Thanksgiving Cactus or Christmas Cactus? The 3 Holiday Cacti and How to Tell Them Apart
Do you know which holiday cactus you have? We explain which is which and how to get those beautiful blooms!
Quick Reference: Holiday Cacti
- Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata): pointed jagged leaf edges. Blooms November.
- Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii): rounded scalloped leaf edges. Blooms December.
- Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri): rounded leaf edges with small bristles. Blooms April.
- What you find in stores: mostly Thanksgiving cactus mislabeled as Christmas cactus.
- Bloom trigger: 6 to 8 weeks of cool nights (50 to 55 F) + 12 to 14 hours of darkness.
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What you bought at the supermarket as a ‘Christmas cactus’ is almost always a Thanksgiving cactus. The two species look similar but bloom 4 to 6 weeks apart. There is also a third in the family: the Easter cactus, which blooms in April. This guide is the leaf-edge difference that tells them apart, the bloom timing, and how to get any of them to bloom on the right holiday.
Telling the Three Apart at a Glance
Per University of Vermont Extension’s holiday cacti research.
- Thanksgiving cactus. Pointed jagged ‘teeth’ on the leaf segment edges. Bloom mid to late November.
- Christmas cactus. Smooth rounded scalloped edges (no points). Bloom mid to late December.
- Easter cactus. Rounded edges with small fuzzy bristles at the tips. Bloom April.
- Flower shape varies slightly: Thanksgiving has tubular asymmetric flowers; Christmas has symmetric pendant flowers; Easter has more star-shaped flowers.
How to Force Bloom on Schedule
Per Cornell Cooperative Extension Schlumbergera guidance.
- Bloom trigger. 6 to 8 weeks of cool nights (50 to 55 F) plus 12 to 14 hours of darkness daily.
- For November bloom (Thanksgiving cactus). Start the dark/cool treatment in late September.
- For December bloom (Christmas cactus). Start in early October.
- For April bloom (Easter cactus). Start in late January.
- Stop fertilizing during bloom prep. Let the plant focus energy on flower buds.
- Once buds form, move to display location. Avoid temperature shocks and drafts (causes bud drop).
Holiday Cacti: Profiles and Bloom Triggers (Detail)
Below are the original detail sections on the three holiday cacti and how to get them to bloom plus March bloom notes.
Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
Leaves: You can tell the Thanksgiving cactus apart from the Christmas cactus by the shape of its leaves. The leaf segments, called “phylloclades,” are serrated or “toothed,” with pointy spines; with 2-4 on each side.
This is why these succulents are referred to as “Crab Claw Cactus.” The end of the last segment is slightly concave with a point on each side.
Flowers: Flowers of the Thanksgiving cactus are produced from the tips, or from where the leaf segments join. They resemble a long tube, appearing as if a flower within a flower.
They come in a range of colors, mostly pastels, including red, pink, peach, purple, orange, or white, and typically bloom in Thanksgiving.
Also, look at the pollen-bearing anthers, Thanksgiving cactus anthers are yellow, while Christmas cactus anthers are pink to purplish-brown.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
Leaves: The leaves of the Christmas cactus have a more rounded, scalloped edge. The tip of each segment is slightly curved but they can look almost straight across.
Flowers: The flowers of the Christmas cactus are usually pink or white and bloom in December. But don’t be surprised if you also see blooms between March and May on these plants.
Easter Cactus
Believe it or not, there’s also an Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri), which blooms in … you guessed it, spring! These succulents have leaves with small bristles and a thick ridge on one side.
The flowers have more of a star-shape. They’re native to the natural non-tropical forests of Brazil. Caution, though, when watering as this cactus is much more sensitive to over- or under-watering.
Read: Tips to Care for your Christmas Cactus and Poinsettias
Holiday Cacti FAQ
Is my plant a Thanksgiving cactus or a Christmas cactus?
Look at the leaf edges. Pointed jagged teeth = Thanksgiving cactus. Smooth rounded scalloped edges = Christmas cactus. Most supermarket ‘Christmas cactus’ are actually Thanksgiving cactus mislabeled. Bloom timing also tells: November = Thanksgiving, December = Christmas.
When do holiday cacti bloom?
Thanksgiving cactus: mid to late November. Christmas cactus: mid to late December. Easter cactus: April. All three need 6 to 8 weeks of cool nights and 12 to 14 hours of daily darkness to set buds.
How do I make my Christmas cactus bloom?
Start in early October. Keep at 50 to 55 F nights. Provide 12 to 14 hours of complete darkness daily (cover with a cardboard box or move to an unused room). Stop fertilizing. Continue for 6 to 8 weeks until buds form.
Why is my holiday cactus dropping buds?
Most common causes: temperature shocks (drafts from open doors or windows), overwatering during bud development, or being moved between bright and dim locations. Keep the plant in one stable location once buds appear.
Are holiday cacti easy to grow?
Yes, very. They tolerate bright indirect light, infrequent watering, average household humidity, and benign neglect. Many holiday cacti are passed down through generations because they live 25+ years and bloom reliably each year once the trigger is given.
This article was published by the Staff at FarmersAlmanac.com. Any questions? Contact us at questions@farmersalmananac.com.
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A older lady past away in my neighborhood and I just received two thanksgiving cactus that she had. I have a problem though, one of the plants the leaves are changing to a reddish color and is wilted. The other is wilting and leaves are dying. The soil is super dense and super wet. The are currently blooming, what can I do to save them?
Hi Emerald, “Red or purple-tinged foliage and wilting are two common symptoms of a magnesium deficiency, which is a common ailment in Christmas cacti. It occurs mainly during the winter months when feeding and watering are restricted and cold temperatures slow the plant’s nutrient uptake. The cactus does best in winter at temperatures around 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Correcting a magnesium deficiency can be done with Epsom salts. Dissolve 8 heaping tablespoons of Epsom salts in 2 1/2 gallons water, and mix in 1 to 2 drops of dishwashing liquid. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spritz the tops and undersides of the foliage. Reapply the mixture every two weeks until the foliage returns to its original color.”
These are so easy to propagate. I got my first plant by picking up a stray segment off the floor in a garden centre. It grew very well and now is blooming with lovely rose coloured flowers.
Just let the segment dry out for a couple of days and then stick it in a small pot and water once in a while so it doesn’t shrivel. You can sprinkle it with rooting hormone before planting if you like. If you want more plants, just twist off a segment and stick it in the soil. Cannot get easier than that.
I have the Thanksgiving cactus. I would like to get the Christmas cactus. I can not find the Christmas cactus anywhere. Everyone advertise them as Christmas cactus but its really the Thanksgiving one.
Where can I find the Christmas one?
I av a cactus that was my mothers shes about 50yrs old now. The cactus not my mother haha. She blooms every christmas and easter. I also take cuttings from her every yr and av many all around my home and also gift to family and friends .my mother adored her cactus but unfortunately she ad to go in a retirement home as she is 92 nxt wk and was struggling at home so I inherited my lovley cactus. Shes part of my family .mum too haha.I get soooo much joy out of seeing her every day and think of my mother.she will always grow in our family for generations to come with all the cuttings we get from her x
Best explanation of the differences anywhere. Thank you.
I put mine outside in the spring and bring it in before frost and it blooms right away, I don’t put in in darkness.
I do the same thing. Put it outside on the three season porch during the spring and summer, and take it in just before the first frost in fall. The plant has buds on it before I bring it inside every fall, and the blooms are beautiful.
My plant has Christmas leaves with Thanksgiving blooms. I have had it since 2009. Every year after danger of frost here in Va mine goes outside in practically full sun, then when there is beginning to be frost warnings I bring it back in. I brought it in this past weekend and already it has buds all over which will be opening very soon. I was given this plant when my daughter passed away so it is special to me. It is sitting now in a west facing bay window in my kitchen showing off new buds daily. I have had people say to me, when seeing it outside, that they have never seen one outside and ask if mine blooms. Yes it does soon after it comes back to its window.
I have a Thanksgiving cactus that I’ve had for five years. I get one to two blooms a year after fertilizing. This year, we stuck it in the greenhouse in the Spring. I just brought it in the house (Nov 1) and it is COVERED in buds! Full sun for six months!
Awesome! A few flowers blooming at this time of year is always a great treat!
Can I put my xmas cactus outside in April I live in NC
I live in NC can I put my xmas cactus outside in the last of April
That was very interesting. I didn’t know which cactus I had until now