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.
What does the Thanksgiving cactus look like?
Leaves: The shape of the Thanksgiving cactus’ leaves distinguishes it from the Christmas cactus. Phylloclades are serrated or “toothed” leaf segments with pointed spines, having 2-4 on each side.
Crab Claw Cactus is the name given to these succulents because of this. The last segment’s end is somewhat concave and has a point on each side.
Thanksgiving cactus flowers are formed from the tips, or where the leaf segments unite, of the cactus. They have the appearance of a lengthy tube, as if they are a flower within a bloom.
They appear in a variety of pastel colors, primarily red, pink, peach, purple, orange, or white, and bloom around Thanksgiving.
What’s the difference between Easter Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus?
On the left, the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) has sharp projections on the sides of its leaves that resemble crab claws.
The leaves of the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesti) near the center have scalloped or teardrop-shaped projections.
The leaves of the Easter cactus (Schlumbergera gaertnerrii) on the right have circular edges.
How many times a year does a Thanksgiving cactus bloom?
A Thanksgiving cactus will bloom once a year in the late fall if the conditions are correct. Thanksgiving Cacti: How Long Do They Live? Because of their lengthy lifespan, holiday cactus are frequently passed down through the generations. With proper care, a Thanksgiving cactus can live for up to 100 years.
Should I water my Thanksgiving cactus while it’s blooming?
Thanksgiving cactus and its cousins generate flowers at the tips of the leaf segments or where they unite. Allow the soil to dry out during “resting periods,” or when the cactus isn’t producing blooms, to care for your Thanksgiving cactus. When the soil feels dry to the touch, water it.
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.
Why is my Thanksgiving cactus turning purple?
Repotting Christmas cactus in the spring is recommended if the plant is rootbound. Transfer the plant to a well-drained potting mix, such as ordinary potting soil mixed with perlite or sand. The pot has to be one size bigger.
Christmas cactus requires intense light during the fall and winter months, but too much direct light during the summer months may cause the leaves to become purple on the margins. Sunburn can be avoided and the problem solved by moving the plant to a more suitable place. Make sure the area is distant from drafty windows and open doors. Similarly, stay away from hot, dry regions like around a fireplace or a heating vent.
Toxicity of schlumbergera truncata:
The plant is regarded to be non-toxic. More information on the toxicity of additional festive plants can be found here.
If considerable amounts of the plant are consumed by dogs, vomiting and diarrhea, occasionally with blood, have been documented. Depressive episodes have also been reported.
Cold hardiness for false Christmas cactus :
Thanksgiving cactus is usually thought of as a houseplant. In warmer zones – 10 and above you can grow it all year in partial shade outside.
Crab cactus should be grown as an indoor plant if your temps are colder than this. It will benefit from being moved outside during the summer months.
How long do Thanksgiving cactus flowers last?
Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) are popular fall and winter flowering houseplants native to Brazil. They come in a range of colors, including red, rose, purple, lavender, peach, orange, cream, and white. Schlumbergera species are epiphytes that grow on tree branches in shaded rain forests, and their pendulous stems make them ideal for hanging baskets.
Thanksgiving cactus bloom around Thanksgiving, about a month before Christmas cacti bloom, when grown under standard night duration conditions. The Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri; synonym Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) is another member of the group sold as holiday cacti, with pink or red flowers that bloom predominantly in the spring and occasionally throughout the year. The Thanksgiving cactus is most commonly found for sale during the winter holiday season due to its bloom timing. If the plants are nurtured at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, flowering can extend up to 8 weeks.
Examine the shape of the flattened stem segments, known botanically as phylloclades, to distinguish between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus. These stem segments of the Thanksgiving cactus have 2 to 4 saw-toothed serrations or projections along the borders. The Christmas cactus has more rounded stem edges. Because neither of these festive cacti has genuine leaves, photosynthesis takes place within the green phylloclades.
The hue of the pollen-bearing anthers is a second way to identify between these two Schlumbergera species. The Thanksgiving cactus has yellow anthers, whereas the Christmas cactus has purplish-brown anthers.
When should I prune my Thanksgiving cactus?
The plant will branch out where the stem was severed if you cut it back in the spring. You’ll get more blooms this way because flowers emerge from the ends of the stems. When it starts actively growing again in the spring, it’s the optimum time to cut it back.