Christmas Cactus

Unlike other cacti, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) and its relatives don’t live in hot, arid environments such as deserts or plains. In fact, these epiphytic succulents are native to the tropical rainforests of southern Brazil, where they grow on tree branches and soak up the high humidity, dappled sunlight, and warm temperatures.

Christmas cacti are nontoxic plants to have around curious cats and dogs. You still shouldn't let your pets chew on it (Christmas cacti can cause intestinal discomfort if eaten) but overall it's a safer choice than many other festive plants. Christmas cacti can easily be confused with Thanksgiving cacti, but both are safe for pets and have similar care requirements.

The bottom line: Don’t treat a Christmas cactus like it’s a run-of-the-mill cactus or succulent. They can’t take the same sort of sunny, dry conditions that other cacti can. It’s important to water these cacti more regularly than most succulents, but to also be cautious of keeping them too wet.

Appearance: Stems that resemble leaf-like pads joined one to the other and flowers that appear from areoles at the joints and tips of the stems
Light Requirements: Indirect sunlight

Difficulty: Moderate