You will see poinsettias everywhere this time of year. If you are tired of them, you might want to try the easy-to-grow Christmas cactus. They are not true cacti and should not be allowed to dry out like a typical desert cactus. In nature, they are like many bromeliads because they are epiphytic plants that grow on trees and other plants in South America. Epiphytes grow along branches without taking any nutrition from their host plant.

The Thanksgiving cactus is the most common, even for Christmas. To tell them apart, look at the flattened stem. It is not a leaf, despite appearances. These cacti do not have any leaves. The Thanksgiving cactus has several, long, saw-tooth projections on the edge of the stem. The true Christmas cactus usually has four rounded bumps on each stem segment. The Easter cactus has four to six wavy scallops on the edge. On all the species, the ends of the stems can have some small cactus spines.

They make great houseplants because they are very long-lived and resistant to disease and insects. They do well with minimal care and even seem to bloom better if left to become root-bound in the pot. They are best when bought covered in buds with a few full flowers. If too many flowers are almost done blooming, you won't get much of a display.

Flowers are formed on the ends of the branches, where the main vein hits the end of the line. Sometimes there is only a single bud and sometimes there is a cluster of several. The flowers have a series of petals that form a tube about 3 inches long. They can be red, pink, purple, orange and white. Easter cacti have a more limited selection of colors in the red and pink range.

Cool fall temperatures and shortening day lengths in the fall will induce the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti into bloom. The Thanksgiving cactus will bloom from late November to the New Year. Christmas cactus bloom from late December to March. If these cacti are grown in a warm room (above 65 degrees) with plenty of evening lighting, they may not bloom. Give them about six weeks in a cool, dark room or closet each evening and they will set buds. Kept in a room that is always around 55 degrees, and they may bloom within a day. Easter cacti will bloom if they are in cool temperatures under 65, regardless of lighting.

In a flowerpot, they can grow in African violet mix that is sold in bags or in a mixture of bark pieces, peat moss and a little potting soil. Even though they are named cacti, do not use a cactus planting mix. Keep the soil moist, except when forcing them to bloom, and fertilize monthly during the summer using a blossom promoting fertilizer. They can be moved to an outdoor shady location during the summer. The best time to repot them is when they are not setting buds or blooming. Let them get really pot bound before moving them up one pot size. They can be potted in clay or plastic and maybe the best pot is a hanging basket.

Keep the soil a bit on the dry side while the flower buds are forming. After you can see the tiny buds, you can go back to the normal lighting and watering.

Though they originate from South and they do need bright light all year long, but they can get sunburned if they are moved to a fully sunny location. An east window or near a south or west window will be bright enough.

These cacti are among the easiest plants to propagate. In May or June, cut off a piece of stem with at least three sections. Leave it out overnight so that the end can develop a callous. Insert the cut-off section about an inch deep in moist perlite or sand. Keep the container covered so that there is lots of humidity, and place it in a shaded location. They will root in about two months. When the roots are an inch or two long, repot the cutting into a new pot. Several cuttings can be planted into the same pot.

These cacti are easy-to-grow, carefree houseplants that are worth trying to grow in your house.

Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@greenerview.com. To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.