimeters long, containing two to three articles and no buds. Cut with a clean tool where the two sections meet.
Leave your cutting to dry for a day to allow the wound to heal.
Plant your graft in a pierced pot containing a mixture of rich potting soil (horticultural potting soil, potting soil for seedlings, special potting soil for cuttings, etc.) and sand. Place them in a bright spot, but away from direct sunlight.
Wintering
The plant needs a winter period to flower from one year to the next.
Place the plant indoors, in a room where the temperature is between 10 and 15 degrees. Limit its exposure to light: no more than twelve hours a day.
Reduce watering. When the buds appear, resume the usual watering frequency and return the plant to its original position.
Disease / Threat
Information
| Family | Cactaceae - Cactaceae |
| Type | Schlumbergera - Schlumbergera |
| Species | Schlumbergera truncata - Schlumbergera truncata |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposures | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting methods |
In pots In tubs Planter |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Beginner Flowery |
| Origin |
South America |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 11b |
| Leaf color |
|
| Flower colors |
|
Discover plants from the same family
