The Christmas Cactus that you seeing me propagating here and in the video is actually a Thanksgiving (or Crab) Cactus. To propagate Christmas Cactus by stem cuttings with 1 easy twist, and plant them too. Once they’re happy and burgeoning forth, you’ll most likely be asked to share the love. These succulents are long-lasting (if properly cared for of course) and grow along at a steady, moderate pace. Be sure to look for the pointy edges on the leaves to identify it as a Thanksgiving cactus correctly, and remember that it’s native to tropical climates and will thrive with more water and humidity than desert cacti.You can find Christmas Cactus sold practically everywhere during the holiday season making them a very popular blooming houseplant.
#Thanksgiving cactus how to#
Now you have the tools you need to care for your Thanksgiving cactus, and you’ll be able to educate friends and family on how to care for theirs. This means it’s best to keep them out of reach of pets, but if your furry pal takes a bite from it, there’s no need to panic. These plants were once thought to be highly toxic to pets however, more recent studies show that they’re only a low toxicity threat to pets. To ensure your plant isn’t too cold or too dry, you’ll want to avoid placing it near a drafty door or window and steer clear of air vents as well.Īlthough it’s primarily grown indoors, the Thanksgiving cactus can thrive outdoors in zones 10 to 12. They also prefer hotter temperatures, but they can deal with temperatures as low as 60 degrees. The closer you can mimic those conditions, the happier your plant will be. This is much higher than desert cactus, but remember, they’re native to tropical and subtropical climates. Ideally, Thanksgiving cactus like the humidity level to be above 50 percent. Without enough food, the cactus won’t be able to produce those pretty flowers it’s so famous for. Just be sure that there is a drainage hole and the soil isn’t holding onto too much water.įeed this cactus during the growing season with a water-soluble or granular fertilizer. You could add a bit of peat moss to your generic potting mix to help the soil retain more water.
The Thanksgiving cactus is adaptable to most soil types but prefers soil that holds moisture a little more than your typical cactus. Therefore, it’s important not to let the soil dry out in between waterings, and be sure to thoroughly saturate the soil when you do water.
However, when fall rolls around, you can move the cactus to an area with bright indirect light to help encourage it to bloom.Īlthough it doesn’t like its roots to sit in water, this cactus does want to be in moist soil. Too much sun can cause the leaves of this plant to wash out and eventually die off. Unlike most cacti, the Thanksgiving cactus prefers partial light to shady spots. Just remember that the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti like similar conditions, so if you have incorrectly identified which one you have or you just aren’t sure, these care tips will work for both plants. Here is how to care for this plant so that it can live its best life and provide you with plenty of pretty blooms. Luckily, even if you mislabel these plants, they thrive in similar conditions. The Thanksgiving cactus will have sharp and pointy sides on its segmented leaves, while the Christmas cactus has more rounded sides. The best way to tell if you have a Thanksgiving cactus or a Christmas cactus is by looking at the leaves. This is mainly because they look so alike and also because they’re mislabeled in stores. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving cactus often get confused with Christmas cactus. However, they produce beautiful blooms that come in a range of colors, including pink, purple, white, and peach. They prefer higher humidity levels and soil moisture and don’t like direct sunlight. These pretty cacti are native to the tropical climates in Brazil and aren’t your typical cactus. If you plan on giving this plant as a gift or you’ve received one, you’ll likely want to be sure you know how to care for it.
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