If you’re looking to add a low-maintenance plant to your collection this fall and winter, consider opting for a flowering of Thanksgiving cactus.
Native to Brazil, the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) is a popular tropical cactus known for its vibrant, plentiful blooms, making it a perfect addition to holiday decor. It has a unique appearance compared to other cacti: instead of sharp spines and rounded shapes, it features flat stems with pointed ends and serrated edges.
This easy-to-care-for succulent is ideal for brightening up a table centerpiece, a succulent bathroom, decorating a windowsill, or enhancing a fireplace mantel during the festive season. Its stunning and vibrant, tubular flowers make a striking display, typically blooming around late November—hence its festive name. Other members of the Cactaceae family, like the Christmas cactus and Easter cactus, also bloom around their respective holidays, adding a seasonal charm to any indoor space.
It blooms around—you guessed it—Thanksgiving! This is one way to tell it apart from its cousins, the Christmas and Easter cacti, which bloom around their respective holidays. Thanksgiving cactus flowers appear in late fall.
In this blog, you’ll find everything you need to know—from planting tips to pest control and bloom-enhancing tricks—to help your Thanksgiving cactus flourish and get blooming.
About Thanksgiving Cactus
Thanksgiving cacti are tropical plants, thriving outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 12. Fortunately, they also make excellent indoor plants, bringing vibrant color to any room with their stunning blooms, which come in shades of red, pink, white, and yellow. Therefore, that plant is loved for its striking, vibrant blooms, often bringing color indoors just as outdoor gardens fade.
Key Features
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Scientific Name: Schlumbergera truncata
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Mature Size: Typically 12-18 inches tall with a similar spread
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USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 (can be grown indoors in any zone)
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Planting Season: Early spring for optimal growth, but can be grown year-round indoors
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Days to Maturity: About 2-4 years for a full-sized, flowering plant
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Growth Rate: Moderate, with seasonal spurts
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Bloom Time: Late fall, around Thanksgiving (hence the name)
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Notable Attributes: Vibrant flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and purple; can be grown indoors or in shaded outdoor areas in warmer climates
Difference from Other Holiday Cacti
Thanksgiving cactus is often confused with the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) and Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri). While they’re similar, Thanksgiving cactus has distinct, jagged leaf edges and blooms earlier than other varieties.
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Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata): Thanksgiving cactus has pointed, claw-like “teeth” along the edges of its segments, while the Christmas cactus has more rounded lobes.
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Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii): The Christmas cactus has rounded, scalloped edges on its segments, with a smoother look. This softer, less angular leaf shape is a clear identifier.
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Easter Cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri): Easter cactus segments are rounded and more symmetrical, with subtle, slight indentations but no distinct points or scallops.
Planting Thanksgiving Cactus
When to Plant
Thanksgiving cactus can be planted at any time if grown indoors, but early spring is ideal for establishing strong root systems, especially if the plant will be placed outside in a shaded area during warmer months.
Where to Plant
Thanksgiving cacti are semi-tropical plants, ideal for growing indoors as cactus houseplants or outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12. When kept inside, maintain a room temperature between 58°F and 72°F to keep them thriving.
Encouraging your cactus to put on a show of gorgeous flowers just in time for the holidays is simply a matter of providing your plant with the proper light and temperature conditions.
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Light: Thanksgiving cactus thrives in bright, indirect light. A north or east-facing window is ideal.
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Temperature: Keep it in temperatures around 60-70°F during the day and 50-55°F at night in the fall to encourage blooming.
How to Plant
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Soil Preparation: Use a well-draining, slightly acidic potting mix suitable for cacti or succulents.
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Potting: Choose a pot with drainage holes to avoid waterlogging.
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Planting Steps:
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Place cuttings in a shallow layer of soil and cover lightly.
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Water sparingly until roots form.
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Transplant established cuttings or seedlings into larger pots as they grow, ensuring adequate drainage.
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Growing Thanksgiving Cactus
Fertilization
Thanksgiving cacti put on a stunning display of blooms during their growing season, often lasting two to four months, yet they have minimal soil amendment needs. Any commonly available water-soluble fertilizer with a 10-10-10 ratio or a fertilizer formulated for cacti works well when applied at the lower end of the recommended rate.
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Frequency: Apply once a month during the growing season (spring through early fall), but stop feeding in late fall as the plant begins its blooming cycle.
Watering and Soil
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Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid overwatering, as Thanksgiving cactus is susceptible to root rot.
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Soil: Use a cactus mix, or create a mix with equal parts potting soil, sand, and perlite for adequate drainage. Thanksgiving cacti need well-drained soil with good aeration, as they’re epiphytic cacti and won’t thrive in overly moist potting mixes. A pH-balanced soil is also essential for this plant variety to support healthy growth and blooming.
Pruning
Regular pruning of your Thanksgiving cactus encourages the plant to direct its energy toward producing beautiful blooms. The ideal time for pruning is in spring. You can even use the clippings for propagation, allowing you to grow new plants. With proper care, a Thanksgiving cactus can live a long, vibrant life of 20 to 30 years.
Propagating
If you’d like more of these tropical cacti to decorate your home—perhaps to create a large, blooming centerpiece for the holidays—you can easily propagate them using stem cuttings. To start, select stem segments with three to five phylloclades (stem joints).
Allow the segments to dry for a day, then plant them about one inch deep in a pot filled with moist soil. Be sure to propagate in the spring or summer when the plant is actively growing, and avoid propagation during winter after it has finished blooming.
Pests and Diseases
Common pests and issues include
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Spider Mites: Treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
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Mealybugs: Wipe affected areas with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
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Root Rot: Prevent by avoiding waterlogged soil and ensuring proper drainage.
Growing in Pots or Garden Beds
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Pots: Thanksgiving cactus does well in pots due to its compact size. Ensure pots have drainage holes.
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Garden Beds: In USDA Zones 9-11, it can be grown in shaded garden beds with well-draining soil, but bring indoors or cover in cooler weather to protect it from frost.
How to Get Thanksgiving Cactus Blooming
Since the Thanksgiving cactus is native to Brazil and thrives in tropical conditions, creating an environment that mimics its natural habitat will encourage it to bloom around the holiday season. In its native setting, blooming occurs near the end of the rainy season, following shorter days and cooler temperatures.
To replicate these conditions, start adjusting light and temperature in late September or early October. Keep your cactus in a space with shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures to help it prepare for a vibrant display right around Thanksgiving.
- From early fall (around late September), give your cactus 12-14 hours of complete darkness each night for about 6-8 weeks. This dark period helps trigger the bloom cycle.
- During the day, provide bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can stress the plant and damage its leaves.
- Night temperatures around 50-55°F (10-13°C) work best to encourage blooming.
- Avoid placing the cactus near heating vents or areas with significant temperature fluctuations.
- If possible, place it near a cool window or even outdoors, if temperatures allow (but bring it in if it dips below 50°F).
- During this pre-bloom period, water sparingly, just enough to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensure the soil dries slightly between waterings.
- Once buds appear, increase watering slightly to support flower development, but don’t let the plant sit in water.
- Once buds form (usually in 6-8 weeks), you can bring the plant back to a spot with indirect light and resume regular watering. Avoid moving it too much, as sudden changes can cause buds to drop.
Tips and Tricks for Thriving Thanksgiving Cactus
Bloom Boosting: To encourage blooms, give your Thanksgiving cactus 12–14 hours of darkness each day in the fall for about six weeks. Cool nights will also help stimulate blooming.
Avoid Overwatering: Water less during winter; too much moisture can lead to root rot.
Regular Rotation: Rotate the plant occasionally to promote even and balanced growth.
Humidity: Thanksgiving cacti prefer a humid environment. Lightly mist the plant or place it on a tray of pebbles with water to increase humidity around it.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
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Why isn’t my Thanksgiving cactus blooming?
Lack of blooms can be due to inadequate light, too much water, or insufficient darkness in the fall months.
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Can I grow Thanksgiving cactus outdoors?
Yes, in Zones 9-11. Keep it in shaded areas and bring indoors when temperatures drop below 50°F.
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How often should I water my Thanksgiving cactus?
Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Reduce watering during dormancy (after blooming).
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What kind of soil is best for Thanksgiving cactus?
Use a well-draining, slightly acidic soil mix formulated for succulents or cacti.
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Can I propagate my Thanksgiving cactus?
Yes! Take a cutting of 2-3 segments, let it dry for a day, then plant in well-draining soil.
- Is the Thanksgiving Cactus toxic to pets?Thanksgiving cacti are not toxic to dogs and cats, unlike poinsettias, another popular holiday plant. However, it’s still best to keep pets from chewing on the plant. If ingested in large amounts, pets may experience mild symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and a reduced appetite. So, while the Thanksgiving cactus is generally safe, it’s a good idea to discourage your furry friends from nibbling on it.
Looking to beautify your home with some holiday cacti, we’ve got you covered!
Related: Where to buy Thanksgiving cactus
