Did you recently purchase a Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus? Or maybe one was passed down through the family and you have no idea how to care for it. Read more to learn how easy these plants can be to care for.

How to Care for Christmas Cactus

Did you know that the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are not true cacti? They are actually succulent plants called epiphytes that originally grow in shady rain forests, typically in the forks of tree limbs. They bury their roots in debris that has fallen there and then dangle their stems down the tree’s trunk. While they prefer to grow on another plant, they are not parasitic. Unlike true cacti, they cannot go extended periods without fresh water, although they can handle minor droughts.

General Care

Caring for your cactus is not too difficult, but can be a bit time consuming if you want it to flower. General care is bright, indirect light in the colder months, shade in the warmer months. Too much light in the warmer months can make the plants look pale or yellowish. They are not heat-tolerant like true cacti are. The best method of watering is to soak thoroughly when the soil feels dry to the touch and allow to completely drain. These plants can handle minor droughts, but doing so too often can hinder flowering later. Over-watering can cause root rot and other problems and will hinder blooming times.

Fertilize monthly with half strength soluble fertilizer. Using 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts mixed into 1 gallon of water adds the extra magnesium these plants need, but do not add within the same week as other fertilizers. Pinching back the stems in early summer can help promote branching. If segments appear weak or droopy during the growing season, they may not be getting enough humidity. Set a pan or bowl of water near the plant. As it evaporates, it will add moisture to the air that the plant can use.

To Bloom

To get the plants to bloom again during their season can be a bit difficult, but not impossible. Patience, love and care are the key ingredients. Around six weeks before blooming time, (middle of September to the beginning of October for Thanksgiving and middle of October to the beginning of November for Christmas) start regulating the night and day hours. 14 or more hours of uninterrupted darkness is required every single day for at least 6 weeks. Just an hour or two of interruption can hinder bud growth.

Cut back on watering, but do not allow them to completely dry out either. Temperatures should be kept around 68 degrees for maximum budding, but can go as low as 60 degrees. This means it needs to be kept away from heating vents, doorways, fans and windows that may let in lights during the dark hours. Pinch off immature stem segments, any less than 1 cm in length. Buds will not set on the immature segments so removing them gives the buds more available areas to grow. Flowering can last up to 8 weeks or more if temperatures are kept around 68 degrees.

After Season Care

When the season for blooming is over, these cacti need a rest period of one month. Place it in a cool room and keep watering to a minimum. Some of the stem segments may fall off or appear weak during this time, don’t worry unless it is excessive. If there are a lot of pieces falling off or changing colors, ensure it is not getting too much water. Do not pinch or prune these plants during this time, wait until new growth starts in early spring. Starting in early spring, go back to general care.

Extra Information

These cacti come in many different colors, from red, pink or purple to peach, orange or cream. Some growers have managed to mix the colors so that there are more than one in a pot. They are generally sold around the holidays in their names, however, many times it’s not the correct holiday. Many of the cacti sold around Christmas are actually Thanksgiving cacti. The reason for this is the bloom times; Thanksgiving cacti are in bloom around the time the Christmas season starts, so they are sold then.

To distinguish which cactus you may actually have, take a look at the stem segments. The Thanksgiving cactus segments will have between two and four saw-toothed serrations along the margins while the Christmas cactus segments are more rounded. Also on the Thanksgiving cactus, the pollen bearing antlers will be more of a yellow color while on the Christmas cactus, the antlers will be more purplish-brown.

These cacti are long-lived plants, especially with the right care. It is not uncommon for families to pass them down through the generations. They are easy to split into new plants as well. Cut the stem segments where there are at least 2 straight segments and 2 branching segments. Plant in soil and water well, allowing to thoroughly drain. This is a good use of the cuttings taken earlier. Plant several sections in one pot and allow to grow for a few weeks before giving as presents to others.