Donna Hull
It’s the time of year to enjoy a few holiday-inspired plants. The garden centers are filled with poinsettias and fresh pine, but don’t forget to invite another beauty into your home—the holiday cactus.
There are three holiday cacti: the Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, and Easter cactus. The first two are separate species of the genus Schlumbergera, which bloom in November and December, respectively. While they are members of the Family Cactaceae, these are not the cacti of dry regions. Schlumbergera are native to the higher altitudes of tropical rainforests in Brazil. They are epiphytes, meaning they grow on trees (and sometimes out of rock fractures) where they receive consistent rainfall and indirect light. The temperatures are moderate, the soil rich in organic matter. Not your desert cactus at all!
Holiday Blooms
Because your home is likely not a perfect substitute for a tropical rainforest (nor would you want it to be), a little coaxing must be done to get our holiday cactus to bloom. Since you are likely aiming for flowering during the holidays, begin the forcing process six to eight weeks before your preferred bloom time. The process focuses on two growing factors: light and temperature. Schlumbergera will begin to form flower buds through a reduction in temperature and an increase in the hours of darkness. In North Texas this is a good time to set the plant outdoors (if possible), exposing the plant to 50-55°F with two to six hours of complete darkness or 60-65°F with 12 hours of complete darkness. At 70°F the plant will need 15 hours of darkness. Do not fertilize during this period, and only water when dry to the touch. After the buds have formed, the plant can be in 65-70°F with regular watering (soil moist, not water soaked) and light. Be sure to bring them inside if the temperatures fall below 50°F. They like it cool, but not too cold! If all goes well, you will be rewarded with six to eight weeks of colorful holiday cactus blooms.
After the Bloom Wears Off
Once they have finished blooming, Schlumbergera will need a resting period, typically January through March. Keep the plants in indirect light. Water when dry to the touch and keep the plant in cooler temperatures if possible. Late spring through summer, water regularly and apply a fertilizer periodically at half strength. Schlumbergera likes to be slightly root-bound. Only repot every two to three years into a slightly larger pot. Come fall, fertilize with a high phosphorus fertilizer and keep your eye on the calendar so that you can begin the forcing process again when the time is right.
Sources:
Cathyday (2020, May 21), “Tips for growing Thanksgiving cactus,” tinyurl.com/46v4r554
Lindsey Kerr, Michigan State University Extension (2022), “How to Care for and Get Your Holiday Cactus to Rebloom,” tinyurl.com/m2wpad7t
Today, A., & Today, A (2019, November 22), “Christmas Cactus Stick Out as Easy-Growing Plant Gifts,” AgriLife Today, News from Texas A&M AgriLife, tinyurl.com/59htm7jb
Smith, S. S. (2022, December 27), “Caring for a Christmas Cactus After the Holidays,” Dallas County Master Gardeners Association, tinyurl.com/4e86cxk4
Home—The Denton County Master Gardener Association, dcmga.com
Happy Gardening!