Blooming beautiful cactus

IT SOUNDS like someone sneezing, yet Schlumbergera is the name of one of the most striking and surreal-looking indoor plants.

The Christmas cactus is a small epiphytic (airplant) cactus that produces a vivid, long-lasting colour display of the most exquisite and unusual blooms. Its common name – “Christmas cactus” – is derived from its flowering time, which in the northern hemisphere is over Christmas.

Despite the delicacy of the flowers, these small plants are surprisingly tough. They thrive both indoors and out, filling dull corners and requiring very little attention and care.

The annual colour display typically results in them being moved into a premium display spot, where they’ll receive endless sighs and comments while in bloom.

The plant itself is most unusual and is sometimes also referred to as “The Crab Plant”. A quick glance at it and you’ll see why this name is so apt – the leaves are thick, squat and round, consisting of segments that radiate from the plant centre. When in flower, the blooms look exactly like the extension of a crab’s claw.

The Christmas cactus ( Schlumbergera truncata or Schlumbergera buckleyi), with their vibrant flowers, will leave a longlasting impression in any house or office environment.

The leaves are thick segments all in a long chain, radiating from the plant’s centre, and have the ability to store water in times of drought. Schlumbergera is available in different colours, including white, pink, yellow, orange, red or purple. ● cactus. ● Schlumbergera truncata or Schlumbergera buckleyi. ●