While choosing a lovely holiday cactus at the garden center, you probably didn’t expect to have to play detective to figure out what plant you actually purchased. But here we are, with three beautiful cacti that bloom in different seasons, require different care routines, and all have the holiday cactus label.
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Check PriceIf your blooming cactus has been struggling, dropping segments, and/or refusing to flower again, there’s a good chance you’ve been following care instructions for the wrong plant. Let’s solve this mystery once and for all.
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Thanksgiving Cactus: The Early Bird
Look at this showoff that arrives first at holiday parties – it's usually in bloom in November as you're planning your Thanksgiving menu. Take a closer look at those leaf segments – they look like they are little crab claws with sharp pointy teeth along the edge.
To make your Thanksgiving cactus happy, you need to understand what it needs to bloom. Your cactus will need six weeks of cool nights at 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It will also need twelve to fourteen hours of complete darkness to set the flower buds. If your cactus bloomed beautifully last year, but didn’t this year, it probably spent too much time in the warm and bright conditions when it needed it’s ambient chill time.
The Christmas Cactus – A Great Holiday Guest
In the holiday cactus family, true Christmas cacti are the diplomats with smooth edges and gentle rounded scallops (not sharp points). Their blooms in mid to late December are nature's Christmas decorations.
Unlike their Thanksgiving relatives, these plants are somewhat more forgiving about temperature fluctuations, but they also require a dark period to trigger blooming. What many plant parents don’t know, is that it is important during bud formation to consistently water. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, but don’t let it remain completely dry for weeks.
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The Easter Cactus: The Spring Surprise
The Easter cacti are different from the rest of the group. They bloom during winter, instead of summer, in March or April. Their leaf segments are smooth without much detail and are easily mistaken for being plain.
Most people are forcing these plants into a winter dormancy, but that is incorrect. Easter cacti like stable and consistent conditions year-round. Unlike their cousin holiday cacti, they do not need prolonged darkness. They actually like the longer days that come with spring.
The errors in plant care that could be fatal for your holiday cacti
With the identification of your plant, let's correct the most frequent care blunders. Holiday cacti are not true desert cacti. They are actually jungle plants that grow on trees in Brazil. Because of this, they require more moisture and humidity than a typical cactus would need, but less than an average house plant.
The biggest mistake? During their rest period after blooming. These plants need a break. Water and fertilize them much less for 6 to 8 weeks. Think of it as their vacation time.
How to Ensure You Get Blooms Year After Year
Do you want to ensure that your flowers will bloom next season? Start planning in late summer! Starting in September, you can place your Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti in a location with cooler nighttime temperatures and less light (i.e. longer dark periods). A back bedroom or basement window should do the trick.
With Easter cacti, instead of imitating winter stress, you should just be concerned with consistent care over the winter. They'll respond to increasing daylight in late winter and will reward you with blooms in spring.
Procedimientos de Rescate de Emergencia para Plantas
There's no need to panic when your holiday cactus is losing segments or showing signs of stress. Look above to find the cactus type. Next, start adjusting your care: stop fertilizing, assess your watering, and relocate the cactus to bright, indirect light.
Mushy segments mean that there is an excess of water being provided, while for wrinkled segments it's usually the opposite. In any case, it is pretty remarkable that these plants are extremely likely to bounce back, even if it's a holiday cactus that is under a lot of stress. Just identify the stressors properly and modify your care and attention accordingly.
With the correct care, your holiday cactus can be an heirloom that blooms for many decades. Now that you're aware of the impressive plant in your possession, you can cater to the plant to ensure it survives and thrives for a long time.
