The color of the Yellow Christmas Cactus may vary from yellow to pinkish-yellow, to peach-yellow depending upon conditions beyond our control. These include temperature, shipping time, pH of the soil, and the fertilizer content of the soil. To the left we have shown examples of the color range of the Yellow Christmas Cactus. As Christmas approaches we cannot guarantee the plant will arrive in bloom. Christmas cactus can drop their flower buds in shipment, again due to conditions beyond our control. The Christmas cactus (Zygocactus) is native to the South American jungles. The flowers bloom once a year and come in shades of fuchsia, yellow, salmon, pink, white, orange, red and sometimes will even have a combination of the colors. The Christmas cacti are tropical plants. They require sunlight and the blooms last longer with cooler temperatures. Keep them away from heaters, fireplaces, radiators, furnace ducts, and other heat sources. In order to insure your plant will bloom in time for Christmas, you will need to give the plant a rest period. Cut back on the watering leaving the soil only partly moist. Allow at least 14 hours of total darkness for the plant at night and sun during the day, until the buds begin to form. Start the dark period in early September. Once the buds form they can take from 10 to 12 weeks to fully bloom.