Christmas cactus leaves have a more rounded, scalloped edge than other cacti. Each segment’s tip is slightly curled, yet they appear to be practically straight throughout.
Flowers: Christmas cactus flowers are often pink or white and bloom around December. However, don’t be shocked if these plants blossom between March and May.
How do you tell the difference between a Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus?
The Christmas season has arrived, which means not only holiday decorations but also seasonal plants! This is the time of year when there are a lot of attractive holiday plants to pick from, whether you buy them from a florist or a nursery, or you grow them yourself. The Christmas cactus is one of the most popular plants to give or receive at this time of year. Is it a cactus for Easter or Thanksgiving?
The shape of the leaves is the distinction between the three cacti. On the edges of the leaf of the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumgera truncata), there are exceedingly sharp and claw-shaped projections. The leaf projections of the Christmas cactus (Schlumgera bridgesti) are more scalloped or tear drop shaped. The Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertnerrii) features a leaf with highly rounded margins that are centered.
Do I have a Christmas or Easter cactus?
The holiday cactus is not the same as the prickly plants in our cactus garden. These cactus plants are epiphytes that grow on the tops of trees in Brazil’s rainforests and natural forests. These cactuses have lovely blooms that range in color from vivid orange, crimson, and purple to a more subtle pink and white. Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata), Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii), and Easter cactus are the three types of holiday cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri). These three plants have similar appearances and demand comparable care, but there are some differences to be aware of. Let’s take a closer look at each of the varieties.
Examine the leaves of Christmas cactus plants more closely, even if they appear to be similar. Apart from the time of year they bloom, this is the best way to distinguish the three plants. You’re looking at a Thanksgiving cactus if the plant has broad, thin leaves with three points on each side. Easter cactus plants have little bristles on the edges of their leaves, while Christmas cactus plants have segmented leaves that are more spherical with slight indentations.
What does a true Christmas cactus look like?
Our grandmothers grew Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii), a long-lived plant. I have a plant that was grown from a cutting my mother-in-law received almost 70 years ago! Because they are so easy to root, they are the ideal pass-along plant. Pinch off a small amount of hair “Make a Y-shaped piece from one of the branches and place it in a sterile soil or vermiculite planter. It won’t take long for it to take root.
Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) blooms from mid-November through late December, and occasionally into January. It gets its popular name from the square shape of its leaf segments, which have pointy hooks on one end and pincers along the sides “Crab cactus,” as in “crab cactus.” Hummingbirds pollinate its 2 to 3 inch long, satiny flowers, which are endemic to Brazil.
The Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) blooms in the spring and then again around Halloween in the fall. It has pointed pink or red petals on its flaring, trumpet-shaped flowers.
Many of the plants for sale are hybrid crosses of Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti (Schlumbergera x buckleyi), which come in an array of exotic hues such as orange, purple, yellow, red, pink, white, and two-tones.
More Ways to Tell a Christmas Cactus from a Thanksgiving Cactus
- The Christmas cactus features magenta-colored hanging blossoms that bloom during the holidays. Flowering occurs from late November to early February.
- Flowers on the Thanksgiving cactus face outwards, and the plant comes in a variety of hues. Unlike the Christmas cactus, this plant blooms closer to Thanksgiving. It may begin to bloom in late October or early November.
- Flattened stem segments with smooth, scalloped edges distinguish the authentic Christmas cactus.
- With two to four pointed teeth, the Thanksgiving cactus has an extremely toothy stem.
- The stems of the Christmas cactus drop down like a pendant, whereas the stems of the Thanksgiving cactus grow erect at first and later arch.
Because it blooms around American Thanksgiving, most nurseries and retailers sell the Thanksgiving cactus (not Christmas cactus). The Christmas cactus is also more difficult to export since the stems are more delicate and frequently break.
Caring For Your Holiday Cactus
The Christmas cactus is unlike any other cactus. The desert cactus is well-known, but the Christmas plant is a forest cactus, an epiphyte that thrives in decomposing leaf litter found in the forks and branches of trees in South America’s tropical rain forests.
- Even though the circumstances in our homes are nothing like those in their original rainforests, they manage just fine in regular household temperatures of 65° to 70°F, with a drop to 55° to 60°F at night. When the temperature drops below 40°F, they’ll need to be protected.
- Give these cactus acidic, well-draining soils because they prefer the forest floor. Add perlite, vermiculite, and orchid bark to a cactus mix.
- They want bright light but not direct sunlight, so a window facing east or west is ideal. When the leaves turn yellow, it indicates that they are exposed to too much light. If you’re going to place them outside during the summer, make sure they’re beneath a shade tree or on a patio. Not in direct sunlight.
- Allow the plants to dry between waterings by watering when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry. Do not overwater them; this is the leading cause of their death in our houses. Neglect is preferable to overwatering! You could purchase a hydrometer to assist you in determining when to water. Do not allow them to sit in water since they will decay if they become too wet!
- Optional: Use an all-purpose fertilizer like Miracle Grow Tomato water-soluble fertilizer to feed them (1 tablespoon to a gallon of non-chlorinated water). While the plant is actively developing, feed it twice a month (usually spring and summer).
How to Keep Holiday Cactus Blooming
Short days and mild nights are essential for your holiday cactus to bloom. For at least 1 to 2 months, they require 13 hours of darkness and nights between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. I leave some of my plants outside all summer and bring them in for the fall and winter when the nights begin to drop below 50°F. They normally begin to bud and bloom shortly after that. My kitchen plants aren’t given any extra care, and they thrive just as well. What a strange coincidence!
Plants flower best when they are little potbound, so only repot if they are overcrowded. They are non-toxic to cats and dogs, unlike many other seasonal plants, so don’t be scared to bring one home for the holidays!
How often should you water a Christmas cactus?
- Water every two to three weeks, but only until the top one-third of the soil feels dry to the touch. Water when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry, for example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil. (Check with your finger!)
- Soak the soil until water runs through the drainage holes in the pot when it is suitably dry. To catch the water, place a tray underneath the pot. Remove any extra water from the tray after 10-15 minutes so that the pot does not sit in water.
- Feed every two weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer from spring through early fall. Feed the cactus once a month in the fall and winter to encourage blooming.
- Late in the spring, prune plants to encourage branching and more flowers. Simply cut a few portions off each stem, and the plant will branch out from the wound.
- Place the cut pieces in a gently wet potting soil if desired; they will root easily after a few weeks and make great Christmas gifts!
How to Get Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom
The lower temperatures and longer evenings of autumn bring out the blooms of Christmas cacti and its relatives. This is the general blooming schedule for the three main species of Christmas cacti:
- Thanksgiving cactus are the earliest and most persistent bloomers, blooming from late October to mid-winter.
It’s possible that your cactus isn’t flowering because it’s getting too much sunshine or being exposed to too hot temperatures. Here are some pointers to help you get yours to bloom!
- For at least six weeks, nights must be at least 14 hours long and days must be between 8 and 10 hours. If you have powerful interior lighting that is turned on at night, you may need to cover your cactus or transfer it to a location where it can be exposed to natural light.
- Flower buds form best when the plant is kept between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 and 15 degrees Celsius).
- By exposing the plant to temperatures of around 45°F (7°C) for several nights in a row, you can jumpstart the budding process.
- Ensure that you water the plant on a regular basis when it is in bloom. If the plant dries out too much, the buds may fall off.
- Don’t worry if the cactus loses its buds throughout the winter; it will bloom the next year!
What plant looks like a Christmas cactus?
Epiphyllum, or the Orchid Cactus, is recognized for its beautiful and vibrantly colored blossoms. Imagine them blooming in their natural home in the rainforest, up in the tree tops! Here’s where you may learn more about them: Epiphyllum.
Why are the leaves on my Christmas cactus limp?
A lack of water or too much direct sunlight can create wilted or limp Christmas cactus. If you haven’t watered the wilting Christmas cactus, start by giving it a small sip. Continue to water gently every several days until the soil is wet but not saturated.
Christmas cactus troubles are sometimes caused by damp soil. Because the Christmas cactus is an epiphyte that takes water and nutrients from the air in its natural habitat on the tropical forest floor, it cannot tolerate damp roots. Christmas cactus can become very limp because to poor drainage and damp roots.
If the leaves on your wilted or limp Christmas cactus appear to be dried or burnt, move it to a more shady location, especially in the afternoon.
Do Christmas cactus like to be root bound?
4.Christmas Cactuses prefer their roots to be a little crowded. Plant parents struggle with this since it’s difficult to keep their plants from becoming root bound when they thrive in a crowded pot. Every four years, repot your Christmas Cactus into a pot that is two inches larger than the one it is now in. As you can see, I’m converting him from a 6-inch to an 8-inch pot.
How many colors of Christmas cactus are there?
The common name comes from the fact that the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) blooms from October to January. The species and its variants, sometimes known as the Thanksgiving or holiday cactus, are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 through 12. The Christmas cactus is commonly grown as a houseplant and comes in a variety of colors, including red, purple, pink, orange, gold, and white.
What are the 3 types of Christmas cactus?
Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, and Easter cactus are the three most popular holiday cacti, each called after the season in which the blooms occur. All three are simple to cultivate and have comparable development patterns and care needs.
Although traditional holiday cactus colors include red, magenta, pink, and scarlet, as well as yellow, white, orange, purple, salmon, and apricot, today’s holiday cactus types include magenta, pink, and scarlet, as well as yellow, white, orange, purple, salmon, and apricot. Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus are tropical rain forest plants, while Easter cactus is native to Brazil’s natural forests, despite the fact that they are all native to Brazil.
How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom?
Is It Possible For A Christmas Cactus To Bloom More Than Once A Year? Yes. Christmas cactus, unlike many other succulents, can bloom again in the spring if given the right conditions.