Christmas cactus for sale in the market is typically a cutting grown from a stem tip of a mother plant. This plant will remain in flower for four to six weeks, with each flower lasting six to nine days. Blooming time is from late November to late January, they give a wonderful Christmas display or are an ideal Christmas gift, hence its name.
The Christmas cactus is a short day plant; it blooms when nights are at least 14 hours long and daylight periods are between 8-10 hours for 6 weeks. In order for the plant to form flower buds for holiday blooms, it needs extended darkness for at least four weeks prior which can be mimicked at home.