How to Care for Your Thanksgiving Cactus, a Houseplant That Blooms With the Holiday
The Thanksgiving cactus falls within the genus Schlumbergera, along with other holiday-themed plants such as Christmas and Easter iterations. These low-maintenance plants are known for their flat, segmented deep-green foliage and beautifully layered flowers that seem to appear right as the celebrations they are named for arrive.
As you'd expect, the Thanksgiving cactus blooms right around Turkey Day—which makes it a wonderful centerpiece or hostess present. Below, expert share their tips on how to care for these plants whether you plan to gift one or buy one for yourself.
How to Care for Christmas Cactus—a Holiday Houseplant That Can Last for Years
Thanksgiving Cactus vs. Other Holiday Varieties
Also known as Schlumbergera truncata, the Thanksgiving cactus is a fall-blooming variety of the Schlumbergera genius. It is one of three popular holiday cacti, and though they're all quite similar, each has its own defining characteristics.
Christmas Cactus
Thanksgiving cacti are classified as epiphytes, which means they commonly grow on other flowers and greens, such as orchid
How to Grow and Care for the Thanksgiving Cactus
The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) is a popular tropical cactus that is sold around the holidays for its gorgeous and prolific flowers. As its common name indicates, the Thanksgiving cactus is known for blooming around Thanksgiving, bringing a splash of color into your home just as the weather outdoors is getting colder.
With a mature size of only 6 to 12 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, the Thanksgiving cactus is a low-maintenance plant that can also live a long life of 20 to 30 years.
It is one of three common holiday cacti that are often confused with one another: the Thanksgiving cactus, the Christmas cactus, and the Easter cactus. While they all look similar, they are technically three different species of Schlumbergera with unique care requirements.
Encouraging your cactus to put on a show of gorgeous flowers just in time for the holidays is simply a matter of providing your plant with the proper light conditions and care.
| Botanical Name | Schlumbergera truncata |
| Common Name | Thanksgiving cactus, crab cactus, false Christmas cactus, holiday cactus, winter cactus |
| Family | Cacta
Thanksgiving Cactus Complete GuideThe Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) is a beautiful and vibrant plant that is often associated with the holiday season. With its stunning, tubular flowers in a variety of colors like pink, red, white, and purple, the Thanksgiving cactus brings joy and cheer during the fall months, typically blooming around Thanksgiving—hence its name. It’s one of the most popular holiday cacti, alongside the Christmas cactus and Easter cactus, all belonging to the Schlumbergera genus. Unlike desert cacti that thrive in dry, arid environments, the Thanksgiving cactus is an epiphytic plant that originates from the cool, humid, and shaded conditions of Brazil’s rainforests. Because of this, it requires specific care to flourish and bloom during the colder months. In this complete guide, we will walk you through how to care for your Thanksgiving cactus, covering everything from its unique growing environment to water, light, soil, temperature needs, and more. What is a Thanksgiving Cactus?The Thanksgiving cactus is an epiphytic cactus, meaning it naturally grows on trees or rocks in its native rainforest environment, instead of How To Grow and Care For Thanksgiving Cactus?When caring for a Thanksgiving cactus, pay attention to the following key factors: Thanksgiving Cactus LightThanksgiving cactus can well thrive in bright indirect light. On one hand, it prefers exposure to light without the harshness of direct sunlight, which can scorch its leaves; on the other hand, although it is a low-light plantand can tolerate low-light conditions, it may not thrive or bloom. Especially, during the blooming period, maintaining consistent light levels will help encourage vibrant flowers. If natural light is limited, you can also use fluorescent or LED grow lights to supplement. Thanksgiving Cactus Light Thanksgiving Cactus WateringWater your Thanksgiving cactus when you find the top inch of the soil feels dry. Typically, you can water it every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season - spring and summer. In the fall and winter, when the plant is dormant, reduce watering to about once a month. In other words, allow the soil to dry out more between waterings. Always ensure the pot has good drainage to prevent root rot, as this plant prefers to be on the drier side rather than overly moist. Thanksgiving C. |