![]() In fact, repotting them too often can cause damage, as the segments can snap off, and the plants are easily stressed by a lot of movement.Īs long as your plant is still putting out new growth and blooming each year, it’s best to leave them in the pot they are in. While most plants will need to be repotted once every year or two, Schlumbergera actually does better when they’re a bit root-bound. Thanksgiving cactuses have toothed points at the top of each segment, whereas Christmas cactus or Schlumbergera buckleyi have more elongated segments with scalloped edges and no points. You can easily tell the difference between the two by looking at one of their segments. So why are Thanksgiving cactuses sold as Christmas cactuses?īecause no one wants to buy a Christmas cactus without any buds on it, it’s much easier for commercial growers to produce Thanksgiving cactus, or Schlumbergera truncata, which will be covered in buds and ready to bloom when they hit the shelves for the holidays in November. These are the plants that have been handed down from generation to generation. True Christmas cactuses were a hybrid created in England over 150 years ago, and despite their popularity, you will rarely, if ever, see them for sale in a store. That’s most likely because you have a Thanksgiving cactus. One of the biggest complaints about Christmas cactuses is that they never bloom at Christmas. Your Christmas cactus most likely isn’t a Christmas cactus You want loose, sandy soil that drains quickly, so the roots don’t become compacted or soggy. This is an important consideration when choosing soil for your Christmas cactus. Rather, the epiphytic plant takes in water and nutrients through its leaves and shallow root system via the air, rain, and organic matter that collects on its host plant.Īn epiphyte’s root system is less dense than plants that grow in the soil, and the roots are mainly used for clinging to the plant it’s growing on. Not to be mistaken for a parasite, epiphytes do not feed off of or harm the plant they grow from. An epiphyte is a plant that grows on the surface of another plant. It’s an epiphyteĬhristmas cacti are epiphytes. Christmas cactuses are tropical plants rather than desert-dwelling plants. Well, it means they aren’t as drought tolerant as a true cactus, so they need to be watered more often, and they can’t take the heat of the direct sun. While it is a succulent and does store moisture in its leaves, members of the Schlumbergera family are not considered a true cactus. It’s not really a cactusĭespite its name, the Christmas cactus is not a cactus. So, let’s broaden your Christmas cactus knowledge with a few important points that will help you have a healthier plant for years to come. Whether you’ve got this whole thing figured out, or you need to plumb the depths of our in-depth Christmas cactus care guide, there are a few things that Christmas cactus owners should know. The care and feeding of Christmas cactuses seems to baffle both new houseplant enthusiasts as well as folks who have had one in their home for decades. It doesn’t look like a cactus, and supposedly it blooms around Christmas, but most people’s plants bloom in November, if at all. The Christmas cactus is quite a strange houseplant when you get right down to it.
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