Thanksgiving Cactus vs. Christmas Cactus: How to Grow and Rebloom This Holiday Favorite

Just because this plant steals the spotlight during the holidays doesn't mean it should be forgotten the rest of the year. Its architectural, cascading stems and vibrant blooms make it a standout houseplant in any season. But first, a quick clarification: what most nurseries label as "Christmas cactus" is actually Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata). The true Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is rarely found in commerce, so the more readily available Thanksgiving cactus has adopted the holiday name.

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Quick Care Guide

• Botanical name: Schlumbergera truncata
• Common name: Thanksgiving cactus
• Water: Average — keep soil evenly moist but never soggy
• Light: Bright, indirect light until early fall
• Mature size: 12–18 inches tall, cascading over pot edges
• Pest resistance: Generally pest- and disease-free
• Bloom season: Profuse flowers from late fall through January

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The Secret to Reliable Reblooming

Getting these cacti to flower year after year involves mimicking their natural short-day cycle. Traditional advice: give the plant bright, indirect light (a covered patio or bright window) until September or October. Then reduce light to about 10 hours daily for 20–25 days. Cover the plant with a box or bag from 6–8 p.m., or move it to a darkened garage during those hours. Once buds form, increase watering and move the plant to a bright display spot — but never let it sit in waterlogged soil.

That said, many gardeners (myself included) do nothing special and still enjoy annual blooms. Your mileage may vary.

Rikki Snyder

How to Tell Them Apart

Both are flat-stemmed epiphytes from Brazil's tropical forests, but the differences are clear once you know them. Thanksgiving cactus has pointed, claw-like stem segments; Christmas cactus segments are smoothly rounded. Thanksgiving cactus also blooms earlier — mid-to-late fall — with flowers in white, fuchsia, pink, red, and salmon. Most plants flower heavily from about a month before Christmas through January or even February.

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Styling Ideas

Plant in festive containers — red, green, silver — and group with poinsettias, cyclamens, or other seasonal houseplants. In mild climates (zones 9–11), it can stay outdoors on a sheltered patio; everywhere else, bring it inside for winter.