The holiday season has here, which not only calls for decorations but also festive plants! At this time of year, there are many lovely holiday plants to pick from, whether they are bought from a florist, nursery, or are grown at home. The Christmas cactus is one of the most popular plants to give or receive at this time of year. Or is it a Thanksgiving or Easter cactus?
The three cacti differ from one another in terms of how their leaves are shaped. The edges of the leaves of the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumgera truncata) are very sharply pointed and shaped like claws. The leaf projections on the Christmas cactus (Schlumgera bridgesti) are more scalloped or teardrop shaped. The edges of the leaves of the Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertnerrii) are extremely rounded and centered.
These three cacti are all classified as short-day plants. Therefore, the plant needs low temperatures and 12–24 hours of darkness in order to bloom. If you overwintered your plant outside or bought it from a florist or nursery, you should keep it in a cold, dark place until the buds appear. The optimum location is an infrequently used bedroom or lower level. The Easter cactus gets its name from the fact that it takes 8–12 weeks of short days to bloom as opposed to the Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti’s roughly six weeks. It can be brought into a warmer environment once the buds start to form for your enjoyment. At this stage, a plant may occasionally start to lose its buds. That might be caused by air currents, warm temperatures, an abundance of water, or direct sunlight. Bright light is good for the plants, but not direct sunlight. Before watering, the soil should be completely dry to one inch below the surface. Fertilizing or repotting shouldn’t be done when the plant is in bloom. The plants appear to thrive when they are root-bound.
You might see the Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus bloom once more in the spring, though perhaps not as lavishly as over the holiday season. Simply restore the plant to its short day settings to promote springtime blooming.
Unless they are overwatered, these plants are generally disease-free. If the plant turns crimson, there is either too much sun, not enough phosphorus, or not enough water. There are rumors of plants that have been passed down from generation to generation for more than a century. Take advantage of these easygoing holiday plants and establish a new gardening custom. Call the Linn County Master Gardener Hortline at 319-447-0647 with any and all of your gardening inquiries.
Are there cactus for Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving?
Did you know that there are cactus for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter? The key variations between various holiday cacti are listed below, along with advice on how to take care of your cactus so that it continues to bloom.
Brazilian forest cacti are the parent species of holiday cacti such the Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus. The names of the holidays correspond to the several North American cacti’s blooming seasons!
The Easter cactus is in the genus Rhipsalidopsis, which grows in dry woodlands, while the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are Schlumbergera species.
Christmas Cactus
The resilient plant that our grandmothers raised is called the Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii). I have a plant that was developed from a cutting my mother-in-law acquired more than 70 years ago! They are the ideal plant to pass along because they are so simple to root. Simply cut a bit of one of the branches in the shape of a “Y” and place it in a pot of sterile soil or vermiculite. It will quickly begin to root.
Thanksgiving Cactus
The Schlumbergera truncata, sometimes known as the “Thanksgiving Cactus,” blooms normally from mid-November to late December and occasionally even into January. It gets its common name “crab cactus” from the shape of its square leaf segments, which have pincer-like hooks on one end and along the edges. It is indigenous to Brazil, where hummingbirds pollinate its 2 to 3 inch long, satiny blossoms.
Easter Cactus
It may very possibly be an Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri), which blooms in late winter and spring, often from March to May, if you discover that your holiday cactus has spring flowers.
The Easter Cactus, also known as a “Spring Cactus, features trumpet-shaped, flaring flowers with pointed petals that are typically pink but can also be red, orange, and other cherry colors. Their several-week-long star-shaped petals have an opening at dawn and a closing at dusk. They have segments of flat, succulent leaves.
More Ways to Tell a Christmas Cactus from a Thanksgiving Cactus
A large portion of the plants for sale are hybrid crosses of the Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti (Schlumbergera x buckleyi), which come in a wide spectrum of exotic hues like orange, purple, yellow, red, pink, white, and two-tones.
Look at the flower’s bloom color and flowering pattern:
- The magenta-hued hanging blossoms of the Christmas cactus bloom naturally close to Christmas. Late November until early February is when flowers typically begin to bloom.
- The Thanksgiving cactus comes in a variety of hues and has flowers that face outward. Compared to the Christmas cactus, this plant blooms closer to Thanksgiving. Very late in October or early November, it may begin to bloom.
Additionally, they have various stems:
- The flattened stem segments of the genuine Christmas cactus have smooth, scalloped edges.
- The stem of the Thanksgiving cactus bears two to four sharp teeth.
- The Thanksgiving cactus has stems that initially grow straight before arching, in contrast to the Christmas cactus, whose stems dangle down like pendents.
Because it blooms around the time of the American Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving cacti are what are typically sold in nurseries and retail establishments. The Christmas cactus is also more challenging to export since the stems are more brittle and frequently break.
Caring For Your Holiday Cactus
The holiday cactus is a unique kind of the plant. The Christmas plant, unlike the desert cactus that we are all know with, is an epiphyte that thrives in decaying leaf litter on the branches and in the forks of trees in tropical rain forests in South America.
- Even though the conditions in our homes are nothing like those in the natural rainforest where they live, they are perfectly fine at the typical household temperature of 65 to 70F, with a decrease to 55 to 60F at night. When it is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they will require protection.
- You should offer these cactus acidic, well-draining soils because they prefer their forest floor. Add perlite, vermiculite, and orchid bark to a cactus mixture.
- They want bright light but not direct sunlight, so a window facing east or west works best. It indicates too much light if the leaves become yellow. Keep them behind a shade tree or patio if you place them outside during the warmer months. not in direct sunlight.
- Water the plants when the top 2 inches of the soil feel dry, allowing them to dry out between waterings. Avoid overwatering; this is the main cause of their death in our houses. Overwatering is better than neglect! To determine when to water, you could purchase a hydrometer. Keep them out of the water; if they become too soaked, they will rot.
- Frequent misting of the plants increases humidity.
- Optional: Use an all-purpose fertilizer, such as Miracle Grow Tomato water-soluble fertilizer, to fertilize them (1 tablespoon to a gallon of non-chlorinated water). Feed the plant while it is actively developing twice a month (usually spring and summer).
How to Keep Holiday Cactus Blooming
Short days and mild nights are the secret to making your holiday cactus bloom. Before they will begin to set buds, they require 13 hours of darkness and nights that are between 50 and 55 degrees for at least a month or two. Some of my plants spend the summer outside, and I don’t bring them inside for the fall and winter until the temperatures start to dip below 50 degrees. They typically develop a bud right away and then begin to bloom. The plants that I have growing in my kitchen need no particular care, and they still thrive. Why, yes!
Only repot the plants if they are really crowded because they flower best when they are slightly potbound. Don’t be hesitant to bring one home for the holidays because they are non-toxic to cats and dogs, unlike many festive plants.
What exactly is a Thanksgiving cactus?
Thanksgiving Cactus Schlumbergera truncata is a succulent. Although it is not a genuine cactus, it is known as a leaf cactus. Instead, it is an epiphyte, a plant that grows on another plant. In contrast to the Christmas cactus, which has smoother edges, the Thanksgiving cactus has broad, flat leaves with faint serrations on the edges. Fall flowers have fuchsia-like blossoms and occur in shades of yellow, white, pink, and red.
These plants are categorized as zygocactus, which some academics argue is a misnomer and others proclaim loudly. The Thanksgiving holiday cactus is a tried-and-true winner no matter what kind of plant it is, with blooms that endure for 2 to 4 months and a laid-back disposition. The plant’s need to be tricked in order to blossom again the following year is the only serious issue.
Cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours are required to force the Thanksgiving cactus to bloom. This implies that if you are in an area without frost, you can leave the cactus outside to experience things exactly as they would be if they happened naturally. Those of us who live in colder climates will need to create artificial conditions indoors to be warm, but we may still face temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) and less light, including artificial light. In the late summer or early fall, start forcing Thanksgiving cacti to bloom.
What is the name of the Thanksgiving cactus?
Schlumbergera truncata, originally known as Epiphyllum truncatum, sometimes known as the crab cactus, and S. russelliana. It is native to Brazil, where it grows as an epiphyte in rainforests, primarily on trees or bushes but also in shaded areas among rocks. It is a member of the Schlumbergera genus.
What three varieties of Christmas cacti are there?
Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, and Easter cactus are the three popular holiday cacti, each of which is called after the season in which its blooms occur. All three are straightforward to cultivate and have comparable growth patterns and maintenance needs.
Today’s holiday cactus variations are available in magenta, pink, scarlet, as well as yellow, white, orange, purple, salmon, and apricot, however these well-known cacti are typically only available in red-hued hues. The Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are tropical rain forest species, while the Easter cactus is indigenous to Brazil’s natural woods. All three are endemic to Brazil.
Are a Christmas cactus and a holiday cactus the same thing?
The Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus stocks come out in the fall and winter. They are not the same cactus, even though they all normally bloom in the cooler months. If you’re unsure whether you have a Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus, ask yourself: It makes sense to ask the question. These two types are somewhat distinct from the Easter cactus. With a few pointers, differentiating between the three is comparatively easy.
Schlumbergera, a genus of cactus, includes the Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti. They are both short day cacti, thus for them to bloom, there must be extended intervals of cool weather and night. Before setting buds, both of these plants require six weeks of chilly, gloomy circumstances with at least 12 hours of daylight every day. Are Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus the same thing? Each belongs to a different species and has a unique leaf structure.
The Schlumbergera truncata, often known as the Thanksgiving cactus or Crab cactus, has clawed margins on its leaves. Christmas cactus Schlumbergera bridgesii has notched but less sharp edges. Apart from the holiday cactus’ different leaf types, they both feature tubular, vividly colored flowers.
Do Thanksgiving cacti have two blooming seasons?
On occasion, in March, Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti bloom profusely. This sort of thing does occur occasionally. Even while these flowers are typically more sparse than those you’ll see during the holidays, don’t be shocked if you see them from March to May. The majority of holiday cactus bloom more than once per year, which is the cause. Look for any buds that are developing in the spaces between the leaf segments. Using the methods mentioned above, you can encourage them to blossom, or you can just watch to see what occurs.
At any time of year, take advantage of the vibrant blossoms and post images to our Facebook page!
How often does a Thanksgiving cactus bloom each year?
A Thanksgiving cactus will bloom once a year in the late fall if the appropriate circumstances are met. Thanksgiving cacti: How Long Do They Live? Holiday cacti are frequently handed down through the generations due to their extraordinarily long lifespan. With the right care, a Thanksgiving cactus can live up to 100 years.
Cold hardiness for false Christmas cactus :
The Thanksgiving cactus is frequently referred to as a house plant. In the warmer zones 10 and up, you can grow it outdoors, in partial shade, all year round.
You should cultivate crab cactus as an indoor plant if your climate is colder than this. It will benefit from being moved outside during the summer.
Should I mist my cactus of thanksgiving?
The most frequent queries regarding raising a Thanksgiving cactus are addressed here. If yours isn’t addressed here, post a comment below with your query.
How fast does a Thanksgiving cactus grow?
A Thanksgiving cactus can develop quickly. They can reach their full size of 24 in just a few years with the right care.
It might be time to repot yours if it is growing extremely slowly, or you could try fertilizing it in the spring and summer.
Are Thanksgiving cactus indoor or outdoor plants?
Depending on where you live, Thanksgiving cacti can grow as either indoor or outdoor plants. In areas where the winters are frigid, they are frequently kept indoors as houseplants.
When the nighttime temperature is over 50°F in the spring and summer, they can be moved outside. In zones 9 through 11, gardeners may leave them outside all year.
Should I mist my Thanksgiving cactus?
If the air in your house is particularly dry, you should mist your Thanksgiving cactus. Humidity is crucial because they absorb moisture from the atmosphere. However, after sprinkling, don’t leave water on the leaves for too long to prevent decay.
How often should I water my Thanksgiving cactus?
Only water your Thanksgiving cactus frequently enough to maintain equally moist soil. Avoid over-drying it out to prevent shriveling or drooping leaf segments. To prevent the roots from rotting, do not allow it to become so wet that there is standing water.
How much light does a Thanksgiving cactus need?
Thanksgiving cacti require 8 to 10 hours of indirect, strong light each day, with 12 to 16 hours of total darkness in the early fall to stimulate flowering. They thrive outside in locations with dappled sunlight or partial shade.
It’s crucial to learn about Thanksgiving cactus maintenance so you can consistently enjoy the stunning, vibrant flowers. You’ll be able to raise Schlumbergera truncata for many years if you get the hang of it.
Get a copy of my eBook on winter houseplant care if you want to learn even more about how to keep your favorite indoor plants alive during the year’s coldest and darkest months. It will teach you everything you need to know to maintain their health all year long. Get your copy right away.