The Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera bridgesii, is a beautiful plant belonging to a small group of cacti native to the coastal mountain rainforests of southeastern Brazil. It grows in the crotch of a tree or rocky crevice and is an epiphyte that does not live in soil. It receives moisture from the rainforest’s damp air and daily rains and nutrients from leaf debris.

Common names for Schlumbergera cacti refer to the seasons in which they bloom. The Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncate) blooms in November, the Christmas cactus (S. bridgesii) blooms in December, and the Easter cactus (S. russelliana) blooms in April.

All three varieties look a bit different and have slightly different blooms. The Christmas cactus has segments with scalloped edges, the Thanksgiving cactus has pointed “teeth” alon

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