Why Your Christmas Cactus Has Woody Stems | Gardener's Path

The Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera spp., is not a desert cactus.

It grows instead in the moist understories of South American rainforests.

As a houseplant, it’s easy to maintain in a container of well-draining, organically-rich potting medium in a location with indirect sunlight.

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In our Christmas cactus growing guide we discuss how to cultivate this colorful houseplant in your home.

This article zeroes in on one particular characteristic: woody stems.

Let’s get started.

Christmas cacti don’t have leaves. Instead, they have fleshy green segments called cladodes that join together to form stems.

With proper care, a plant may become a family heirloom, often living for 20 years or more.

In the case of an older cactus, while there may be a proliferation of green growth cascading over the side of the pot, a peek into the center of the plant is likely to reveal a forest of thick, hard brown stems.

Just like a person, when Schlumbergera grows old, there are physical changes. In a nutshell, the appearance of large woody stems is just that – a sign that yours has achieved old age.

Does old age spell trouble for your Christmas cactus? Let’s find out.

There is nothing inherently wrong with being an old plant, and woody tissue does not detract from its beauty.

However, if yours has grown to huge proportions, there could be problems. Two issues that may arise are: a rootbound pot and splitting stems.

We’ll explore each.

Schlumbergera plants favor tight living quarters, so roots that are somewhat snug in the pot