The stems of a Christmas cactus have more of a scalloped, rounded edge than a Thanksgiving cactus. The Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera x buckleyi, has more rounded, scalloped leaves and blooms in December. The Thanksgiving cactus is Schlumbergera truncata, also known as a crab cactus, because of the claw-like, serrated edge of the leaves. There has been so much hybridization over the years, the lines about varieties have become a bit blurred. And it all has to do with bloom time and leaf shape (it’s easier to refer to them as leaves, though they’re actually flat stems). In the last few years, there have been a lot of articles explaining the difference between a Thanksgiving cactus and a Christmas cactus. They’re epiphytic plants native to the rainforests of Brazil, and typically bloom around May.
The plant belongs to the Schlumbergera family, of which there are about six to nine species. The term Christmas cactus is more of a North American plant name because of the time of year when the plant blooms indoors.
Could your Christmas cactus cuttings be from a Thanksgiving cactus? (And does it matter?) A Christmas cactus that I had for years sometimes bloomed more than once a year. (My green thumb is more in its element outdoors.) For indoor plants, I’m starting to catch on to achieving that delicate balance between overwatering and underwatering, while paying close attention to the plant’s environment (light, air, etc.). Sometimes it’s probably because I feel so amazed that a plant that’s been rather neglected manages to bloom. There’s something about seeing those wee little buds appear at the end of the “leaves” that fills me with hope and excitement. Perhaps that’s what inspired me to make sure I have one in the house each holiday season. I remember my grandmother had one that bloomed each year. The dependable, showy Christmas cactus is among my favorite houseplants. Is your Christmas cactus lush and healthy and ready to be pruned? Take the Christmas cactus cuttings from your succulent and make new plants.
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