Many people excitedly await the stunning blooms of their “Christmas cactus” during the holiday season, only to discover it blooms at unexpected times or doesn’t look quite as they imagined. The truth is, most Christmas cacti sold today aren’t actually Christmas cacti—they’re often confused with two similar species: the Thanksgiving cactus and the Easter cactus.
Understanding the differences between these three plants can help you properly care for them and ensure they bloom during the right time of year. Let’s dive into how you can easily identify what type of cactus you have and why it matters.
The Three Holiday Cacti: Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter Cactus
The confusion among these plants stems from their similarities. All three are part of the Schlumbergera or Hatiora genus, and they share the same vibrant, tube-shaped flowers and segmented leaves. However, these plants have distinct features that set them apart, including bloom time, leaf shape, and flower structure.
- Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
- Bloom Time: Late December to early January (around Christmas)
- Leaf Shape: Smooth, rounded edges with slight scalloping
- Flower: The flowers tend to hang down, almost like they’re drooping, giving them a graceful, arching appearance.
- Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
- Bloom Time: Late November (around Thanksgiving)
- Leaf Shape: Sharp, pointed edges, almost like small teeth or claws. This makes it easily distinguishable from the rounded Christmas cactus.
- Flower: The flowers are more upright compared to the Christmas cactus, and their structure is more symmetrical.
- Easter Cactus (Hatiora gaertneri)
- Bloom Time: Late March to April (around Easter)
- Leaf Shape: Thick, flat leaves with a more rounded appearance and no sharp edges.
- Flower: The flowers have a starburst-like shape, which is different from the tubular flowers of the other two species.
How to Tell Which Cactus You Have: The Foolproof Way
The easiest way to tell if your cactus is a Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter cactus is to check the leaf shape. This is the most reliable indicator since bloom times can vary depending on growing conditions, and plants can be mislabeled.
1. Examine the Leaf Segments
- Christmas Cactus: Look for smooth, rounded edges. The segments (called cladodes) should have gentle scallops without any sharp points.
- Thanksgiving Cactus: If the leaf segments have pointed, jagged edges resembling small claws, you’ve got a Thanksgiving cactus on your hands.
- Easter Cactus: Easter cacti have smooth, rounded leaf segments like the Christmas cactus but tend to be thicker and less flattened than the others.
2. Observe the Bloom Time
While the leaf shape is the foolproof way to differentiate between them, bloom time offers a good clue:
- If your plant blooms around Thanksgiving, it’s most likely a Thanksgiving cactus.
- If it blooms around Christmas, it’s likely a Christmas cactus.
- If your plant blooms around Easter, it’s an Easter cactus.
3. Look at the Flowers
The structure of the flowers is another important detail:
- Christmas Cactus: The flowers hang down gracefully.
- Thanksgiving Cactus: The flowers are more symmetrical and stand upright.
- Easter Cactus: The flowers have a starburst or daisy-like shape.
Why Does It Matter
TO CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE PLEASE SEE PAGE 2
