The easy-care Easter cactus (bot. Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) is considered non-toxic, while the very similar Christmas cactus (bot. Schlumbergera truncata) is classified as slightly poisonous. The two plants differ mainly in terms of flowering time and flower shape.
Neither the leaves nor the flowers of the Easter cactus are poisonous
Even if your articulated cactus is not blooming, you can tell which of the two plants it is. The limbs of the Christmas cactus are slightly jagged, while those of the Easter cactus are not.
Incidentally, you can use broken off links to propagate your cacti. Let the links dry a little, then place the cuttings in a pot with potting soil, to which you may add some sand. The cuttings usually root quite quickly.
The essentials in brief:
- Easter cactus non-toxic
- similar looking Christmas cactus slightly poisonous
- Distinguishing features: flowering time, flower shape and leaf shape
tips
The Easter cactus is non-toxic and therefore well suited for a child-proof home.