The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a popular holiday houseplant known for its colorful blooms that appear around Christmastime. With its flattened stems and rounded leaves the Christmas cactus is an attractive and relatively easy-to-care-for houseplant. If you’re looking to add one of these festive plants to your home buying a Christmas cactus online is a great option. But where is the best place to purchase one of these holiday plants online?

When looking to buy a live Christmas cactus online, there are a few key factors to consider:

Reputable Seller

First and foremost, you’ll want to purchase your Christmas cactus from a reputable online seller that specializes in live plants. Look for an online shop that has plenty of excellent customer reviews and ratings. This helps ensure they have a proven track record of safely packaging and shipping live plants. A few places I recommend checking out are Etsy, Amazon, and small independent nurseries.

Some of the top-rated sellers for Christmas cactus include:

• Mirage of Eden (Etsy)
• Whitton Greenhouses
• Logee’s Plants (online nursery)
• Nature Hills Nursery (online nursery)

Stick with reputable sellers like these that have expertise in live plant shipping. Avoid purchasing from individual sellers who may not package and ship the plants properly.

Healthy Plants

When your Christmas cactus arrives you’ll want to carefully inspect that it looks healthy and vibrant. Check that the leaves are full firm, and evenly colored without brown spots or drooping. The plant should not show any signs of pests, disease, or damage.

Purchase from a seller that offers live guarantees on their plants. This ensures that if your Christmas cactus arrives damaged or unhealthy, you can get a replacement or refund.

Packaged for Live Shipping

Choose an online plant retailer that is experienced in packaging live plants for shipping. The Christmas cactus should be carefully wrapped and cushioned for protection during transit. Any bare roots should be covered with damp paper towels or moss. Fragile stems should be shielded from damage.

Upon delivery, check that the plant arrived in good condition with minimal damage to the packaging. Proper packaging by the shipper helps the Christmas cactus reach you safely.

Wide Selection

A benefit of buying online is that you can choose from a wider variety of Christmas cactus compared to local garden stores. Look for an online seller that offers different sizes, colors, and cultivars.

Popular options include:

• Standard green Christmas cactus
• Red, pink, orange, purple, or white blooms
• Variegated leaf patterns
• Mini 3” pots up to 10” hanging baskets

This gives you the ability to pick the perfect Christmas cactus for your home décor.

Order at the Right Time

Christmas cacti are sensitive plants that need to be shipped at the right time of year. Avoid ordering in extreme summer or winter temperatures that could damage the plant.

The best times to have a Christmas cactus delivered are:

• Early Fall (September-October)
• Spring (April-May)

Ordering during moderate weather prevents any cold or heat damage during transit.

Grower Expertise

For the healthiest Christmas cactus plants, look for online sellers that are actually growing the plants themselves. Avoid drop-shipping sites that are just middlemen. A grower has the hands-on expertise to provide you with the highest quality plants and advise you on care.

Gardeners experienced in growing Christmas cacti can help you pick the ideal plant and give you proper care instructions. Developing a relationship with a grower ensures you’ll get the right information and support.

Customer Service

Find an online plant store that provides exceptional customer service and support. Look for the ability to ask questions via phone, email, live chat, or social media before and after purchasing.

Reputable sellers will have helpful plant experts readily available to address your questions and concerns. They should also have an easy system in place for replacing damaged or defective plants.

Shipping Costs

Live plant shipping can be costly, so factor shipping rates into your purchase. Look for sellers that provide discounted shipping on larger orders or have a free shipping threshold.

Also check the estimated delivery date – you may be able to choose a slower, cheaper shipping option if timing is flexible. Optimize your order to take advantage of lower shipping costs.

Positive Reviews

Before buying from an online plant retailer, read through customer reviews and look for consistently positive feedback. This includes reviews for the overall purchasing experience as well as the condition of the shipped plants.

Satisfied customer reviews give you confidence that the seller provides a quality experience. Pay close attention to any negative feedback as well.

Returns Accepted

Know the seller’s policies regarding returns and replacements in case your Christmas cactus arrives damaged, diseased, or dead. Many reputable online plant retailers will allow you to return plants for a refund or replacement within a specified time frame after delivery.

Buying a living plant sight unseen can be risky, so look for this added protection when purchasing online.

Guaranteed Live Arrival

For added peace of mind, purchase from an online plant store that guarantees live arrival. This promise ensures that your Christmas cactus will arrive safely and in good health. If it becomes damaged or stressed in transit, they will offer a replacement or refund.

A live arrival guarantee takes the risk out of having living plants shipped to your door. Just be sure to take unboxing and care instructions promptly.

Detailed Plant Descriptions

Reputable Christmas cactus sellers will provide detailed descriptions for each plant including size, age, color, bloom time, care needs, and other specifications. Avoid sites that have vague or missing plant info.

Detailed descriptions allow you to pick out the perfect Christmas cactus for your needs. They also help you determine if that specific plant variety will thrive in your home.

Holiday Gift Giving

Christmas cacti make excellent holiday gifts! Many online plant retailers offer festive Christmas gift packaging and the ability to schedule delivery by a certain date.

You can also include a personalized gift message and care instructions to the recipient. Buying online makes sending a live Christmas cactus gift fun and easy.

Convenience of Online Shopping

Purchasing a Christmas cactus online provides the ultimate convenience. You can shop for the perfect plant from the comfort of your own home any time of day or night. No driving to multiple stores hoping to find the specific Christmas cactus you want.

Online buying also allows you to easily compare prices between different sellers. And plants are delivered directly to your doorstep.

Recommended Online Retailers

Based on the criteria above, here are my top recommended online retailers for purchasing a healthy Christmas cactus:

Mirage of Eden (Etsy)

This Etsy shop has a 5-star seller rating after thousands of sales. They specialize in Christmas cacti and have a live arrival guarantee. Their plants are very reasonably priced and come in many varieties. I’ve ordered from them before with great results!

Whitton Greenhouses

A family-owned nursery operating since 1969. Their Christmas cacti are hand selected for quality and come with care instructions. Excellent customer service.

Logee’s Plants

A very reputable online plant nursery with a wide selection of Christmas cacti. Their plants arrive in excellent condition and they stand behind their live arrival guarantee.

Nature Hills Nursery

Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, this nursery has a great selection of Christmas cacti at reasonable prices. Their plants are nicely packaged and arrive healthy.

What To Do Upon Delivery

Once your Christmas cactus order arrives:

• Carefully inspect the plant for any damage or pests
• Check the root system
• Remove any dead or damaged parts
• Water if necessary (soil should be lightly moist)
• Place the Christmas cactus in proper lighting conditions

Follow the seller’s instructions for unpacking, watering, and acclimating your new plant. Let them know right away if you have any issues with the health or condition of your Christmas cactus.

With proper care after arriving, your new Christmas cactus from an online seller will thrive and reward you with the most beautiful holiday blooms. Just be sure to purchase from a reputable retailer that guarantees healthy, live plants. This helps ensure you’ll have a wonderful experience buying your Christmas cactus online.