{"product_id":"freya-christmas-cactus-schlumbergera-truncata-freya","title":"Freya Christmas Cactus - Schlumbergera truncata 'Freya'","description":"\u003cp\u003eFreya Christmas Cactus (\u003cem\u003eSchlumbergera truncata\u003c\/em\u003e 'Freya') is the soft-coloured one, with peach-apricot flowers in place of the usual hot pinks and reds. It forms a fountain of arching, jointed stems about 40cm tall and wide, and the ribbon-like blooms open at the stem tips through winter. Treat it as a long-lived houseplant, because a happy clump keeps improving for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA softer colour.\u003c\/strong\u003e Peach-apricot flowers sit comfortably with timber, white walls and terracotta, where a hot pink can clash.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter colour when you need it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Buds form at the stem tips and open through the cold months, long after summer flowers have finished.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt ages well.\u003c\/strong\u003e Older plants are spectacular in full bloom, so a young Freya is a long game that pays off.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEasy on your attention.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, with wrinkled leaves as an honest signal that it needs a drink.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot toxic to pets.\u003c\/strong\u003e Christmas cactus is not toxic to cats or dogs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiving rooms and bedrooms.\u003c\/strong\u003e Set it beside a bright window with good light and no direct sun. The peach flowers glow in soft, indirect light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTall pots and plant stands.\u003c\/strong\u003e The arching stems make a rounded fountain, so raising the pot puts the flowers at eye level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHanging baskets under cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e In frost-free climates a basket on a verandah suits it, in dappled light. Plant three tubes together in a 20cm basket for a full look sooner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Freya Christmas Cactus in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Bright but not direct light. It is frost tender and needs to stay above 10°C, so tropical, subtropical and sheltered warm temperate gardens can keep it outdoors under cover. In cooler or frosty districts it belongs indoors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e A gritty, free-draining compost mix. Wet roots are the main hazard, so use a pot with drainage holes and tip out any water in the saucer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water once the mix has dried, a little more often in hot weather, and mist the leaves now and then. After flowering, give it a cooler rest below 18°C with less water. When temperatures climb, water more and feed with a liquid fertiliser as new growth starts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e No routine pruning. Twisting off a segment or two after flowering encourages branching, and the pieces root readily if you want a spare plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Freya Christmas Cactus as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small and fresh, not in flower, and takes a year or two to fill out into the full fountain. Pot it into a gritty mix, give it good light away from direct sun and water only when the mix is dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. If the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out, and the notify button on the page will email you the day it returns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/indoor-flowering-plants\"\u003eIndoor flowering plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003ePlants that thrive in pots\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/pet-friendly-indoor-plants\"\u003ePet friendly indoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/indoor-plant-tips-for-beginners\"\u003eIndoor plant tips for beginners\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 40cm high and wide in a pot. Very old plants can spread up to 2 metres across, so a clump that has been looked after for decades can become a real centrepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it safe for cats and dogs?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, Christmas cactus is not toxic to cats or dogs. A chewed stem is unlikely to do harm, though it will not do the plant any good either.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat happens if it gets too much sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrong direct sun scorches the segments, and wrinkled leaves can mean it is too hot as well as too dry. Move it into bright, indirect light and check the mix before you water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790879555903,"sku":"SCH-TRU-FREYA-tube","price":23.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/freya-christmas-cactus-schlumbergera-truncata-freya.jpg?v=1792211022","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/freya-christmas-cactus-schlumbergera-truncata-freya","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}