If your holiday poinsettia comes in a container wrapped in a
foil outer cover, remove it or punch holes in the bottom to
allow excess water to drain. Keep the soil around the poinsettia
slightly moist, but not soggy, and place the plant in a bright
window out of direct sunlight. There are two types of flowering
holiday cactus, the Christmas cactus and the Easter cactus. The
Christmas cactus, Zygocactus truncates, usually flowers from
Thanksgiving to Christmas and its leaves have pointed lobes. The
Easter cactus, Schlumbergera bridgessii, has wider leaves, which
are rounded. It usually flowers from Christmas to Easter. Allow
soil to dry out between waterings and keep the plant in bright
light while in bloom. These are long-lived plants that can be
kept outside in the shade during most of the year. They do need
to be protected from frost and freezing temperatures. Kalanchoe,
a winter-blooming succulent, has become popular as a holiday
plant. The showy flowers are in terminal clusters and last for
several weeks.