If you want to add some color to your home or garden in the spring, the Easter cactus, also known as Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, is a great choice, especially around the Easter holiday, when this tropical cactus is noted for its magnificent and prolific star-shaped blooms. 

The Easter Cactus blooms in response to changes in light and temperature. As days shorten and temperatures cool, the plant is signaled to produce flower buds. For optimal blooming, it's essential to stop fertilizing two months before spring and maintain a cool environment, avoiding direct sunlight and heater placement. To prepare for the next year's flowering, reduce watering until mid-winter and promote a cycle of darkness and light, which encourages prolific blooming in early spring.