Black Rose Aeonium
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'
pet safesucculentdrought tolerant
SPECIMEN NO. 862
Native toCoastal mountain rainforests of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil
Pet safe
Christmas Cactus
Schlumbergera x buckleyi (hybrid of S. truncata and S. russelliana)
Also known as: Holiday Cactus, Schlumbergera
A spineless, epiphytic cactus with flat, segmented, trailing stems and vivid tubular flowers that bloom around the winter holidays. Unlike desert cacti, it thrives in humidity and regular watering.
7–14dwatering range
bright to medium indirectlight needs
15–24°Ctemperature
Watering amount
How much water does my Christmas Cactus need?
Estimated guideline, not a precise measurement — scale up for larger pots, brighter light, or active growth; scale down for smaller pots, lower light, or winter dormancy. Always water until it drains from the pot's base rather than measuring exactly.
Watering guide
Season note
Water every 7-10 days in spring/summer, every 4-6 weeks in fall/winter dormancy; allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Overwatering signs
Mushy segments, black stems, root rot
Underwatering signs
Wrinkling, limp segments
Light & placement
Light level
bright to medium indirect
Best rooms
Care details
Soil
Well-draining, slightly acidic mix with peat, perlite, and orchid bark
Humidity
Benefits from higher humidity, especially during blooming
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer at half strength every 2-4 weeks during growing season, not during bloom
Temperature range
15°C – 24°C
Plant care guide
Christmas cactus, botanically Schlumbergera x buckleyi, is a hybrid between two species — Schlumbergera truncata and Schlumbergera russelliana — both of which are native to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil, growing at high elevation in moist, shaded, humid rainforest conditions rather than the arid desert environments typically associated with cacti. The plant is a genuine member of the cactus family, Cactaceae, despite bearing almost no visual resemblance to the spiny desert cacti most people picture when they hear the word — in the wild, Schlumbergera species grow as epiphytes or lithophytes, rooting not in soil but on moss-covered tree branches or in rocky crevices filled with decayed leaves and other organic debris, drawing moisture and nutrients almost entirely from rainfall and the material that collects around their roots, much like several other unrelated epiphytic plants adapted to similarly shaded, humid forest-canopy niches.
Structurally, the plant reflects its unusual habitat and evolutionary history clearly: rather than true leaves, it produces flattened, segmented, photosynthetic stems called phylloclades, joined end to end in the plant's characteristic cascading, jointed pattern, with flowers and new growth emerging from areoles — small, specialized structures — located at the segment joints and stem tips rather than from conventional leaf axils. Schlumbergera russelliana was first introduced to England in 1839, with its species epithet honoring John Russell, the 6th Duke of Bedford, a British politician and plant collector of the period, and the genus itself is named for Frédéric Schlumberger, a 19th-century French cactus collector.
Toxicity
Pets: Non-toxic to pets
Humans: Non-toxic to humans
Non-toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA; large amounts of the fibrous segments may cause mild mechanical stomach upset.
Frequently asked questions
Is Christmas Cactus safe for cats and dogs?+
Yes, it's non-toxic to pets per the ASPCA, making it a popular safe choice for households with animals.
How do I get my Christmas Cactus to rebloom?+
It needs 6-8 weeks of long, uninterrupted dark nights and cooler temperatures in early fall to trigger flower buds.
How often should I water a Christmas Cactus?+
Every 7-10 days during active growth, tapering to every 4-6 weeks during its fall/winter rest period.
