Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera bridgessii) are classic, low-stress houseplants. They require very little maintenance and once a year your (minimal) efforts are rewarded with an outbreak of beautiful electric fuchsia flowers. You are too easy to multiplyso you can even give away cuttings.
These plants will survive well in low light, however According to GardeningKnowHow.com, they bloom better when exposed to light. You should also water your Christmas cactus regularly to keep the soil slightly moist. (If you’re a chronic overwaterer this might be the plant for you.) Finally, think about the temperature and humidity in your home. GardeningKnowHow.com recommends the following:
When caring for the Christmas cactus, remember that it prefers temperatures between 15 and 21 ° C with average to high humidity. Putting a water-filled tray of pebbles under the Christmas cactus container is a great way to add moisture to the home.
If you are a pet owner looking for low maintenance plants that won’t poison your pets, each of these plants should offer some versatile options. They’re pretty common too, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding them at your local garden center. Better still, if a friend or family member already has a flowering plant you like, ask about cuttings and propagate them yourself – it’s free and easy.
This story was originally published in April 2016 and updated on October 3, 2019 to add additional information, and again on June 1, 2021 by AA Newton to reflect Lifehacker’s current style guidelines to add two new plant recommendations and updated links.
