Winter blooming Christmas Cactus and fall blooming Thanksgiving Cactus prefer cooler areas of the house while blooming and bright indoor light. Grow in either a soiless potting soil (such as LC1 or Sunshine mix, avialable at Telly's) or recreate their jungle home conditions with humus and sharp sand for drainage. From April to mid-September give them warm temperatures. Keep them evenly moist, but not wet. Fertilize through the summer.

To bloom for Christmas beginning in mid-September provide cooler temperatures (60-65 degrees), stop fertilizing and allow soil to become dryer. This slightly stresses the plant encouraging it to reproduce. Provide 12 hours of darkness every night until mid-October. When flower buds form resume watering, light and feeding. At this point slightly warmer room temperatures will be tolerated. Try not to move it after flowerbuds have set. Keep evenly moist, drying out, or becoming to wet, may cause flowers to fall off prematurely.

Schlumbergera may be moved outside for the summer once outside temperatures stay above 50 degrees at night. They enjoy moderate shade. Repot them before moving them out. Osmocote fertilizer in the potting soil works very well for a constant supply of food through the summer.

Although they only bloom for a few weeks twice a year they are a cheerful addition to any room. Well worth giving them a place in your home.