Why the Thanksgiving Cactus Is the 'It Girl' of Low-Maintenance Houseplants
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If you're considering adding a new low-maintenance plant to your collection for the fall and winter seasons, we suggest skipping over the mums and choosing a flowering Thanksgiving cactus instead. This Brazilian native doesn't look like other Southwestern cacti; rather than prickly spines and rounded silhouettes, the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) has flattened stems with pointed ends and sawlike teeth, along with vibrant, tubular flowers that first bloom near the end of November—hence the name. Other similar plants from the Cactaceae family include the Christmas cactus and the Easter cactus, which also bloom near their eponymous holidays.
Thanksgiving cacti are tropical, meaning that they're best suited for outdoor growth in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 12. However, they're great as indoor plants no matter where you live. They brighten up any room they're in with blooms in a variety of colors, including red, pink, white, and yellow. If you're interested in adding one of these unique plants to your space, read on to learn more about Thanksgiving cacti care.
How to Care for a Thanksgiving Cactus
Sunlight
The Thanksgiving cactus loves bright spots that aren't in direct sunlight. Too much sun can cause the plant to turn yellow rather than its beautiful green, so keeping it by a north- or east-facing window or even a shady south- or west-facing window is ideal. For your plant to produce the best flowers, it shouldn't receive more than 12 hours of light. It needs the darkness to produce blooms.
Soil and Fertilizer
All holiday cacti require a bit more magnesium than other houseplants, so finding your Thanksgiving cactus a magnesium-rich fertilizer you can add to a well-draining soil is essential. The Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) suggests supplementing its water with Epsom salts—try mixing in one teaspoon of Epsom salts per gallon of water. But avoid doing so during the week you add the fertilizer, which you should do once a month. Stop adding fertilizer in the later summer months for better flower production in the fall.
Thanksgiving cacti should be planted in a pot with drainage holes at the bottom since they won't thrive in soggy soil. Consider adding peat moss or sand to the pot to prevent pooling water around the roots. Thanksgiving cacti are root-bound, so there's no need to repot them for about two to three years.
Water
The soil surrounding your Thanksgiving cactus should never be soaking wet or bone dry. However, the soil should be consistently moist and never fully dry to the touch. Holiday cacti are prone to root rot, so standing water is your main enemy. During the hot months, they can stand to be slightly underwatered.
Temperature
Like most tropical plants, Thanksgiving cacti thrive in a humid, warm environment. However, the typical household temperature can keep a cactus very healthy too. The temperature shouldn't get above 80 degrees Fahrenheit or below 55 degrees, though ideally you should keep your cactus between 75 to 80 degrees during the day, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Horticulture Department.
Pruning
Pruning is an important task for plant lovers to keep any houseplant healthy, and Thanksgiving cacti are no different. To promote bud growth, cut the stems in the late spring or early summer, and make sure you have the right gardening tools for the job. Be sure to save the cut stems for propagation too!
How to Propagate a Thanksgiving Cactus
If you want more of these tropical cacti around your house, maybe for a huge, flowering centerpiece for the holidays, use cut stems to produce more plants. HGIC suggests using stems with three to five phylloclades (or stem joints) on each to start. Set the segments aside for a day to dry out, then stick them about one inch deep into a pot with moist soil. Do this only in the spring and summer while the plant is actively growing, and avoid doing it in the winter once it has bloomed.
How to Get Your Thanksgiving Cactus to Bloom
Because the Thanksgiving cactus is native to Brazil, you should try to mimic its natural environment as best you can to get it to bloom, which is near the end of the rainy season. The gardening department at Michigan State University Extension explains that for the buds to develop on your indoor plant, Thanksgiving cacti need at least 13 hours of total darkness each day, bright light when they're not covered up or hidden away, and a consistent temperature ranging between 55 and 65 degrees. You should start this process in late September or early October if you want blooms around the holiday season.
Once the plant has flowered for the season, then you can go back to taking care of it the way you normally would with the help of the guidelines written above.
Is the Thanksgiving Cactus Toxic to Pets?
According to PetMD, Thanksgiving cacti are not toxic to dogs and cats, unlike another holiday plant, the poinsettia. However, that doesn't mean you should let your furry friends munch on it. If large amounts are consumed, your pets can experience vomiting, diarrhea, and a decreased appetite.
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