Throughout the winter and spring, holiday cactus are extremely popular gifts, and they can be found in just about any store that sells plants, from the grocery store to the flower shop. Holiday cactus are eye-catching with their succulent leaves and vivid blossoms in a variety of colors, and they find their way into the homes of both expert and novice houseplant aficionados. They can live for decades if properly cared for, and are frequently passed down from generation to generation.
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi), Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata), and Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) are three distinct types that are typically available at retail stores depending on the season “The term “Christmas cactus” is frequently used to refer to all of them. It’s easier to refer to all three as holiday cacti for the sake of convenience, given they require fairly comparable care.
Regardless, “Despite the fact that “cactus” is in their name, holiday cacti require very different care than their desert-dwelling siblings. Holiday cactus are epiphytes that grow on the shady limbs of trees in the tropical rainforests of Brazil. Epiphytes are plants that grow atop other plants rather than in the soil, relying on the air and rain for moisture and nutrients.
As a result, unlike other cacti, holiday cacti do not endure prolonged dehydration. Once the potting soil is dry to the touch, they should be watered, allowing excess water to drain freely from the bottom of the container. Allowing plants to sit in standing water will cause the soil to become soggy. Root rot can be caused by prolonged exposure to damp soil, especially during the winter months.
Watering holiday cacti is dependent on a variety of parameters, including the type of potting soil used, the size of the container, the amount of sunlight the plant receives, and the ambient temperature. The key to sustaining a healthy plant is to make sure it’s in the appropriate spot and to only water when the soil mix is completely dry.
Holiday cacti thrive in partial shade, such as an east or west facing window, and at temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Too much strong sunshine, especially during the summer months, can burn the foliage, while insufficient light can stifle growth and cause the soil mix to dry up too slowly. When in doubt, go with the under-watering method rather than the over-watering method.
When can I buy a Christmas cactus?
Christmas cactus are normally obtained in late autumn or early winter, when they are already in bloom or have buds. Avoid excessive temperature changes when transporting your Christmas cactus home, since this may cause some buds to fall off. Keep the soil slightly moist and place in a bright window for maximum results. During the winter bloom time, there is no need to fertilize.
Christmas cactus require as much light as possible after the final blooms have faded, and prefer to be kept cool during rest periods.
What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
Thanksgiving cactus, holiday cactus, and crab cactus are all names for the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata). The leaf-shaped stem segments with curled, sharp teeth or claws around the margins are known as crab claws. The leaf segments of the Easter cactus (Schlumbergera buckleyi) have rounded edges. They all originated in the gloomy, damp forests of southeast Brazil. They’re called epiphytes because they thrive on trees above ground, in places where branches meet and decomposing fallen leaves and mosses collect.
Despite the fact that this plant is called a cactus, the care it requires has little to do with its desert cousins. It’s a cactus that grows in the forest. Its requirements can be traced back to their source. The optimum time to plant a Christmas cactus is when it is warm “I’m stuck in a pot.” This entails keeping it in a small container for as long as possible before transferring it to a little larger pot. They prefer a nutrient-dense organic potting mix and should not be allowed to dry out. When the plant is blossoming, increase the amount of water it receives. They enjoy indirect light that is bright. As the plants begin to burn, the leaf segments might turn a dark crimson color.
‘The’ “The “secret” to getting your Christmas cactus to bloom in the years after you buy it boils down to two factors: light and temperature. These two are the keys to the kingdom of flowers. Flowers are produced by Christmas cacti in a chilly, short-day cycle. It takes at least eight days of 16 hours of darkness and 8 hours of light every day to start the creation of flower buds. Do not turn on the lights at night, even if only for a brief time, wherever the plant is put. This violates the required dark cycle. It should be around 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid placing the plant in an area where it will be exposed to cold or hot air drafts.
It’s as simple as putting the Christmas cactus on the window sill in a chilly room and not turning on the lights. If the plant was in a brightly lit room, the side closest to the window often grows buds, but the plant’s illuminated side does not. If the plant produces flower buds but then loses them, it’s usually due to either too much or too little water or a lack of air humidity. The good news is that if their temperature and light needs are met, Christmas cacti are reasonably straightforward to re-bloom.
Should you remove dead flowers from Christmas cactus?
Deadhead all wasted blooms to keep your cacti looking their best throughout and after the Christmas season. The plant will also continue to blossom as a result of this. You can continue to enjoy your cacti after Christmas is past until it stops producing flowers. But don’t let it go after it’s done! With or without blossoms, these cacti make lovely houseplants. And there’s a good possibility it’ll blossom for you again next year, and sometimes even in the middle of the year. (Bonus!)
What should I look for when buying a Christmas cactus?
Its stem segments have scalloped or rounded edges rather than sharp teeth. Another approach to identify your cactus is to examine the flowers, which can bloom at any time during the fall or early winter.
When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?
Place the mature plant in a dark room or keep it covered (under a box or bag works good) for at least 12 hours a day in late September or early October.
What is the difference between a Christmas cactus and a False Christmas cactus?
My mother used to call her Christmas cactus a Thanksgiving cactus because it would be in full bloom by the end of November when I was a kid. I never questioned Mom or tried to correct her since I was a nice son. Mom was correct after twenty years and a few advanced degrees. Schlumbergera truncata, the popular plant that is already arriving in garden centers for the holiday season, is also known as the false Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus.
To overcome this deceit, we must go further into the Christmas cactus’ tumultuous love story. Returning the clock 177 years to 1840s England, we find William Buckley, a passionate gardener, and his experiment with a Schlumbergera hybrid between two species. He crossed S. truncata with S. russelliana to produce the hybrid S. x buckleyi, which became known as the authentic Christmas cactus. While you’re sitting at home reading this, you might be tempted to make some fast internet searches and come across some old literature that incorrectly refers to this cross as S. bridgesii, which adds to the deception. You’ll very certainly come across some older literature that refers to Zygocactus as the genus.
You need to know a few more things now that you’re distraught over your fake Christmas cactus and wondering where to find the real Christmas cactus.
It’s difficult to spot imposters, and you’ll need a basic understanding of botany to do it.
Schlumbergera’s “leaves” are actually flattened stems known as cladophyll (phylloclades by some botanist).
The stems of the faux Christmas cactus will have an open branch habit and soft points or teeth on the borders.
These are not spines, but rather a deeply lobed section of the stem.
False Christmas cactus flowers will be bright and beautiful in pink, white, peach, and salmon tones.
They will be held at the end of the stems, pointing slightly upwards, for approximately 5 to 7 days.
The blossoms will also appear to be horizontal or flat.
True Christmas cactus stems will have a strong downward arch and a closed habit.
The stems’ edges will be rounded, with minor visible nubs or points.
True Christmas cactus blossoms are more rounder than the counterfeit, and they will point down and follow the stem’s orientation.
Carmine, pinks, and reds will be used.
If you’re looking for the actual Christmas cactus, you might come across the Easter cactus Rhipsalidopsis gaeteneri, which is a close cousin of Schlumbergera.
You’ll be relieved to learn that they have no financial value in the garden retail industry and are only occasionally offered.
They also flower in the spring, as the name suggests.
However, if you chance to come upon one, what’s another plant, right?
Finally, I’m sure you read this article and skipped over the genus name since, like me, you can’t pronounce it (shlum-BER-ger-uh), and I doubt it helped much.
a quick piece of knowledge Schlumbergera are a genus of real cacti in the Cactaceae family that grow in environments that aren’t often associated with cactus. They live deep within South America’s tropical rainforest, feeding on orchid-like trees.
Good luck on your journey, and do let me know if you come across a genuine Christmas cactus to add to your collection.
What colors do Christmas cactus come in?
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.
How do you keep a Christmas cactus alive?
- Watering: Mist your plant frequently while it is blooming to keep the soil uniformly moist.
- Light: For moderate light and some direct sun, place the cactus in an east-facing window.
- Fertilize every two weeks once buds have formed with a high-potassium fertilizer.