Flower shops and greenhouses should be chock full of flowering plants for the holidays and among my favorites is Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata). The plant has softly jagged leaf margins and the flowers, which naturally bloom in late November, have a distinct upward bend.
Closely related is the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) but with noticeable differences. Flowers and foliage of the Christmas cactus are more pendent, the leaf margins have no points and the blossoms have no upward bend. In addition, it normally flowers in late December.
Both cacti are members of the true cactus, or Cactaceae, family and are native to the tropical rain forests of Brazil. They are tree-dwelling epiphytes, relying solely on rainfall for moisture and nutrition, and their vivid blossoms are pollinated by hummingbirds.
Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti make wonderful indoor garden plants as long as the following care is given.
Light: Direct east or west exposure is ideal. If a south window is the only choice, keep it out of the direct sun.
Water: Check often and water only when the top inch or so of soil is dry. Always water thoroughly until about 10% of the water has dribbled out the bottom of pot. Don't allow the pot to sit in water.
Soil: Normal potting soil for indoor plants is fine but I augment with fertilizer. Choose one with a higher concentration of phosphorus (the middle number) which encourages flowering. Repot only when absolutely necessary–flowering is most abundant when a little root-bound.
Large holiday cacti are magnificent–whether in bloom or not–and are extremely long-lived, often passing from one generation to another. Over the years I've known several plants that were started as stem cuttings from a grandmother's plant.
Start your own legacy this Thanksgiving.
This also appears in the Askov American, Askov, Minnesota.
