The leaves are broad and flat with slight serrations on the edges in the Thanksgiving vs. Christmas cactus, which has smoother edges. The flowers that appear in fall are similar to fuchsia blooms and come in hues of yellow, white, pink, and red.
What’s the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus?
The difference between the three cacti is found in the shape of the leaves. The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumgera truncata) has very pointed and claw shaped projections on the edges of the leaf. The Christmas cactus (Schlumgera bridgesti) has leaf projections which are more scalloped or tear drop shaped.
How often does a Thanksgiving cactus bloom?
Under the right conditions, a Thanksgiving cactus will bloom once a year during the late fall. How Long Do Thanksgiving Cacti Live? Holiday cacti are often passed down through generations because they have an incredibly long life. A Thanksgiving cactus can live up to 100 years with proper care.
Can Thanksgiving cactus go outside?
Thanksgiving cactus is generally considered a house plant. You can grow it outdoors, in partial shade, all year long in the warmer zones – 10 and above. If your temperatures are colder than this, you should grow crab cactus as an indoor plant. It can be moved outside in the summer months and will benefit from this.
Do Thanksgiving cactuses need a lot of light?
Thanksgiving cactus with pale pink blossom. Light &, Temperature: 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.
Should I water my Thanksgiving cactus while it’s blooming?
Flowers of the Thanksgiving cactus and its relatives are produced from the tips, or from where the leaf segments join. … To care for your Thanksgiving cactus, allow the soil to dry out during “resting periods,” or in other words, when it is not producing blooms. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch.
Is Thanksgiving better than Christmas?
Christmas is immensely superior to Thanksgiving, as Christmas has a number of better qualities that Thanksgiving could never fully attain. Christmas is more of a traditional, family holiday while Thanksgiving is a holiday most just breeze by without noticing.
Why is my Thanksgiving cactus not blooming?
Both Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus form flower buds as a result of day length and temperature. … This means total darkness—even turning on a light one time during that window interrupts the cycle and flower buds will fail to form. Holiday cacti need 6 weeks of long, dark nights to form flower buds.
When should I transplant my Thanksgiving cactus?
Wait to repot until after blooms have faded, but before new buds develop. Depending on your plant, this is generally in early spring. Thanksgiving Cactus often bloom best when pot-bound. Do not repot them unless necessary.
Can you use Miracle Grow on Christmas cactus?
Plant your Christmas cactus in Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm &, Citrus Potting Mix. … Feed from after blooming until fall with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food. Give your Christmas cactus 6 weeks of extra darkness and lower temps to encourage blooming. Prune after blooming for the best shape.
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Why is my Thanksgiving cactus blooming in March?
Blooms requires two things: cooler temperatures and long nights. These cacti are short-day plants, which means that blooms are triggered by long dark cool nights. … A few buds dropping off is normal, but drafts will cause the plant to drop all its buds at once – then you’ll be out of luck for another year.
How do I take a cutting from a Thanksgiving cactus?
Growing Thanksgiving Cactus Cuttings
The plants are easy to propagate and multiply. Snip off a stem with 4 to 5 sections and leaves. Dust the end with fungicide and allow it to callus for a week in a dry location.
Why is my Thanksgiving cactus turning purple?
Location – Christmas cactus requires bright light during fall and winter, but too much direct light during the summer months may be the reason for Christmas cactus leaves turning purple on edges. Moving the plant to a more appropriate location may prevent sunburn and solve the problem.
Do Thanksgiving cactuses like being misted?
Thanksgiving Cactus appreciate being misted with water every now and then. These plants don’t need to be watered every week, but occasional watering and more frequent misting are both of great benefit to these plants.
What do you do with a Christmas cactus after it blooms?
Once the Christmas cactus has ceased all flowering (usually by fall), or about six to eight weeks before you want the plant to rebloom, you should allow the plant to begin its dormancy cycle by cutting back on Christmas cactus moisture and reducing both light and temperature.