What plant is the Christmas cactus? Latest detailed introduction
The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is an epiphytic succulent plant of the genus Schlumbergera in the cactus family, also known as Christmas cactus, crab claw lotus, fairy finger flower, icing on the cake, etc. The Christmas cactus is so named because the shape of its jointed stem segments resembles a crab's claw. It is native to Brazil and is commonly cultivated in parks and flower nurseries across China. It is often used as an ornamental plant grafted onto Hylocereus undatus or other rootstocks to obtain vigorously growing plants. The stem segments often become pendulous because they grow too long, so it is also often made into a hanging plant for decoration, suitable for windowsills, entrances and exhibition halls.
The Christmas cactus is often shrub-like, without leaves. The stems are spineless, much branched, often pendulous, with old stems woody and slightly cylindrical, while young stems and branches are flat. Each stem segment is oblong to obovate, 3-6 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide, bright green, sometimes slightly purplish, with a truncate tip, 2-4 coarse teeth on each side, and a thick midrib in the center of both surfaces. The areoles sometimes bear a few short bristles.
The flowers of the Christmas cactus are solitary at the tips of the branches, rose-red, 6-9 cm long, and bilaterally symmetrical. The calyx is in one whorl, with a short tube at the base and free tips. The corolla is in several whorls, with a long tube at the lower part and free at the upper part, and the tube becomes longer toward the inside. The stamens are numerous, in 2 whorls, exserted and arched upward. The style is longer than the stamens, dark red, with a 7-lobed stigma. The berry is pear-shaped, red, about 1 cm in diameter.
The Christmas cactus prefers a cool and warm environment, is relatively drought-tolerant, fears high summer heat, and is fairly shade-tolerant. The optimum growth temperature is 20-25°C, and the temperature during the dormant period is about 15°C. It likes loose, organic-rich, well-drained and airy substrates. It is a short-day plant. Under 8-10 hours of sunlight per day, it can bloom in 2-3 months, and the flowering period can be regulated by controlling light.
Common hybrids of the Christmas cactus include the white varieties Christmas White, Doset, Gina and Snowflake; the yellow varieties Gold Charm, Christmas Flame, Golden Fantasy and Cambridge; the orange varieties Ante and Friddo; the purple variety Madoga; and the pink varieties Camilla, Dito and Eva, etc. Most were introduced from the United States, Japan, Denmark and other countries. Conventional varieties include Schlumbergera crenata with light purple stems and red flowers, Schlumbergera bella with white flower buds that turn pink when open, Schlumbergera rosea with red flower buds and red flowers, as well as Russell, Buckley, obtuse-angle and Christmas cactus, etc.