Vacation cacti—the epiphytic vegetation often known as Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, or Easter cactus—are identified for his or her longevity and distinctive star-shaped blooms, that are mentioned to look across the time of their respective holidays annually.
The catch is that vacation cacti are sometimes blended up and mislabeled, so it may be powerful to know care on your plant and when to count on blooms.
Fortunately, a number of key variations may also help you distinguish one vacation cactus from one other—and get the knowledge it’s essential assist your Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, or Easter cactus thrive. This is do it.
How you can Determine Completely different Vacation Cactus Varieties
The confusion is comprehensible. All three vegetation look very comparable, with flat, succulent stems composed of shield-shaped segments and vivid pink, pink, purple, white, and even yellow or a mixture of colours.
The best solution to inform several types of vacation cacti aside is by taking a look at these stems for a slight distinction in form.
One other key distinction is when these vegetation bloom beneath pure situations. Although they don’t seem to be strictly tied to the vacations they’re named for, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi, S. bridgesii) tends to bloom round late December, whereas Thanksgiving cactus sometimes blooms nearer to late November. Hybrid vegetation will bloom someday in November or December.
Each sorts require round six to eight weeks of cooler, shorter days within the fall to set buds—at the very least 13 hours of darkish every day. In distinction, Easter cactus wants round eight to 12 weeks of cool, darkish situations to set buds, pushing its typical bloom vary to late winter or early spring.
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Christmas Cactus
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Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera russelliana syn. S. bridgesii, S. x buckleyi, and different hybrids and cultivars) has elegantly drooping mature succulent stems made up of flat, scallop-like segments. Christmas cactus flowers could also be pink, yellow, pink, white, or bicolor.
You possibly can determine Christmas cactus by analyzing the sides and ideas of its stem segments. The 2 to three-notches or scallops are typically extra rounded than on a Thanksgiving cactus however pointier than an Easter cactus, with out bristles. Its blooms are narrower than these on Easter cactus, round 1.5 inches large.
Christmas cactus requires vibrant, oblique gentle, well-drained soil, excessive humidity, and heat temperatures in the course of the rising season.
Water solely as soon as the soil has dried out. If doable, maintain this plant outside to absorb the solar in summer time, then profit from cooler temperatures and shorter days as fall arrives. This and creating some water stress will assist the plant set buds; convey it again inside earlier than night time temperatures dip under 45°F.
Thanksgiving Cactus
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Thanksgiving cactus, Schlumbergera truncata, seems just like Christmas and Easter cacti, with a number of key variations. It shares the same progress behavior and flower form with the opposite sorts. Blooms could also be pink, pink, purple, orange, multicolor, or white.
The opposite frequent identify for Thanksgiving cactus is crab cactus as a result of pointy, clawlike edges on the sides and ideas of its stem segments. That is essentially the most important function that distinguishes Thanksgiving cactus from its cousins.
Not like these on Christmas cactus, the flowers on a mature Thanksgiving cactus don’t level downwards.
Give Thanksgiving cactus vibrant, oblique gentle, heat temperatures, excessive humidity, and well-drained soil. Deal with it equally to Christmas cactus, conserving it outside in summer time and fall to present it about six weeks of cool night time temperatures and dry soil to assist set buds.
Anticipate blooms beginning round late November with the correct care. With luck and the precise situations, flowers might rebloom in late winter. Preserving vegetation barely potbound may promote blooming.
Easter Cactus
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Easter cactus is much less generally present in nurseries and plant retailers than Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus. It was as soon as categorized as Schlumbergera gaertneri however has since been reclassified as Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri.
It shares its progress behavior and segmented stems with the opposite vacation cacti. Its flowers, which might develop as much as three inches large, could also be pink, purple, pink, yellow, or white, relying on the cultivar.
You may know an Easter cactus as a result of the flat segments of its stems are rounded on the ideas, not pointed, and will have brown or yellow bristles.
Not like the opposite vacation cacti, Easter cactus doesn’t kind its buds till days begin getting longer, sometimes in February or March. Anticipate blooms beginning in late March by way of early Could.
This plant can be slightly extra excessive upkeep, requiring extra constant watering. It requires vibrant, oblique gentle, well-drained soil, humid situations, and month-to-month fertilizer in the course of the rising season.
In the reduction of on watering and expose the plant to nighttime temperatures within the 40°F to 50°F vary for about two months beginning in October to assist set buds. When buds are seen, convey the plant indoors and start watering once more.