Sequence includes 593 images taken at 20 minute intervals. It blooms in many colors and begins blooming here in November. If you get your holiday cactus plant outside the blooming period, you can identify it by looking at the leaves. Easter/Spring cactus are usually sold between Easter and Mothers day around here and the plant looks a lot like the real Christmas cactus but the flowers are very differant and they open and close up each day. Both types are usually in stores during November and December. So the Christmas Cactus blooms around Christmas, the Thanksgiving Cactus about a month earlier, around Thanksgiving, and the Easter Cactus grows flowers in spring around Easter. For me to see something clearly, I have to study it, thoroughly. Based on temps and day/night length. Christmas Cacti begin to bud in late November/early December. Cooler nights and longer nights may help, but are not necessary for blooming as much as well feeding and proper hygenics. A sunny southern aspect in Northern Canada is entirely different to a sunny southern aspect in equatorial Ecuador. However, some bloom when summer kicks in. Light Conditions: Schlumbergera like bright but indirect sunshine and prefer to be placed in a semi shade position away from direct sunshine. You should never fertilize your Christmas Cactus (or Thanksgiving or Easter Cactus) when its in bloom. They flowered for me in October and now they're doing it again for me now. For real? The best potting medium is well-drained with good aerations, such as a mix of two-thirds potting soil with one-third perlite or course sand. October 24, 2014 at 2:04 pm. Pot them again. Telling the differance between the holiday cactus is really confusing for a lot of people, usually people are refering to the same plant when they say Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus. Or possibly it is a plant that remains indoors, year round.The amount of light it receives then is dependent on where it is encouraged to bud and flower. :). A healthy, blooming Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata). Put them in a pot with fresh soil -- making sure the pot has a tray for drainage so they're not standing in water. Sometimes the conditions in our homes are favorable for budding and flowering, other times … The tricky part is sometimes, Christmas and Thanksgiving Cacti also … One of the most crucial aspects of Thanksgiving cactus plant care is water. Heat: day 70 degrees, night 58 degrees. Thanksgiving cacti leaves have "soft points." Your room has turned out to be worthy of being in a magazine! Sometimes people confuse an Easter cactus with a Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus. My Thanksgiving cactus start blooming around the first of November and bloom through December than rest for a few weeks and than bloom again but not as many flowers and my Christmas cactus are starting to bloom now.It's still a bit early for Easter cactus to be blooming in most areas. Christmas Cactus segments are smooth sided and have no pointy edges. And has been for years.Can't wait for buds to form on my Easter Cactus. In many homes, they come to bloom twice a year, in November/December and again … I grow all three types and once you see them side by side it's really easy to tell the differance. I will also give you tips on growing and propagating your Christmas cactus as well. If they haven’t been repotted for years, they may have fewer or no blooms. I could fool people into thinking this was an Easter cactus, but as you can see from the spines it is really a Thanksgiving cactus that just happens to be blooming for Easter. Once a … Because these will root from cuttings, after it finishes blooming you could break off the longer stems at a joint and place the broken ends in the dirt all around the original rooted plant and end up with a thicker pot full of the plant next spring. Voila! This means that when your plant gets too much light or too high temperatures it won’t be triggered to start the blooming process. The Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri), like its close relatives the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti, is named for its blooming time. If you can choose a pot w/tray w/lip for watering from the bottom, your soil will not get as compacted as quickly, you will need to water thoroughly from the top once to ensure soil is against the plant w/o air pockets. These two, as well as the Thanksgiving or crab cactus, also are sold as "holiday cacti". There even is an Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri), blooming of course in spring, whose leaf margins have small bristles, leaves are more three-dimensional with a thick ridge on one side, and flowers are more star-shaped than the other two cacti. Sorry if I've rambled.Chaz. Both grow wild in the mountains of southeastern Brazil, so they prefer things on the cool and shady side unlike the cacti found in desert habitats. I still can't distinguish the difference between Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus, but whatever they are bloom Nov, Dec, May and July. As you can see in this picture Thanksgiving night, I was feeling quite cozy and in the spirit. Thought we'd try the Aussie way since it was our rainy/cloudy season ;0). Ideal spring and summer growth occurs at temperatures between 70 to 80 °F during its growing season from April to September. 37. It will work like magic! All Holiday cactus needs to be forced to bloom, which occurs about two months before the blooming period. Start forcing Thanksgiving cactus to bloom in late summer to early fall. Despite which plant you have, it is likely the conditions it is in that cause it to bloom. They'll be in there from now until end of Feb.So I think Dry and cool is key, they've been blooming this way for me for years. It has never bloomed in spring before, so that's kind of cool. Full sunlight is beneficial during fall and winter, but bright sun during the summer months can make plants look pale and yellow. There's no Thanksgiving in Mexico either...tree came out November 1st and I took a week to decorate it...then couldn't wait for the garland on the fireplace so that came out as well as my husband got into the spirit and before Thanksgiving the lights were up inside and out. I just noticed buds on my thanksgiving cactus. The plant originates from a drier climate unlike other holiday cacti such as Thanksgiving cactus or Christmas cactus. Be kind...this is my first time asking for advice. Many keep their Cactus out as long as possible in the autumn air...low temperatures that would otherwise harm some plants, such as geranium, will not hurt a C.C.In fact, as the temperatures drop, when brought in to a sunny window such temperatures influence the budding greatly.So plants that might flower at the U.S. Thankgsiving, can be delayed or hurried by the amount of light and cool temperatures they receive.Then, usually, such flowering that shows at Thanksgiving will be followed by a second rush just before, at, or maybe after Easter. Much has been written about why buds might drop when they have remained in the same place.Christmas Cactus buds react to where they receive sunlight...or other light source.When watering, you might decide the kitchen is a better place to do that operation and when you take it back, it somehow didn't be placed in the exact same way it was before.Depending on just how much difference, the bud will turn its head back to where it was receiving such light before the watering....and if it is a big difference...such as from a north - to a south position, such chance might bring about bud drop. Christmas Cactus has Pink Pollen, not Yellow (which in indicative of Thanksgiving Cactus) What & How Often to Feed your Christmas Cactus. My Thanksgiving Cactus is starting to bud right now. How do you get yours to rebloom since you live in CA? Do use your senses, and also your common sense, when deciding on placement. However, if you're in a more well stocked garden center or plant specialist, you might probably run into leftover Christmas cacti on clearance.