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• He went onto explain that jungle cacti like these prefer to have regular watering as opposed to long periods of drought. However, probably the most common problem in growing these plants, Graper said is watering too frequently or letting the plants sit in water.
•  "This will usually result in bacterial or fungal infections of the roots which will essentially shut down the flow of water from the roots to the rest of the plant. Grow them in a well-drained potting soil and let the soil dry out slightly before watering thoroughly," he said.
• Year-round beauty
• Graper said that unlike some holiday plants, like the poinsettia, which are best recycled in the compost pile after its done flowering; the Schlumbergera, like these, can be long-lived plants that are quite easy to bring back into bloom for many holidays to come.
• "I have relatives that have very large Christmas Cacti that are up to 4-feet across that they have had in the family for decades," Graper said. "These large plants can be covered with hundreds of flowers when they come into bloom."
• For best results, Graper said the plants grow best in bright, indirect light or morning sun but should not be grown in full sun all day long.
• "Some people will move these large plants outside during the summer but they can easily be kept on a sunny windowsill all year long," he said. "The key to getting them to bloom again is to place them in a cool location, maybe down to 60 degrees at night, and let them be exposed to the normal day/night cycle of light and dark. This way they will perceive the lengthening dark period and come into bloom, right on time for Thanksgiving or Christmas."
• Share the beauty
• Propagation is quite easy with all of these plants, especially in the spring, Graper said.
• "Select healthy stem segments about 3 to 4-inches long. Use a sharp knife or just break them off the main plant. Let them sit out for a day or so, to allow the wound to callus a bit, then stick them into your potting soil, about an inch deep," he said.
• Then he added to be careful not to water too much until the plant shows signs of new leaves growing out of the tips or there is resistance when gently tugging them out of the soil.
•  "It is usually best to plant multiple cuttings in a single pot to provide a fuller look and more flowers to enjoy for each plant. Fertilize your new plants with a half-strength houseplant fertilizer about once a month from spring until fall, then hold off on fertilizing again until the following spring," he said.