Theres even an Easter cactus that blooms in spring.
They’re named for the season they bloom in.
The differences between these festive cacti are so subtle that they are often accidentally sold as each other.
Credit: Nadezhda_Nesterova / Getty Images
Luckily the care for each species is the same: moderate light and watering about once a week.
Erin Marinois lifecycle marketing director atThe Sill.
The Easter cactus is part of theRhipsalidopsisgenus and is also native to Brazil.
Thanksgiving Cacti have pointed edges on their stem segments, while Christmas Cacti and Easter Cacti have rounded stem segments. Easter Cacti have only a subtle rounded edge.
While they all have a similar appearance, color and stem segment shape are easy ways to identify them.
Determine throw in By Color
These holiday cacti blooms come in a variety of colors.
TheThanksgiving cactushas the spikiest stem segments of the three varieties, and its pollen is yellow.
Christmas Cactus.
The Christmas cactus has less spiky pads with rounder edges, and its pollen is pink.
The Easter cactus has subtle, rounded edges on its stem segments.
Sometimes Easter cactus can also have small hairs on their leaves, Marino says.
Easter Cactus.
In addition to the stem segments, the blooms of each holiday cactus key in are also different.
The tubular blooms of a Thanksgiving cactus grow horizontally.
How Blooming Correlates With The Holidays
Each of their common names refers to their flowering season.
Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas cactus (S. x buckleyi, sometimes labeledS.
bridgesii) varieties are the two most confused for each other because their blooming periods are back-to-back.
Thanksgiving cacti typically bloom between November and December, whileChristmas cacti bloomfrom January to February.
They are all collectively known as holiday cacti.
Regardless of the variety, they all need similar care.
Water And Feeding
For general care, aside from bright light to partial shade, water moderately.
A holiday cactus will bloom for five to eight weeks.
To encourage blooms at other times of the year, repeat the process.
How To Propagate Holiday Cacti
Consider propagating your holiday cacti to share with others.
They are easy to grow from cuttings, making them perfect holiday and seasonal hosting gifts.
Place the dried segment one inch deep in potting soil, and water to keep moist.
Growth should appear after three to eight weeks.
To learn more about low-maintenance houseplants, check out our cactus care andsucculent careguides.
North Carolina State Extension.Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension.Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti.
