1. Christmas Cactus
These beauties are sensitive to the amount of light they receive each day, which is how they reliably bloom close to Christmas, hence the name Christmas cactus. When they bloom, Christmas cactuses have exotic-looking, tube-shaped flowers in alluring shades of pink, red, purple, orange, and white. They also are one of the few plants that aren’t poisonous to humans, cats, or dogs. This means you can safely display your Christmas cactus even if you have small children and household pets.
The Christmas cactus is actually native to the humid forests of Brazil, not the desert. As a result, they’re not nearly as tolerant of drought as their desert-dwelling cousins. To keep your Christmas cactus healthy, place it in a pot that drains easily with soil formulated for cacti or succulents. Keep in a sunny location and water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.