The Christmas cactus and thanksgiving cactus are two different species of cactus. The Christmas cactus, also known as Schlumbergera truncata, is native to Brazil. The thanksgiving cactus, also known as Schlumbergera bridgesii, is native to southeastern Brazil. Both plants are members of the family Cactaceae, but the Christmas cactus is in the genus Schlumbergera and the thanksgiving cactus is in the genus Rhipsalidopsis. The Christmas cactus has flattened stems with sharp pointy scales, while the thanksgiving cactus has rounded stems with smooth, spiny scales. The Christmas cactus blooms in winter, and the thanksgiving cactus blooms in autumn.
The two plants are actually in the same family, but they are two different species. The thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) is native to Brazil, while the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is native to southeastern Brazil. They are both popular houseplants because they are easy to care for and they bloom around the holidays. The main difference between the two plants is their bloom time. Thanksgiving cactus flowers in November (hence the name), while Christmas cactus flowers in December.
Can a Thanksgiving cactus bloom at Christmas?
Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are named after the holidays because they typically bloom around that time. However, that is not always accurate. Day length and temperature trigger bloom periods. Therefore, your Thanksgiving cacti might bloom at Halloween and your Christmas cacti might bloom closer to Thanksgiving.
The three main types of holiday cacti are Thanksgiving cacti, Christmas cacti, and Easter cacti. Thanksgiving cacti bloom from late fall to mid-winter and are often mislabeled as Christmas cacti. Christmas cacti bloom from early winter to mid-winter, and Easter cacti bloom from later winter to mid-spring.
Is it Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus
The Christmas cactus and the Thanksgiving cactus are two very popular holiday plants. Both plants are in the cactus family, but they are not related. The Christmas cactus is actually a hybrid of two different species of cactus, while the Thanksgiving cactus is a single species. The Christmas cactus has a flattened stem segments with smooth, scalloped edges. The Thanksgiving cactus has a very toothy stem with two to four pointed teeth. While the Christmas cactus stems hang down like a pendent, the Thanksgiving cactus has stems that grow upright at first and then arch.
The Thanksgiving cactus most commonly blooms in the late fall, while the Christmas cactus blooms in early to late winter, and the Easter cactus blooms in the early spring. If you want your Thanksgiving cactus to bloom, you should keep it in a cool, dry place with plenty of indirect light. Thanksgiving cacti need a period of cool temperatures (between 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit) in order to bloom, so if you live in a warm climate, you may need to put your cactus in the fridge for a few weeks before the blooming season.
How to tell the difference between Easter Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus?
The Thanksgiving cactus has the spikiest stem segments of the three varieties, and its pollen is yellow. The Christmas cactus has less spikey pads with rounder edges, and its pollen is pink. The Easter cactus has subtle, rounded edges on its stem segments.
To keep your Schlumbergera truncata evenly moist during the flowering period, water it using the “soak and drain” method. To do this, bring the plant to the sink and give it a good watering, allowing the water to drain out of the drain hole in the bottom of the pot.
What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
To encourage bud set, provide bright light, temperatures between 55 F and 65 F, and 13 hours or more of continuous darkness each day. For flowers during the winter holiday season, long nights should be started in late September or October and continued for eight weeks.
This will help to trigger the plant’s natural dormancy process and prepare it for blooming.
How do you force Thanksgiving cactus to bloom
If you want your holiday cactus to bud, your first option is to expose it to cool temperatures for six to eight weeks. Place the plant outside overnight, and make sure the temperature stays between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below 40 degrees, bring the plant inside.
If you want your Christmas cactus to bloom again in the spring, you should place it in an east-facing window that gets plenty of sunlight during the day and 12 hours of darkness each night. By giving the plant the short days condition, you can encourage it to flower once again.
Why do blooms fall off Thanksgiving cactus?
It is important to keep an eye on your potted plants and make sure they are not being overwatered, as this can cause buds to drop. Temperature extremes can also cause bud drop, so try to keep your plants in a place where they will not be exposed to too much heat or cold. If your plant is not getting enough light, this can also cause buds to drop. If you suspect that your plant’s buds are dropping due to any of these conditions, try to make some changes to improve the situation.
Thanksgiving cactus are typically kept as houseplants in colder climates, as they can’t tolerate freezing temperatures. However, they can be moved outside during the spring and summer months as long as nighttime temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When choosing a spot for your Thanksgiving cactus, make sure it gets plenty of bright, indirect sunlight.
Where is the best place to put a Thanksgiving cactus
The holiday cacti grow best in light shade. Full sunlight is beneficial during fall and winter, but bright sun during the summer months can make plants look pale and yellow. Ideal spring and summer growth occurs at temperatures between 70 to 80 °F during its growing season from April to September.
Holiday cacti are typically vase-shaped with many branches coming off the main stem. To maintain its shape and encourage more blooming, it’s necessary to prune the holiday cactus. You’ll want to remove any dead or diseased branches, any crossed or rubbing branches, and any that are growing outside of the plant’s shape. Pruning the plant will result in a fuller, bushier plant that will result in more blooms. Plus, it provides an opportunity to propagate more plants to give to friends and family! The best time to prune a holiday cactus is right after it has bloomed and before it actively begins growing.
When should I stop watering my Thanksgiving cactus?
Happy Thanksgiving!
only water your cactus when the top 3 inches of soil feels dry. The main growing season for these plants is April through September so they will need more water during that time, but still don’t need much!
It’s not uncommon for holiday cacti to bloom more than once a year. In fact, don’t be surprised if you see blooms anywhere from March to May, although usually, these blooms are more sparse than you’ll see around the holidays. The reason is that most holiday cacti are native to tropical regions and need a period of cooler temperatures (around 55 degrees Fahrenheit) in order to trigger a bloom. So, if you live in a climate with cool winters, your cactus is likely to bloom in the spring.
Conclusion
Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus are two different species of plant. Thanksgiving cactus (S. gregoryi) is native to Brazil, while Christmas cactus (S. truncatus) is native to Mexico. These plants are both members of the genus Schlumbergera, which contains about 15 species of cactus. Christmas cacti and Thanksgiving cacti are popular houseplants because they are relatively easy to care for and they bloom around the holidays. These plants are propagated by cuttings, and they can live for many years with proper care.
Christmas cactus and thanksgiving cactus are two different kinds of cacti. Christmas cactus is native to Brazil and thanksgiving cactus is native to the American Southwest. They both have flattened stems and experience a dormant period during winter, but their blooming seasons are different. Christmas cactus flowers in December and January, while thanksgiving cactus flowers in November. The leaves of Christmas cactus are smoother and have a more rounded shape than the leaves of thanksgiving cactus, which are thinner and have sharp points.
