Giving Thanks for my Thanksgiving Cactus
By Paulette Greenberg, Anoka County Extension Master Gardener
My first experience with an indoor houseplant began about 25 years ago when I was visiting my mom for Christmas. In my haste to set the table for Christmas Eve dinner, I accidentally sent her Thanksgiving cactus spiraling to the floor. Surprisingly, the plant survived the fall with a broken 3-inch piece of stem being the only casualty. Before I could throw it away, my mom set the piece aside so we could attempt to propagate it. We potted it on Christmas Day, and I ended up bringing home a houseplant that I wasn’t sure I wanted.
The Thanksgiving cactus is not a true cactus, as is the case for other holiday ‘cacti’ in the Schlumbergera family such as the Easter and Christmas cactus. They are epiphytes, which means that in their natural state they grow on other plants, such as in the crevices of trees. This is why they are forgiving when they are not repotted often. All holiday cacti are descended from a genus of plants native to Brazil, so they should not be treated like traditional cacti from a desert.
If you aren’t sure which holiday cactus you have, you can tell them apart by observing their leaves, stems, and growth habits. There are many online resources to assist you with identification.
While they are easy to grow, here are some basic tips to keep your holiday cacti happy and reblooming:
Provide bright, indirect or filtered light. Keep plants out of a southern exposure.
In the fall, provide a minimum of 13 hours of darkness for eight weeks to get blooms. I start covering mine for a few hours a day at the end of September.
Temperatures need to stay between 55 and 65 degrees for plants to bloom. Sudden temperature or light changes can cause the buds to drop. My plant has bloomed reliably in an east-facing window that stays around 62 degrees.
Plant in rich soil with humus and good drainage (not cactus potting soil).
Water on a regular basis, but let the soil dry thoroughly between waterings.
Deadhead spent blooms, and do not fertilize until you see new growth.
If you decide to bring your holiday cactus outside in the summer, keep it out of direct sunlight so the leaves don’t burn.
My Thanksgiving cactus only bloomed on one side this year because I forgot to cover it. The side facing away from the window bloomed heavily right before Thanksgiving, but the section facing the window had zero buds. I was able to get a few more blooms by turning the plant, but it wasn’t as spectacular as in previous years.
I never expected my happy accident to live this long! I enjoy trying to get it to bloom each year in time for my Thanksgiving guests, and I sometimes use it as a holiday centerpiece.
For more information about holiday cactus care, visit the Michigan State University Extension page at https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how_to_care_for_and_reflower_your_christmas_cactus
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