About this product

Schlumbergera White – White Christmas Cactus – 17cm Pot

Schlumbergera – White Flowering Selection

Supplied as a potted indoor plant in a 17cm pot (P17)

Plant Highlights

• Elegant white flowers opening at the tips of the segmented green stems

• Late autumn and winter flowering for seasonal indoor colour

• Distinctive flattened, jointed stems providing year-round greenery

• Naturally arching growth that develops a graceful trailing habit

• Long-lived flowering houseplant with the potential to bloom again each year

Overview

Schlumbergera White, commonly known as the Christmas Cactus, is a tropical forest cactus grown for its beautiful seasonal flowers and unusual green stems. Its elegant white blooms emerge from the ends of flattened, jointed stem segments, creating a fresh contrast against the plant's rich green growth. The flowers are tubular and layered, with delicately overlapping petals that give them a light, graceful appearance.

Supplied in a 17cm pot, this white-flowering selection is an attractive choice for bright indoor spaces during autumn and winter. Unlike the familiar desert cacti, Schlumbergera naturally grows in humid forest environments, where it receives filtered sunlight and regular moisture. Its stems gradually lengthen and arch over the sides of the pot, making it especially appealing on a raised plant stand, bright shelf or windowsill.

Why We Love It

• Beautiful winter flowers: The white blooms bring fresh colour to indoor spaces when many houseplants are resting.

• Unusual evergreen structure: The connected, leaf-like green stems remain decorative even when the plant is not flowering.

• Graceful growth with age: Mature plants develop longer, arching stems that create a fuller, cascading outline.

• A rewarding annual flowering cycle: Cooler autumn conditions and longer nights can encourage a new display of flower buds.

• An attractive seasonal gift: The combination of white flowers and evergreen stems makes it particularly appealing for winter gifting and indoor displays.

Plant Details

Attribute	Information
Botanical Name	Schlumbergera
Common Name	Christmas Cactus, Holiday Cactus
Selection	White flowering; individual cultivar not specified
Plant Type	Evergreen tropical forest cactus
Flowers	White, tubular flowers with layered petals, borne at stem tips
Flowering Period	Usually late autumn to winter, depending on the selection and growing conditions
Foliage	Flattened, jointed green stem segments that perform the function of leaves
Growth Habit	Initially bushy, becoming arching and trailing with age
Mature Height	Commonly around 20–45cm indoors, depending on the selection
Mature Spread	Commonly around 30–45cm or more as stems lengthen
Position	Bright, indirect natural light
Compost	Airy, moisture-retentive but freely draining houseplant compost
Watering	Moderate during active growth; reduced during cooler resting periods
Preferred Temperature	Approximately 18–22°C during active growth
Winter Temperature	Keep above approximately 10°C and protect from frost
Humidity	Appreciates moderate indoor humidity
Maintenance	Light shaping, feeding during active growth and seasonal flowering care
Best Uses	Bright indoor windowsills, plant stands, shelves and decorative containers

Growing Guide

Position and Light

Place your Schlumbergera in a bright indoor position with plenty of filtered or indirect natural light. An east-facing window is often ideal, offering gentle morning sunshine without prolonged exposure to strong afternoon sun.

Avoid intense direct summer sunlight through glass, which can discolour or scorch the green stem segments.

During darker Irish winters, keep the plant reasonably close to a bright window while protecting it from cold glass, draughts and direct radiator heat.

Watering

Schlumbergera requires more regular moisture than typical desert cacti.

During active growth, water thoroughly when the upper few centimetres of compost begin to dry. Allow excess water to drain away completely.

Avoid leaving the nursery pot standing in water inside a decorative outer pot, as persistently wet compost can damage the roots.

Reduce watering during cooler resting periods, allowing the compost to dry slightly further between applications without keeping the plant completely dry for prolonged periods.

During flowering, aim for reasonably consistent moisture rather than alternating between very dry and saturated conditions.

Compost and Repotting

Use a free-draining, airy houseplant compost that retains some moisture without becoming compacted.

A peat-free houseplant mix amended with perlite and fine orchid bark is suitable for its forest-cactus roots.

Choose a pot with drainage holes. Schlumbergera generally grows well with a relatively snug root system, so avoid moving it into an unnecessarily large container.

Repot after flowering or during spring growth when the roots have filled the existing pot.

Temperature and Winter Care

During active growth, Schlumbergera prefers normal indoor temperatures of approximately 18–22°C.

It is frost-tender and should be kept above approximately 10°C. Protect it from cold draughts and sudden temperature changes.

A cooler autumn period, around 12–15°C, can help encourage flower-bud formation when combined with naturally shortening days.

Once buds develop, maintain a stable indoor position with good light and avoid abrupt changes in temperature or watering.

Feeding and Routine Maintenance

Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser during active growth from spring to late summer, following the manufacturer's recommended dilution.

Little pruning is required. If stems become uneven or excessively long, remove selected segments at their natural joints after flowering or in spring.

This encourages branching and helps maintain a fuller shape.

Remove damaged or shrivelled segments when necessary, and check the joints occasionally for mealybugs.

Encouraging Flowers Again

Schlumbergera responds to seasonal changes in day length and temperature.

During early autumn, allow the plant to experience longer, uninterrupted nights and slightly cooler conditions. Reduce watering moderately while growth slows.

Avoid strong artificial light late into the evening during the bud-forming period, as this can interfere with the plant's response to shorter days.

When buds are clearly visible, return the plant to comfortable indoor temperatures and maintain steady, moderate watering.

Avoid repeatedly moving or rotating a heavily budded plant between different environments, as sudden changes can cause buds to drop.

Humidity and Suitable Rooms

As a tropical forest cactus, Schlumbergera appreciates moderate atmospheric humidity.

It is suitable for bright living rooms, kitchens and conservatories where temperatures remain reasonably stable. A bright bathroom may also be appropriate if sufficient natural light is available.

In very dry, centrally heated rooms, a pebble tray containing water beneath the pot can help provide a slightly more humid local environment, provided the pot itself is not sitting in the water.

Perfect For

• Bright living rooms: White flowers provide an elegant winter display on side tables and plant stands.

• East-facing windowsills: Gentle morning light suits its preference for bright conditions without intense sunshine.

• Raised shelves and plant stands: The arching stems gradually develop an attractive trailing shape.

• Bright kitchens: Suitable where natural light is good and the plant is kept away from direct heat and cold draughts.

• Winter gifting: A flowering Christmas Cactus makes an appealing seasonal present with lasting evergreen interest.

Good to Know

Although commonly called a Christmas Cactus, Schlumbergera is a tropical forest cactus rather than a desert cactus. It prefers filtered light, moderate moisture and an airy compost rather than intense sunshine and prolonged drought.

This product is identified as a white-flowering Schlumbergera, but no individual species or cultivar has been confirmed. Flower shape, precise flowering dates and eventual plant dimensions may therefore vary.

Flowering is influenced by temperature, day length and growing conditions. A cooler autumn rest and uninterrupted longer nights can encourage buds, but the number of flowers and exact timing cannot be guaranteed.

Product Information

• Product: Schlumbergera White

• Botanical Identity: Schlumbergera

• Flower Colour: White

• Cultivar: Not specified

• Pot Size: 17cm (P17)

• Supplied Format: Potted indoor plant

• Product Barcode / SKU: 8712044290041