Cecilie Christmas Cactus

Cecilie Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata 'Cecilie') is the white-flowered Christmas cactus, a fountain of arching, jointed stems about 40cm high and wide. Each stem tip opens into curled, ribbon-like flowers in pure white with hot pink stamens, and it blooms in winter when most indoor plants are quiet. A well kept clump lives for decades.

Why you'll love it

• Pure white with a pink spark. Clean white flowers with hot pink stamens stand out against the dark green stems and suit any colour scheme.
• Flowers in the cold months. Shiny buds form at the stem tips and unfurl through winter, when the house could use the lift.
• Better with age. Older clumps are spectacular in full bloom, so a young plant is a long-term investment.
• Forgiving about water. It is drought tolerant, and wrinkled leaves tell you when it is too dry or too hot.
• Safe around pets. Christmas cactus is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Bright windowsills and living rooms. Give it good light with no direct sun. White flowers show up well against a darker wall, and a 40cm clump fits a side table or shelf.

Hanging baskets and tall pots. The stems arch and then hang, so a basket or a pot on a stand puts the flowers at eye level. Plant one tube, or three together in a 20cm pot for a fuller clump sooner.

Covered patios and tree forks. Where nights stay above 10°C it can live outdoors in dappled light under a verandah. In tropical gardens it can be secured into a tree fork and grown like a bromeliad, as it does in the wild.

Growing Cecilie Christmas Cactus in Australia

Position and climate. Good light, no direct sun, which scorches the segments. It is frost tender and must be kept above 10°C, so it stays outdoors only in frost-free tropical, subtropical and sheltered warm temperate gardens. Elsewhere, grow it indoors.

Soil. A gritty, free-draining compost mix, or very free-draining soil. Empty any saucer that fills with water.

Water and feed. Water when the mix has dried out, a little more often in hot weather, and mist the leaves now and then. After flowering it wants a cooler rest below 18°C with less water. As temperatures rise, water more and feed with a liquid fertiliser while it grows.

Pruning. No regular pruning. After flowering, twist off a segment or two from the stem tips to encourage branching, and root the pieces as new plants.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Cecilie Christmas Cactus as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small, fresh plant rather than a flowering clump, so allow a year or two to build its fountain shape. Pot it into a gritty mix, keep it out of direct sun and water only once the mix has dried.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse indoor flowering plants
• See more plants safe for pets
• Explore the succulent range
• How to keep your indoor plants alive

Common questions

When does it flower in Australia?

In winter. The Christmas name comes from the northern hemisphere, but here the buds open from late autumn through the cold months, so expect colour in the middle of the year.

Why are my buds dropping?

Moving the plant, a draught, a sudden swing in temperature or light, or soggy soil can all make buds drop. Once buds form, leave the plant where it is and keep watering steady.

Can it live outside all year?

Only where it stays frost free and above 10°C, in dappled shade under cover. Elsewhere, keep it indoors and move it out only in warm weather.