Schlumbergera truncata 'Purple' (Purple Christmas Cactus)

The purple form of Schlumbergera truncata is one of the more unusual colors in the holiday cactus range, the blooms shifting between magenta-violet and true purple depending on the light and growing conditions. The tubular, flared flowers appear at the tips of flattened stem segments, each segment edged with the small pointed projections that distinguish truncata from the true Christmas cactus hybrid. It blooms in late October through November, a little earlier than its common name suggests.

Native to Brazil's cloud forests, where it perches epiphytically in trees with roots exposed to humid air and dappled light, this plant asks for different treatment than desert cacti. It wants consistent indirect light, moderate moisture year-round, and enough humidity that it doesn't dry out completely between waterings. A bathroom or kitchen with a bright window is ideal.

Unlike succulents that resent being repotted, schlumbergeras actually bloom better when slightly root-bound.