Why will I love it?
The Schlumbergera truncata and Schlumbergera × buckleyi are two cultivars of the plant commonly known as the Christmas cactus. These late-blooming varieties flower from late autumn until midwinter, creating a fantastic Christmas display as eyecatching as anything we can hang on a Christmas tree – and making an ideal festive gift.
Light or shade?
Bright indirect to partial shade.
Where should I put it?
Place on an east or west-facing window because too much direct exposure to sun or heat can cause the leaves to shrivel or discolour.
How do I keep it alive?
Unusually for cacti, these plants require two rest periods a year: the first after flowering in late January to March, when you reduce watering and temperature and stop feeding; and the second in mid-September until the time flowering buds arrive. It likes warm temperatures, so keep the room above 18C.
Did you know…
In their native Brazil, their flowers – with their abundant nectar and brightly coloured petals – are designed to encourage pollination by hummingbirds.
This column is taking a winter break and returns in the spring
