Is It a Christmas Cactus or a Thanksgiving Cactus? Let’s Settle the Debate

A few years ago, I excitedly posted a picture of a “Christmas cactus” I had just purchased on my Facebook page. I was feeling pretty proud of myself—after all, what’s more festive than a cactus blooming right around the holidays? . Within minutes, the comments started rolling in: “That’s not a Christmas cactus—it’s a Thanksgiving cactus!”

Wait, what? I had no idea there was even a difference. But after some digging I learned how to tell them apart.

Fast forward a couple of years, and that Thanksgiving cactus is still going strong. It spends the winter cozy inside my house, but every spring, I move it back out to my covered deck, where it soaks up the fresh air and indirect sunlight. Right now, it’s about to bloom—just in time for Thanksgiving!

If you’ve ever wondered how to tell the difference between a Christmas cactus and a Thanksgiving cactus, or if you want tips on how to care for them and encourage those gorgeous blooms year after year, keep reading—I’ve got you covered!

So What’s the Difference?

Shape of the Leaves:  This is the first thing I look at when deciding which kind of cactus it is.

• Thanksgiving Cactus:  The  leaves have sharp, pointy edges that look like claws or horns.

 

• Christmas Cactus : Their leaves are more rounded and smooth.

 

Bloom Time:

• Thanksgiving cacti typically bloom in late fall (around Thanksgiving).
• Christmas cacti bloom closer to Christmas.

Flowers:

• Thanksgiving cactus flowers tend to be more horizontal and symmetrical.
• Christmas cactus flowers are drooping and asymmetrical.

How to Care for Your Holiday Cactus: 

1. Light and Location:

• Place in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch leaves.
• Keep it in a stable location as frequent moving can disrupt blooming.

1. Temperature:

• Thrives in temperatures between 60–70°F during the day and slightly cooler at night. My cactus stayed on the deck all summer in temperatures that were much warmer, but the deck was covered, and they were not in direct sunlight.
• Avoid drafts and sudden temperature changes.

1. Watering:

• Allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering. Overwatering can lead to root rot. I watered mine once weekly along with the other houseplants on the deck.
• Use a well-draining potting mix. I repotted this year and used a good quality potting mix rather than a cactus mix.

1. Humidity:

• These cacti love humidity. Mist the plant occasionally when you bring them indoors for the winter.

1. Fertilizing:
   • You can feed with a fertilizer especially for cactus, but I used my all purpose Dr. Earth Houseplant food that I used for my other plants. I fertilized once a month and then stopped in late summer to prepare for blooming.

How to Get Your Cactus to Rebloom:

I’m going to be honest here. I have read about putting in dark room or evening covering with a box so that your cactus will get more darkness in late summer to encouraging reblooming. I didn’t do anything. My cactus stayed on the deck until the temperatures consistently stayed below 55 degrees. I noticed they started to have blooms the first week of November and should bloom by Thanksgiving.  I did decrease the amount of water, allowing them to dry out more between waterings. If your plant stays in the house in an area that has artificial lights on for long periods of times you will need to keep in an area where the temperature is less than 6O degrees, and the plant will get 13-16 hours of darkness each day.  Start this in late fall,  3-6 weeks before you want it to bloom.

Common Issues and Solutions

• Drooping Leaves: Could indicate overwatering or insufficient light. Remember these are cactus, so overwatering will be the death of your plant.
• Yellowing Leaves: Check for root rot and make sure the potting mix is draining well.

 

So whether it’s a Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus, I hope you’ll consider purchasing one this year for yourself or as a great gift for a gardening friend.