Much like its ancestors from the Madagascar highlands, this hybrid is most active during the moderate temperatures of the shoulder seasons. It produces its most spectacular coloration—turning the leaf edges a glowing, festive red—when exposed to the cool nights and bright, sunny days of autumn and early winter. While it will continue to grow in the summer, it may lose some of its "glow" if the heat is excessive or if it is over-watered, reverting to a more standard green to protect its tissues. In cultivation, "Christmas Carol" is a small, star-shaped rosette that rarely exceeds six inches in diameter, making it a perfect specimen for focused mineral-culture. It thrives in a lean, high-drainage substrate, specifically a mix of 80% pumice and 20% organic matter, which prevents the "soft" growth that can lead to rot in more peat-heavy soils. To maintain its namesake red trim and bumpy texture, it requires very bright light; in lower light conditions, the rosette will flatten and the red highlights will fade significantly. Watering should be deep but infrequent, allowing the pumice to dry out completely between sessions, and should be tapered off during the coldest part of the winter to respect its semi-dormant phase.