Wikimedia Commons
Cactaceae
Crab Cactus
Schlumbergera truncata
Holiday cheer.
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Genus
- Schlumbergera
- Native to
- Brazil
- Bloom season
- Fall, Winter
- Type
- perennial epiphyte
- Height
- 0.5-1 ft
- Sunlight
- part shade
- Soil
- well-drained, organic, epiphytic mix
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 10-12
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Crab cactus is commonly sold as 'Christmas cactus' or 'Thanksgiving cactus' depending on its bloom timing.
- Unlike desert cacti, it grows as an epiphyte in Brazilian coastal mountain rainforests.
- The stem segments have pointed, crab-claw-shaped projections, distinguishing it from the true Christmas cactus.
- Some family heirloom crab cacti have been passed down through generations and are over 100 years old.
- Blooming is triggered by a combination of short day length and cool night temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Color meanings
0
endurance
1
warmth in cold times