A Christmas cactus is a popular, long-lived houseplant native to the coastal mountains of Brazil that blooms in winter with bright flowers. It prefers bright, indirect light and should be watered when the soil is moist but not waterlogged, with a period of reduced watering to encourage flowering. These plants require 12-14 hours of darkness each day to bloom, and care should differ from typical desert cacti because they naturally grow in shady, humid environments.
