Learn About the Different Types of Christmas Cactus House Plants

Christmas cacti are low-maintenance houseplants that add a pop of color to any room.

Their flowers come in a variety of colors, including pink, red, purple, and white.

There are three main types of Christmas cactus: Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus. They're all part of the Schlumbergera genus, but have some key differences.

The Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus are often confused with each other, but they can be told apart by their leaves or stems. Christmas cacti have scalloped edges, while Thanksgiving cacti have spikey, clawed edges.

Here are the three types of Christmas cactus:

It's worth noting that the Easter cactus is actually an entirely different genus altogether, and has more rounded edges and star-shaped flowers.

There are three main types of "holiday" cacti: the Easter cactus (S. gaertneri), the Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata), and the Christmas cactus (S. x buckleyi). The terms "Thanksgiving cactus", "Christmas cactus", and "holiday cactus" are often used interchangeably, which can be confusing.

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The Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata) blooms from late fall to midwinter and is often mislabeled as a Christmas cactus. This type of cactus is commonly sold as a Christmas cactus, especially in the United States.

The Christmas cactus (S. x buckleyi) blooms from early winter to midwinter. It's worth noting that this type of cactus is often sold under the "Thanksgiving" moniker as well.

Here's a breakdown of the different types of holiday cacti and their blooming periods:

It's also worth noting that the common names for these cacti can vary depending on the region and language. In Europe, for example, they are often referred to as "Weihnachtskaktus" or "cactus de Noël."

Christmas cacti have come a long way from their wild ancestors. Modern cultivars are a result of careful breeding and selection, resulting in a wide range of varieties.

McMillan and Horobin have grouped these cultivars into several categories, including the Truncata Group, which features stem segments with pointed teeth and yellow pollen.

The Buckleyi Group is another notable category, characterized by stem segments with rounded teeth and pink pollen. This group also includes subcategories like "TB" for those more like S. truncata and "BT" for those more like the classic S. × buckleyi.

The Reginae Group and Exotica Group are also used to classify cultivars derived from hybrids with S. orssichiana and S. opuntioides, respectively. These groupings help gardeners and enthusiasts understand the different characteristics and traits of various Christmas cactus varieties.

Here's a breakdown of the main cultivar groups:

Christmas cacti are often mistaken for their holiday cousins, but did you know there are actually three main types of holiday cacti? They're all part of the Schlumbergera genus, but each has its own unique characteristics.

The Christmas cactus, S. x buckleyi, is a hybrid cross of S. russelliana and S. truncata, and it's sterile, so you can't propagate it from seed. It blooms in late November through February with bright, tubular-shaped flowers, usually red or magenta.

Thanksgiving cactus, on the other hand, is also in the Schlumbergera genus and blooms around the time of Thanksgiving. To tell the two apart, check the leaves or stems: Christmas cacti have scalloped edges, while Thanksgiving cacti have spikey, clawed edges.

Easter cacti, or Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, are an entirely different genus and have leaves with more rounded edges. Their flowers tend to be spikey or star-shaped, and they need a longer period of low temps and dim light to produce their flowers.

To identify your holiday cactus, look for the flowers and leaves. The flowers on Easter cacti are the easiest to identify, and they store moisture in their fleshy leaves, drawing water and nutrients from the air instead of the soil.

Aeration in the soil is essential for holiday cacti, and it's easy to over- or underwater them. Keep an eye on the moisture levels and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

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Christmas cacti are relatively easy to care for, but they do require some specific conditions to thrive. They prefer free-draining, humus-rich growing media that's somewhat acid, and should be grown in small pots.

To avoid damaging your Christmas cactus, make sure to water it correctly. They're more tolerant of drought than many house plants, but can be damaged by both under- and over-watering. Keeping the growing medium just moist throughout the year is key.

For optimal growth and flowering, place your Christmas cactus in a location with partial shade and a temperature between 70 and 80°F (21 and 27°C). They can't tolerate temperatures below 50°F (10°C). Here's a quick guide to their light and temperature needs:

Growing your Schlumbergera cultivar as a house plant is relatively easy, but it does require some specific care. Free-draining, humus-rich growing media are used in commercial production, such as a mixture of peat or leafmould and an inert material like grit or sharp sand.

To avoid damaging your plant, keep the growing medium just moist throughout the year. This will prevent both under- and over-watering.

Holiday cacti can be damaged by exposure to more than small amounts of sunlight. Members of the Buckleyi Group, such as the old-fashioned Christmas cactus, are more tolerant of high light levels than members of the Truncata Group, like most modern cultivars.

Too much light causes stems to take on a reddish coloration, while very low light levels will prevent flowering. Day length is important in controlling flowering, and a period of 8 days with 16 hours of darkness at 16 °C (61 °F) has been shown to cause flower buds to form.

Here are some specific guidelines for temperature and light conditions:

Propagation can be achieved by using short pieces of stem, one to three segments long, twisted off rather than cut. This will help prevent damage to the plant.

Caring for Holiday Cacti is a Breeze!

To care for your holiday cactus, it's essential to provide the right growing conditions. They thrive in free-draining, humus-rich growing media, so avoid using regular potting soil.

For optimal growth, keep the growing medium just moist throughout the year. This will prevent both under- and over-watering, which can damage your plant.

Holiday cacti can be quite sensitive to light, so it's best to place them in partial shade. If you do need to expose them to direct sunlight, be aware that too much light can cause stems to take on a reddish coloration.

To induce bud formation, your holiday cactus needs a period of darkness, with at least 12 hours of continuous darkness. A 16-hour period of darkness at 16°C (61°F) has been shown to cause flower buds to form.

Here's a quick rundown of the ideal growing conditions for your holiday cactus:

By following these simple care tips, you'll be well on your way to growing a happy and healthy holiday cactus.

Keep your Christmas cactus in bright, indirect light, such as an east-facing window or a bright bathroom.

For optimal growth, maintain a daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an evening temperature of 60-65°F (15-18°C).

A humid environment is preferred, making a bright bathroom or kitchen a good spot to keep your Christmas cactus.

In the summer, you can place your Christmas cactus in a shady spot in the garden or on an unheated porch until temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C).

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When placing a Christmas cactus, consider the lighting conditions of the space. Bright, indirect light is ideal, so a spot with an east-facing window or a bright bathroom is perfect.

Keep your Christmas plant away from direct sunlight, as it can bleach the leaves. I've seen this happen to friends who placed their plants on a sunny windowsill, and it's a real shame.

A daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an evening temperature of 60-65°F (15-18°C) is preferred for Christmas cacti. This temperature range will help your plant thrive.

If you're looking for a more humid environment, a bright bathroom or kitchen is a great spot. This is because Christmas cacti prefer a more humid environment, which makes these rooms perfect for them.

In the summer, you can place your Christmas cactus in a shady spot in the garden or on an unheated porch. Just be sure to keep it out of direct outdoor sunlight, as temperatures above 50°F (10°C) can cause damage.

Here are some ideal placement options for your Christmas cactus:

Planting is a crucial step in gardening, and it's essential to get it right. The type of soil you have will greatly affect the success of your plants, so make sure to choose the right variety for your garden.

Digging to the right depth is also vital, as most plants require a depth of 2-3 times the width of their root system. For example, a tomato plant requires a hole that's 12-18 inches deep.

The time of day you plant can also impact your plants' success. Planting in the morning allows the plants to establish themselves before the heat of the day sets in, reducing transplant shock.

Don't forget to water your plants thoroughly after planting, making sure the soil is moist but not waterlogged. This will help settle the soil and give your plants the best start in life.

The Christmas cactus is a low-maintenance plant that's perfect for indoor spaces.

Water your Christmas cactus sparingly, as it's a succulent that stores water in its stems.

To get your Christmas cactus to bloom, it needs a period of cooler temperatures and reduced watering in the fall.

Christmas cacti thrive in bright, indirect light, but direct sunlight can cause the leaves to become scorched.

You can propagate a Christmas cactus by taking cuttings from the tips of the stems, making sure each cutting has at least one node.

With proper care, a Christmas cactus can bloom for years to come, making it a thoughtful gift for friends and family.

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Christmas cacti are epiphytic plants that grow on trees or rocks, forming sizeable shrubs with woody bases. They can reach a height of up to 1.2 m (4 ft).

Their stems are leafless, acting as photosynthetic organs, and are composed of segments that can be strongly flattened (cladodes) or cylinder-shaped. In both cases, areoles occur at the ends of the segments, which may have wool and bristles.

The flowers of Christmas cacti are either radially symmetrical or radially asymmetrical, with 20-30 tepals. The outer tepals are short and unconnected, while the inner tepals are longer and often fused together to form a floral tube.

The genus Schlumbergera belongs to the tribe Rhipsalideae, a group of cacti that are distinct in appearance and habit. The modern genus Schlumbergera was created by Charles Lemaire in 1858, and it was originally based on a single species, Schlumbergera epiphylloides.

Here's a brief summary of the main differences between some of the species within the Schlumbergera genus:

The Schlumbergera genus has undergone significant changes in its taxonomy over the years, with some species being transferred from other genera. Today, the genus includes several species, including S. russelliana, S. truncata, and S. opuntioides.

If you want plants that are in bloom at Christmas time, you should look for plants in late November or early December that have well-developed buds but no open flowers.

Plants that are in full bloom at Thanksgiving will be done blooming by Christmas, so plan ahead if you want a blooming plant for the holiday.

In the couple of weeks before Christmas, stores often have plants that are done blooming; these do not sell and often are thrown out right after Christmas.

Check with the store manager, you might get a real good price on such plants that should perform very well in the coming year.