Poinsettias, holly, mistletoe, and of course the evergreen tree are pretty much the staple plants of the holiday season.
There’s a Christmas tree in nearly every household decorated and on display. ‘Mistletoe hung where you can see,’ is just one of many famous lyrics from your favorite Christmas songs. And you can be sure to find a beautiful, or sometimes fake, Poinsettia plant at Grandma’s house somewhere in her mess of decorations.
But 2019 has brought in a new Christmas tradition- the Christmas Cacti, a spiky red flowered cactus that doesn’t fit the regular mold of the Christmas theme.
Not quite this: 
But this:
People have been going crazy for the chlumberga buckleyi- also known by it’s simpler name, the Christmas cactus. The seemingly simple plant doesn’t look like much at first glance, with it’s long hanging green leaves, but when it blooms the red and white flowers are breathtaking.
You’re probably thinking ‘a cactus in winter?’ but this plant actually thrives in cooler temps and only blooms towards late December.
The best way to take care of this cactus is to only water it when the top inch of potting soil has become dry. It’s also a best practice to keep it indoors and away from direct sunlight. This may sound strange for a plant that’s native to Brazil where it’s typically hot and sunny, but if you want a healthy happy plant, this is the route to go.
If you take proper care of it, the blooms can be up to 3 inches long and come in a variety of colors including red, white, pink, yellow, or purple.
The real beauty of the Christmas Cactus is that with proper care, it will last forever.
As long as you take care of this cactus, it’s going to bloom. There have been instances where the Christmas Cactus was handed down like an heirloom, from one generation to the next. Though the blooms only last a few days once a year, it’s something to look forward to that will blend perfectly with your other holiday decor. Plus when the blooms are done, there’s always the Easter Cactus and even Thanksgiving Cactus to look forward to!
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