• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • DIY Projects
    • Homemade Bath and Body
    • Sewing
    • Flower Crafts/Decor
    • Thrift Store/Vintage
  • Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Container Gardening
    • Houseplants
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Landscaping
    • DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • Room Makeovers
    • Spring Decor
    • Summer Decor
    • Fall Decor
    • Winter Decor
    • Home Decor Projects
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Salad Recipes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Hearth and Vine
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Hearth and Vine
  • DIY Projects
    • ...Flower/Gardening Crafts
    • ... Bath and Body
    • ...Sewing/Fabric Crafts
    • ...Thrift Store/Upcycle
  • Gardening
    • ...Flower Gardens
    • ...Container Gardening
    • ...Indoor Gardening
    • ...DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • ...Home Decor Projects
    • ...Spring Decor
    • ...Summer Decor
    • ...Fall Decor
    • ...Winter Decor
    • ...Room Makeovers
  • Recipes
    • ...Appetizers and Snacks
    • ...Dinner Recipes
    • ...Side Dish Recipes
    • ...Salad Recipes
    • ...Dessert
    • ...Drinks
  • Holidays
    • ...Valentine's Day
    • ...Easter
    • ...Mother's Day
    • ...Halloween
    • ...Thanksgiving
    • ...Christmas
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Gardening

    Christmas Cactus: Another Holiday Bloomer You'll Want to Grow

    November 20, 2022 by Patti Estep 14 Comments

    Thanksgiving cactus in bloom.
    Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti in a basket over close ups of stems.

    Learn about this beautiful blooming holiday houseplant and how to tell the difference between the Thanksgiving, Schlumbergera truncata, and the Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera x buckleyi.

    Thanksgiving cactus in bloom.

    This beauty is not a desert cactus but originates from Brazil in South America in the rain forest. It's an epiphyte which means it grows on other plants, in this case, trees. It's not a parasite but rather lives on the rainfall and air and other debris that accumulate near it.

    I'm sure that is why this plant makes a great houseplant. It doesn't require strong light but prefers indirect lighting and it doesn't need much water.

    Newsletter Signup
    Join Our Newsletter List!

    Be the first to receive new posts and get access to our Subscribers Only Page.

    Bright pink close up of a flower on a Schlumbergera truncata.

    What's the Difference Between a Christmas Cactus and Thanksgiving Cactus Plant?

    The scientific name for the Christmas cactus is Schlumbergera x buckleyi or bridgesii. Here's the interesting news. When I was looking up the scientific name for this plant I realized that I did not have a Schlumbergera x buckleyi. Instead, I believe this plant is Schlumbergera truncata also known as the Thanksgiving cactus. Another common name is False Christmas Cactus.

    Thanksgiving cactus - Schlumbergera truncata close up of a leaf section with jagged edges.
    Thanksgiving cactus - Schlumbergera truncata

    Thanksgiving cacti normally bloom around Thanksgiving or the third week of November here in the US. In fact, the majority of plants sold as the Christmas cactus are actually the Thanksgiving cactus.

    However, there is another key feature that distinguishes the two. The stem, or what looks like the leaf segments, on the Thanksgiving cactus has distinct pointed edges or teeth as shown above.

    A true Christmas cactus close up of the leaves with smooth rounded edges.
    Christmas Cactus - Schlumbergera x buckleyi

    The true Christmas cactus is more scalloped and has round edges shown above.

    Easter Cactus with star like pink blooms.
    Easter Cactus - Schlumbergera gaertneri

    To make matters even more complicated there is also an Easter cactus, Schlumbergera gaertneri aka Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, whose leaves look similar to the Christmas cactus. In this case, the key to differentiating them is the blooms. The Easter cactus has star-like daisy blooms shown above. These blooms are said to last much longer than the other types of cacti.

    Thanksgiving cactus,Schlumbergera truncata, in bloom in a basket with a Christmas cactus not in bloom.

    Here's my DIY embroidery hoop basket with a Thanksgiving cactus in bloom and a Christmas cactus not in bloom on the right. I grew the Christmas cactus from a cutting last year and it has not bloomed yet. I can't wait to see what it looks like when it's in bloom.

    Christmas cactus in bloom in a hanging basket.
    true Christmas cactus in bloom during the winter

    Here's an update with the true Christmas cactus in bloom in January as shown above.

    Thanksgiving cactus in bud in October

    Schlumbergera Plant Care

    • I find that this plant likes cool temps.
    • It also enjoys being pot bound
    • Needs bright indirect light.
    • Also, like many houseplants and succulents, it needs a pot and potting soil that drains well. Let it dry out between watering. Otherwise, you may get root rot.

    Propagation

    All are easy to propagate. Just take a cutting of 3 - 4 stem segments. Allow the cut to dry or callus before potting it in some well draining growing medium.

    You will find that if it's happy it will bloom more than once a year. Most of the time I've seen this plant for sale in a pink or salmon color.  However, there are many hybrids that come in shades of red, oranges, peach, white, cream, and purple.

    Lastly, according to Birds and Blooms Magazine a properly cared for holiday cactus can live for over 145 years. That's quite a good bang for your buck.

    If you have this plant you thought was a Christmas Cactus or know anyone who does and it always blooms too early, now you know why. Either way, it's a beautiful easy to grow plant.

    Patti signature

    True Christmas cactus hanging from a basket in bloom.

    More Gardening

    • Pressed Flower Glass Coasters Simple Tutorial
    • Plants for Love - Romantic Plants to Buy or Gift
    • Maidenhair Fern - A Lovely Houseplant
    • Cooking with Parsley - Growing, Harvesting and Recipes

    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Donna

      November 25, 2022 at 10:37 am

      I enjoy your site so much - have saved a lot of them. From your information I have a Thanksgiving cactus. Missed blooming this year but will keep watching it. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        November 25, 2022 at 11:47 am

        Thank you Donna. Who knows your cactus may bloom yet.

        Reply
    2. Marilyn Jacoby

      November 15, 2018 at 3:55 pm

      How often should a Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus be watered?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        November 15, 2018 at 4:02 pm

        It can vary depending on the conditions you have it in. I water mine once a week thoroughly making sure that it drains well when I do. You don't want it to sit in water. You may find that once a week is too much. Just make sure it's pretty dry before watering. I think people kill plants (myself included) by over-watering more than under-watering. Of course if it's drooping that probably means it's time to water.

        Reply
    3. Rene Box

      December 24, 2017 at 11:53 am

      Very interesting post! I have four of the Thanksgiving cactus in four different colors that came from cuttings from my mom. She will be surprised, as I was, to hear that they are not true Christmas cactus. Thanks for the post.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        December 26, 2017 at 6:46 am

        Hi Rene,

        I think many of us are in the same boat, but the plant is just as lovely. Mine is bloomed in October and is blooming again now and a love having something bloom inside this time of year.

        Reply
    4. Carole

      October 31, 2017 at 12:31 pm

      I love everything about this plant, it's one of the few house plants that continues to catch my attention. Can't figure out if it's the bloom or the unique greenery that interests me the most. Great information, this will help if I ever break down and actually purchase one for our Tiny Home.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        October 31, 2017 at 1:25 pm

        Hi Carole,

        This is a good one because it doesn't take up too much room and is very adaptable and easy to grow. Plus the flowers are awfully pretty. It usually blooms a couple times a year for me.

        Reply
    5. Imelda Clifton

      December 13, 2016 at 2:33 am

      Hi Patti
      I was interested to see the plant "Christmas Cactus"
      Where I live in New Zealand this plant is reasonably common. It flowers in March/April which is Autumn here. I had an apricot one but have seen pink as well. I asked a few people what it was called but no one seemed to have a name except "some sort of succulent"
      Unfortunately when I shifted house it was neglected for a while and it died. It grows easily from cuttings tho
      Imelda

      Reply
    6. Rose

      August 03, 2016 at 5:49 pm

      Hi Patti,
      Really great information!
      They can last a very long time, I inherited a Christamas Cactus from a friends Grandmother, it was already 30 years old when I received it, I had it for 20 years. If you take really good care ot it, you might have to put it in your will:-)

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 03, 2016 at 8:39 pm

        Hi Rose,

        That's too funny. We should all be so lucky to have plants in our will!
        Thanks for stopping by,
        Patti

        Reply
    7. Pamela @ FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

      December 23, 2014 at 10:41 am

      I have both Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus, the leaves are distinctly different. I have a friend who has one that is over 50 years old. It was her Grandmothers. It is huge and gorgeous! I have started some cuttings from it.

      Reply
    8. Susan M

      December 23, 2014 at 6:53 am

      I did't realize there was a Thanksgiving cactus! Mine always bloomed early. Thanks for sharing. This is such a petty winter blooming plant!

      Reply
      • Patti

        December 23, 2014 at 10:54 am

        Thank you Susan. Some people suggest that the true Christmas Cactus is somewhat rare but I think you can coax it to bloom a little later if you give it the cold treatment at the right time. We'll see how I fare next year but really I wouldn't mind having it bloom at Thanksgiving either. Have a great holiday!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Follow Me

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Patti profile pic

    Hi! I'm Patti

    Join me to create lots of fun DIY projects including crafts, gardening, home decor and tasty recipes.

    more about me

    Popular Posts

    Blue jean crossover bag

    DIY Crossbody Bag from Jeans

    tabletop water gardens

    How to Make an Indoor Water Garden

    Echievera planter

    What to do With a Stretched Succulent

    Fabric bowl covers in 3 prints

    How to Make Fabric Bowl Covers

    Collage of flowers including russian sage, pink hydrangeas, coneflower and yarrow.

    10+ Long Blooming Plants

    Chicken black bean tortilla casserole

    Chicken Black Bean Casserole Recipe

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About
    Privacy Policy
    Disclosure Policy

    Sign Up Here!
    for our
    newsletter &
    special offers

    • Shop
    • Web Stories

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Hearth and Vine