Schlumbergera Mix – Christmas / Holiday Cactus Care Guide

Schlumbergera Mix brings together a colourful range of flowering Christmas Cactus varieties — beloved for their cascading stems and vivid blooms that brighten homes through winter. These tropical succulents, native to Brazilian rainforests, are easy to care for and reward you with masses of pink, red, white, orange, or purple flowers just when most other plants are resting. Compact, long-lived, and low-maintenance, they make ideal gifts and cheerful additions to any indoor space.

About Schlumbergera Mix

• Common names: Christmas Cactus, Holiday Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus

• Botanical name: Schlumbergera truncata and hybrids

• Family: Cactaceae

• Type: Tropical, epiphytic cactus (grown as a houseplant)

• Height & spread: 20–30 cm high × 30–40 cm wide

• Foliage: Glossy, flat, segmented stems with softly toothed edges — no spines

• Flowers: Exotic, tubular blooms in a variety of shades including pink, red, magenta, orange, white, or peach

• Flowering time: Late autumn to mid-winter, often around Christmas

• Best for:

  • Indoor colour in winter

  • Hanging baskets, tabletops, and window sills

  • Low-maintenance indoor gardens

How to Grow & Care

Despite their cactus name, Schlumbergeras are not desert plants — they come from humid, shaded forests, so they enjoy moisture and indirect light.

• Light:

  • Prefers bright, indirect light (east or north-facing window is ideal).

  • Avoid strong midday sun, which can scorch stems.

  • Too little light may reduce flowering.

• Temperature:

  • Ideal range: 15–21 °C (60–70 °F).

  • Avoid draughts and cold spots.

  • A cooler period (10–15 °C) in early autumn helps trigger flower buds.

• Watering:

  • Water moderately — keep soil just moist during flowering.

  • Allow top of compost to dry slightly between waterings.

  • Reduce watering after blooming to allow rest period.

  • Never leave sitting in water.

• Feeding:

  • Feed every 2–3 weeks from March to October with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser.

  • Stop feeding once buds appear in late autumn.

• Compost:

  • Use free-draining cactus or orchid compost with added peat-free organic matter for moisture balance.

• Repotting:

  • Repot every 2–3 years in spring after flowering finishes.

  • Choose a pot only slightly larger than the root ball.

• Pruning & propagation:

  • After flowering, pinch off a few stem segments to encourage branching.

  • Use removed segments to propagate new plants — simply dry for a day and root in moist compost.

When & Where to Grow

• Ideal for:

  • Bright rooms, conservatories, or kitchen windowsills with gentle light.

• Flowering season:

  • Usually November to January; sometimes again in spring if happy.

• Seasonal care:

  • After flowering, allow a short rest period (about 4–6 weeks) with less water and no feed. Resume regular care in spring.

• Toxicity:

  • Non-toxic and safe for pets and children.

Benefits at a Glance

• Brilliant indoor colour during the winter months

• Easy to grow and long-lived houseplant

• Compact habit suits small spaces and hanging pots

• Non-toxic and safe indoors

• Can flower twice a year with good care

• Simple to propagate for sharing and gifting

In summary:
Schlumbergera Mix is a festive collection of colourful, easy-care houseplants that bloom when most others are asleep. With bright, tropical flowers and trailing green stems, they’re perfect for windowsills or hanging displays. Give them bright, indirect light, moderate watering, and a little rest after flowering, and they’ll reward you with a spectacular show every winter — year after year

• Size
  P13

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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