Christmas cacti aren’t desert plants; they’re tropical rainforest epiphytes from Brazil, growing on trees, love humidity, need 14+ hours of darkness to bloom, have long lifespans (decades!), are pet-safe, and get called Thanksgiving/Easter cacti due to blooming cycles and varieties, not just Christmas.
Names & Varieties
Holiday Cactus: They’re often called Thanksgiving or Easter cactus because different species bloom around different holidays.
Claw Cactus: The Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata) has pointed, claw-like teeth on its segments, while the true Christmas cactus (S. russelliana) has rounded segments.
Many Colors: They come in red, pink, purple, orange, and white.
Care & Lifespan
Pet-Friendly: They are non-toxic to dogs and cats, a safe choice for pet owners.
Long-Lived: With good care, they can live for 20-30 years, sometimes even longer.
Easy to Propagate: You can easily start new plants from cuttings (stem segments).