Schlumbergera

Schlumbergera (Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus and Holiday Cactus)

Also known by names as Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus and Holiday Cactus, Schlumbergera is found native to tropical Brazilian land. In its natural habitat, it grows on trees or rocks.

Schlumbergera has flattened, serrated, long and narrow branches with prominent notches at the margins. It produces beautiful asymmetrical flowers in a variety of colors like white, pink, yellow, orange, red or purple which blooms through autumn and winter. 

The most popular way of propagation is through cuttings where the Cuttings are allowed to dry for 1–7 days, where a callus is formed at the broken end, which is then rooted in an open growing medium. Give plenty of water as often as necessary to keep the potting mixture thoroughly moist, keeping in mind not to overwater. Moderate light at a partly shaded window is the best.

In Europe, where plants are largely produced for sale in the period before Christmas, this remains the most widely used common name in many languages for cultivars of all groups.