Schlumbergera truncata 'Red' (Red Christmas Cactus)

Red is the classic holiday cactus color, and this Schlumbergera truncata delivers it in full: tubular, flared flowers in a clear, saturated red that makes a striking contrast against the bright green, flattened stems. The bloom period runs from late October through November, with each flowering period lasting several weeks. A well-established plant covered in red blossoms has a genuinely theatrical quality, especially on a winter windowsill where there's not much competition.

S. truncata hails from humid coastal mountain forests in Brazil, where it lives as an epiphyte in the tree canopy. That heritage makes it a different sort of houseplant than what the word cactus usually implies. It prefers steady indirect light, moderate watering (letting it dry somewhat between waterings but not completely), and good air circulation.

Avoid moving it once buds are set, as the jostling can cause buds to drop.