Festive Cactus Varieties: Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, and Easter Cactus - A Guide to Grown Floral changed Seasons Greetings!
Tackle your green thumb dreams and nurture eye-catching, enchanting succulent plants this holiday season! Bring vibrant, crimson or bright pink blooms into your living space with holiday cacti. Unlike the grueling trip I took from San Francisco to Tuscon for the legendary saguaros, enjoying these festive cacti is a breeze.
Check out these attention-grabbing beauties: Christmas cactus, Easter cactus, and Thanksgiving cactus. Each variety offers a unique look that'll dazzle during special occasions: Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. Want one of each? Why not!
Curious to know the difference between these cacti species? Here's a rundown:
The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) is the most commonly found in the U.S. It usually starts flowering in early November and continues through the end of the holiday season. Look for sharply pointed stem edges, and the flowers will grow horizontally to the stems.
Now, onto the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii). This cactus stands out with flatter stem segments and notched edges that aren't pointy. Branches hang rather than being horizontal, making it an ideal choice for hanging planters. Stunning, tubular, radiant flowers adorn the plant during winter months.
Lastly, there's the Easter cactus. Confusingly enough, it's not the same genus as the other holiday cacti, but it may still be labeled Schlumbergera gaertneri in the garden store. Keep an eye out for rounded or scalloped stem edges with tiny bristles. The beauty blooms from February through May, with buds resembling little stars.
Ensure your holiday cactus flourishes all season long by catering to its tropical roots. Remember, unlike typical desert cacti, holiday cacti prefer moisture, humidity, and shade. Here's what you need to do:
Caring for your Holiday Cactus:
- Sunlight: Weave your plant between 4 and 6 hours of indirect light per day.
- Humidity: Holiday cacti love a high-humidity environment. Maintain humidity with pebbles, misters, or a humidifier.
- Soil: The perfect soil is loose, well-draining, and slightly acidic. Mix potting soil, peat or fine bark, and perlite or pumice to make an ideal cacti mix.
- Water: Water your holiday cactus when the top inch or two of soil is dry. Avoid waterlogging.
- Temperature: Optimal temperatures are between 70°F-80°F (daytime) and 45°F (nighttime). If your home is dry, increase humidity to keep your cactus happy.
Caring for holiday cacti is like getting to know a fascinating, exotic plant species. So, dive into the world of these unique plants, and add a dash of festive charm to your home this holiday season!
Enrichment insights:
- Rainforest succulents: Holiday cacti are not desert cacti but originate from the rainforests of South America, growing as air plants that absorb nutrients from decaying vegetation, rainwater, and air. They thrive in moist, shaded environments out of direct sunlight.
- Cold-tolerant: Holiday cacti can withstand temperatures down to 45°F at night. However, excessively cold temperatures can damage the plant.
- Epiphyte: Holiday cacti are epiphytes, which means they do not root in soil and grow on trees or in crevices, obtaining nutrients from decaying vegetation, rainwater, and air.
- Longevity: With proper care, holiday cacti can live for many decades, even up to over a century.
- Cultural care: Proper cultural care, including fertilizing, adequate soil, appropriate lighting, moisture, temperature, and humidity levels, can yield healthy holiday cactus plants that bloom for multiple seasons.
Exploring the world of holiday cacti can offer a vibrant addition to both your 'home-and-garden' and 'lifestyle', as you bring festive charm into your living space. These exotic plants, hailing from South American rainforests, thrive in moist, shaded environments, providing a unique 'gardening' experience. By catering to their tropical roots with the right sunlight, humidity, soil, water, and temperature, you can ensure your holiday cactus flourishes all season long, blooming for multiple seasons and even living for many decades.
