Christmas Cactus & Thanksgiving Cactus | Schlumbergera Distinction and Care
Christmas Cactus and Thanksgiving Cactus are not different names for the same plant!
They are in-fact, two different plants in the genus Schlumbergera, with very similar care requirements.
Christmas Cactus, (Schlumbergera Bridgessii), and Thanksgiving Cactus, (Schlumbergera Truncata), are not even true cacti!
These Schlumbergera are epiphitic, (growing on trees), and epilithic, (growing on rocks), plants.
They are both native to the shady coastal mountains of South-Eastern Brazil, where the humidity is quite high.
The Thanksgiving Cactus is one of the most mislabeled succulents on the market.
The truth is that the great majority of plants labeled as Christmas Cactus, are actually Thanksgiving Cactus!
I fell for it too!! I thought I had a Christmas Cactus, and it turned out I have a Thanksgiving one instead!
I posted a picture of my blooming “Christmas Cactus”, (or so I thought it was), on social media, and people started asking me if it was a Thanksgiving or a Christmas Cactus. Pictures of their “Holiday Cactus” started popping into my post. Some looked similar to mine, but some looked different. Some that were called Thanksgiving Cactus looked like mine, others that looked different from mine were called Christmas Cactus.
I got confused, but also very curious, because I am supposed to know this stuff, right?!
I did some research on the topic, and I figured out that I officially have a Thanksgiving Cactus.
I knew there were different “Holiday Cactus” on the market. I knew about Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus, and Easter Cactus. What I didn’t know was how common it is to mislabel these plants.
As a matter of fact, I learned that Christmas Cactus are rarely available commercially…
I love my Thanksgiving Cactus, and I love watching its beautiful flowers blooming three times a year.
I actually really enjoyed learning about the differences between these two Schlumbergera genera, and I thought you’d be interested too!
This is the picture of what I thought was my Christmas Cactus I posted on social media. It turned out this is a picture of my Thanksgiving Cactus!
Christmas Cactus & Thanksgiving cactus distinction
So, what is the difference among Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus and Easter Cactus?
Let’s start by saying the biggest confusion is between Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus.
They are both Schlumbergera genera, while the Easter Cactus is a completely different genus.
The Easter Cactus is easier to label apart from the Thanksgiving and Christmas one, mostly for its flower, which looks completely different!
In addition to this, Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus have very similar care needs, and are very easy going plants, while the Easter Cactus is the finickiest of the three and much harder to care for.
So, moving forward in this article, I won’t even mention the Easter Cactus any more.
Here below is the best representation of the difference among Holiday Cactus.
Photo Credit: World of Succulents
It is very clear both in the representation, and in the pictures, how the phylloclades, (flat leaf segments), differ from one another.
The Thanksgiving Cactus has definitely more serrated phylloclades than the Christmas Cactus’ rounder and smoother edges.
In general, (and hard to see in this representation), the Thanksgiving Cactus grows its stems in an upright and erect direction, while the Christmas Cactus, will eventually arch down its stems once it reaches maturity.
It’s worth mentioning that the Christmas Cactus phylloclades are smaller in size than the Thanksgiving Cactus’.
While the flower in both Schlumbergera look similar, the Thanksgiving Cactus flower has a more elongated “flower within the flower” bloom, compared to the Christmas Cactus’.
The biggest difference between these two flowers, (which is hard to appreciate in this representation), is that the Thanksgiving Cactus flower grows straight outward, while the Christmas Cactus flower drops straight down from the leaf.
Finally, the Christmas Cactus anthers, (part of the stamen containing pollen), are purplish-brown, versus the yellow ones found in the Thanksgiving Cactus.
schlumbergera Light, blooming & temperature requirements
Both Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus require bright, indirect light to thrive.
Close proximity to North facing windows is this plant’s ideal location.
Avoid direct sun light at any cost, as it will scorch its leaves.
Avoid heat and cold drafts.
The only time when these plants don’t need bright light, is when they are “forced” or induced to bloom in the fall.
In order to induce the Thanksgiving Cactus to bloom in November, it is recommended to start changing its light and temperature exposure in mid September.
There are a few ways of doing this, however, the easiest way to induce the Schlumbergera to bloom, is to place it in an area where the temperature is continuously set between 60-65F or 15-18C for the months of September and October.
If you are unable to maintain this temperature for two months, the best way to induce blooming, is to modify light exposure. Cover your plant every day, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, for the months of September and October, with a large enough brow paper bag.
I am not into forcing plants to bloom, so I just don’t do it.
I have been lucky enough, that the way I care for my Thanksgiving Cactus doesn’t require me “tricking” or “forcing” my plant to bloom by modifying its light or temperature exposure.
In-fact, my Thanksgiving Cactus blooms three times a year; November, March and July!
My trick is; plenty of bright, indirect light, consistent watering and fertilizing.
My Thanksgiving Cactus is blooming right on time again this year!
schlumbergera humidity requirements
Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus thrive in humid environments, as they are native to the Brazilian coastal mountains. However, they seem to be handling average homes humidity levels, (or the lack of thereof), quite well.
I keep my “cactus” close to other tropical plants that I mist a couple of times per week. I am sure its phylloclades are absorbing some of this mist.
In addition to that, my Thanksgiving Cactus retains quite a bit of moisture into its pot, as I planted it into a non-draining pot with a good draining layer of pebbles and charcoal at the bottom.
If you have your Schlumbergera into a draining pot, consider placing a pebble tray filled with water underneath it. This, way you will increase its humidity levels.
Photo Credit: Photos by Canva
This is a Christmas Cactus!
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schlumbergera watering, & fertilizing requirements
As mentioned before, Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus thrive in humid environments, that means this plant’s soil cannot dry in between waterings.
However, an excessive amount of water and poor drainage, can cause serious damage to your Schlumbergera, like the common fatal roots rot.
Well draining soil and good pot drainage are critical to the health of this plant.
So, if you don’t have your Schlumbergera into a draining pot, make sure you provide a good draining layer at the bottom of the pot.
I water my Thanksgiving Cactus just a bit once a week, all year round.
It works for my climate and home humidity levels.
The rule of thumb is to water Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus thoroughly, allowing the 1/3″ top inch of soil to dry out in between waterings, especially during its blooming time. You can cut back on watering a bit when the plant is not producing blooms.
I fertilize my Thanksgiving Cactus by adding liquid fertilizer to its water, every time I water it from Spring to Fall.
My Thanksgiving Cactus is planted in a non-draining pot. For this reason, I built an inner draining layer made out of small pebbles and activated charcoal to prevent rot.
schlumbergera repotting & propagating
Both the Thanksgiving Cactus and the Christmas Cactus, don’t grow incredibly fast.
They also enjoy being pot bound, (having their roots packed inside the pot).
At the same time, it’s not a good idea to let them go too root bound.
Schlumbergera should be repotted approximately every 3 years, or so.
Propagating Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus from stem cuttings is quite easy.
Simply snip off a stem with 4 or 5 phylloclades, (flat leaf segments), and let them form a callus for 5-6 days, in a darker room. (Waiting for the callus to form, is like allowing the plant to heal its wound).
Once the callus is formed, plant your stem(s) in a draining pot with draining soil.
I recommend using 60% tropical plant mix, with 40% perlite to increase the soil’s draining properties.
If you don’t have a pot with draining holes, you can create an inner draining layer made out of small pebbles at the bottom, and activated charcoal on top of the pebbles.
Now the waiting game! It will take approximately 3 weeks for the stem(s) to root and start growing into a mature plant.
It will take this new plant approximately two years before it blooms its beautiful flowers.
Photo Credit: Photos by Canva
Christmas Cactus Bloom
Hey Plant Loving Woman!
Are you a middle age mom?
Do you constantly feel overwhelmed and anxious?
Do you believe in the healing power of nature?
To reveal your #1 Personal Houseplant that best
helps you reduce your anxiety.