Schlumbergera
There are half-a-dozen of Schlumbergera native from southwestern Brazil. They are epiphytic cactus, with flattened, leaf looking stems. Many hybrids are available around Christmas, sold as Christmas cactus. The genus is named after Frédéric Schlumberger, a French cactus collector from the 19th century. The original hybrids had cherry red flowers. Nowadays, many colors are available. They bloom when the day starts shortening. In order to get blossoms around Christmas, Put them in a cool place where they will get at least 12 to 14 hours of darkness a day. Schlumbergera are epiphytic cacti and should be grown in containers. The soil should stay always moist, although they will need less water when not in bloom. Use a soil mix that is light and drains easily. They need bright indirect light. They are propagated mostly by cuttings. Three-inch cuttings are ideal and can be taken from an existing plant soon after the plant finishes blooming. Let the cuttings dry for a week, and plant them in potting mix. It is better to put several cuttings per pot to get a good density of stems. With adequate care, they should bloom the following winter.
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