# DIY Crochet Christmas Cactus with Orange Flowers Free Crochet Pattern
If you’ve ever killed a houseplant just by looking at it, this project was made for you. This hand-crocheted Christmas cactus features intricately stitched green leaves and the most gorgeous orange flowers — and anyone with beginner-level crochet skills can make it, I promise! No special stitches, no fussy shaping, just simple rounds and a little assembly magic.
The orange blooms against the deep green are such a cheerful, unexpected combo. It looks like sunshine decided to spend the holidays with you. Mine lives on my kitchen windowsill and gets compliments from every single visitor.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted-weight yarn in leaf green and bright orange, plus a little yellow for flower centers
- 4.5 mm crochet hook
- Small flower pot (about 3 inches)
- Fiberfill or a small stone to anchor the stems in the pot
- Tapestry needle and scissors
Finished size: Approximately 8 inches tall in the pot.
The Pattern
Leaf Segments (make 14 in green)
Make a magic ring and work 6 single crochet into the ring. (6)
Round 2: 2 single crochet in each stitch around. (12)
Rounds 3-5: Single crochet in each stitch around. (12)
Round 6: *Single crochet 2 together* around. (6) Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Flatten each segment gently with your fingers — they should look like plump little leaves.
Orange Flowers (make 6)
Petals (orange, make 6 per flower): Chain 7. In the second chain from the hook, work: single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet in the next 2, half double crochet, single crochet. Fasten off, leaving a tail.
Center (yellow): Make a magic ring, chain 1, work 5 single crochet into the ring, join. (5) Fasten off.
Sew 6 petals in a circle around the yellow center, overlapping them slightly. The orange really pops — don’t be shy with the petal count.
Stems (make 3)
With green, chain 25. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and across. (24) Fasten off. These simple chains are the inner supports your leaves will attach to.
Assembling Your Cactus
Sew 4-5 leaf segments along each chain stem, overlapping them like shingles and alternating sides. Sew an orange flower to the top of each stem, and tuck the remaining flowers where the leaves meet the stems. Gather the three stems together at the bottom, stitch them to each other, and nestle the bundle into your pot over the fiberfill or stone. Fluff the leaves outward.
Sophie’s Tips
- Keep your tension even on the leaf segments so they all match — count your rounds, not your worries.
- The flowers look fuller if you curl each petal gently around your finger before sewing.
- This makes a wonderful gift for the plant lover who “can’t keep anything alive” — we all know one.
Bright orange blooms, zero watering required — this little cactus is pure holiday sunshine!
