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Schlumbergera × buckleyi (Christmas cactus)
The plant likes partial shade.
We always water a few days after the substrate has dried out.
It can tolerate temperatures as low as -1.1 °C for short periods. However, the plant is not frost-resistant.
To ensure that your Christmas cactus blooms reliably, give it a few weeks of cooler temperatures and shorter days in the fall—it is this "rest" that triggers bud formation.
Schlumbergera × buckleyi is the classic Christmas cactus, known in English as the True Christmas Cactus. It is a historic hybrid created by crossing Schlumbergera truncata and Schlumbergera russelliana. The epithet buckleyi honours William Buckley, an English botanist who developed this hybrid at the Rollisson nursery in the 1840s.
The plant has segmented, flattened stems with characteristic rounded notches along the margins. Young branches initially grow upright, but as they elongate they gradually arch and trail over the edges of the pot, creating an elegant, cascading form.
The flowers develop at the ends of the stems. They are tubular, with narrow petals, distinctly bilaterally symmetrical. Flower colour is most often purplish to pink, and individual flowers can reach a length of up to about 7.5 cm. Flowering typically occurs during the winter months.
Schlumbergera × buckleyi is often referred to as a “grandmother’s plant” – a proven, long-lived, and undemanding houseplant that has remained popular in homes for generations. It prefers a bright position without direct midday sun and a lightly moist, well-draining substrate. Watering should be regular but moderate. With basic care, it reliably rewards the grower with abundant flowering each year.