These plants are easy to grow and are often passed down through the generations. Prune well in the spring to encourage a bushier plant. This succulent type needs typical watering as the other succulents. Buds can occur singly or in multiples along the segmented leaves. The Schlumbergera is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in average home conditions. Botanical name. There aren't a great many varieties available, ... Christmas Cactus Care Guide Schlumbergera Truncata Hybridization over the past century has resulted in the introduction of many new varieties of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter cactus. When exposed to stress such as sudden changes in temperature or improper lighting conditions, Christmas cacti will start dropping their blossoms. The stems are graceful and arching and are an easy-care plant for most homes. Christmas cactus, Zygocactus truncatus, Crab cactus. It’s recommended to repot your Christmas cactus in well-draining soil as soon as you bring it home especially if its nursery soil and its pot are not appropriate. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) and Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) are epiphytes native to the jungles of South America. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Enjoy these general care tips and facts. Company No.05695741 Although it is more beautiful with its flowers, the shape of its leaves can be a great conversation piece and therefore worth keeping even after flowering ceases. Three new Schlumbergera from Wagler’s Greenhouse after I brought them home on 11-17-20. This can be done with 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts per gallon of water. If your hardiness zone is such that you get no frost, you can leave the plant outside to experience the weather naturally. By the end of the flowering season (usually in fall or six to eight weeks before the next flowering period), the Christmas cactus needs to become dormant. To avoid overwatering but to ensure that the plant gets enough moisture, place a tray of water near the plant or mist your cactus regularly with a spray bottle. Schlumbergera russelliana. Thanksgiving cactus grows best in light shade during the summer months. Mealy bugs show up as tiny white insects that have a cotton-like look to them. Thanksgiving or Christmas Cactus has … Thanksgiving cactus is a holiday cactus that flowers in fall. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; It’s recommended to water sparingly at first until the plant has taken to the new environment. This succulent type needs typical watering as the other succulents. In their natural habitat, they are epiphytes (air plants), they grow on other plants and rely on them for physical support, but they are not parasitic. Give your Thanksgiving cactus plant the conditions that it requires, and you will enjoy it for many years to come. Fertilizer:Fertilize if needed once a month in the spring and summer with a half strength NPK ratio of 20-10-20. Related: ... (Schlumbergera truncata) is to check the leaves for pointy edges and note the time of year it flowers. Their weight on the end of the flat leaves gives the plant a droopy growing habit. Schlumbergera truncata, the false Christmas cactus, is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae.It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests.It is the parent or one of the parents of the houseplants called Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus, among other names. The Christmas cactus is a great gift for your loved ones and, luckily, it is very easy to propagate. Schlumbergera is a small genus of cacti with six species found in the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Miruna is a versatile writer and, as you might have guessed, her favorite topic is gardening. Schlumbergeras thrive on indoor windowsills as they do not tolerate cold weather, but you can place them in your garden as long as the temperatures don’t drop below 50°F (10°C). amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; How to Care for a Christmas Cactus: 14 Steps (with Pictures) All are considered short day bloomers and need to be tricked into flowering in subsequent years. Plant the Schlumbergera in well-draining soil and fertilize it regularly, especially in spring and summer. All of them are types of leaf cactus which form segmented stems that look like leaves in long chains. The flowers bloom at the tip of these branches, have several tiers of flowers, and are about 3 inches long. See more about the toxicity of other holiday plants here. Copyright & Permissions © 2020 – Carol G Speake. These plants are often sold by the big box stores in the fall with buds already formed, so they will definitely flower the first year. Add some soil starting mixture to a pot and place the cuttings into it. Extensive hybridization and selection have resulted in more than 200 named cultivars, differing mainly in flower color, which ranges from white through pink to fire engine red and even peach, yellow, and orange. These plants are generally disease free, unless they are overwatered. Lighting: bright with some morning or evening sun Soil: a regular cacti mix Watering: moist but not wet Feeding: half diluted given monthly from April to September Temperature: room temperature from spring to fall, approx. Air plants are a type of epiphyte. Don’t treat this winter cactus like a desert cactus! Watch out for mealy bugs, spider mites and root rot from too much watering. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. 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