Confused between Christmas and Easter Cactus?
You’re not alone.
Uncover the 2 main differences that set them apart.
Ready to become a cactus expert?
Let’s dive in!
1. Leaf Comparison
When comparing Christmas and Easter Cactus, the keys lie in the leaves. Christmas cactus leaves have scalloped edges, setting them apart from both Thanksgiving and Easter varieties. If your cactus has round leaf edges and small brownish hairs at the tips, it’s an Easter Cactus. Thanksgiving Cactus, on the other hand, features sharp-toothed edges. While Christmas cactus leaves do have some serrations, they’re much less pronounced than those on a Thanksgiving cactus.
2. Blooming Period
You can tell when cactuses will bloom just by their names. The Christmas cactus bursts into beautiful blooms around Christmas, while the Easter cactus shows off its flowers during Easter.
The start of their blooming season is all about how much darkness they get. For a Christmas cactus to flower in early winter, you need to give it at least 12 hours of darkness daily for about 6 weeks. Easter cactus, on the other hand, needs the same daily darkness but for a longer stretch of time, usually 8 to 12 weeks.
Christmas cactus typically keeps blooming until mid-winter, while the Easter cactus displays its first blooms in late winter and continues into early spring.
You might find your Christmas cactus flowering in the spring too, which can be confusing. The trick is that you can encourage another round of blooming if you provide the right conditions, including the necessary periods of darkness and proper care.
So now you’ve got the basic idea of when these cactuses bloom.
Care Tips for Holiday Cactuses
To ensure your cactuses are healthy and vibrant, follow these basic care guidelines. Let’s explore them in detail!
Light Requirements
Holiday cactuses flourish with the right lighting conditions. These plants originate from humid rainforests, growing beneath taller plants, so they naturally receive filtered sunlight. To mimic these conditions at home, place your cactuses near sunny windows. Ensure the light is bright but indirect. If direct sunlight is unavoidable, use sheer curtains to filter the light. An alternative option is to use artificial lights to provide the necessary brightness if your space lacks sufficient natural light.
Watering Needs
Maintaining an ideal watering schedule is crucial for the health of your cactuses. While cactuses generally require less water than many other plants, holiday varieties have specific needs. Thanksgiving and Christmas cactuses thrive in soil that remains consistently moist. Ensure the surface soil dries out before the next watering. Conversely, Easter cactuses are more prone to overwatering and should have their soil dry out more thoroughly before watering again.
Soil and Fertilization
The soil for holiday cactuses should be loose and well-draining. You can purchase a succulent soil mix for convenience, but if you prefer to make your own, ensure it supports fast drainage. Fertilizing is also essential for growth and blooming. Apply a complete houseplant fertilizer once a month during the growing season to provide the necessary nutrients and energy for your cactuses.
Temperature Preferences
Holiday cactuses have varying temperature preferences depending on the season. During the growing season, maintain a temperature range of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit to support their growth. When they are dormant, typically in the cooler months, reduce the temperature to a range of 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This adjustment helps mimic their natural cycle and promotes healthy growth and flowering.
Encouraging Blooms in Holiday Cactuses
Our goal is to help holiday cactuses bloom during festive seasons. Blooming won’t happen without proper year-round care. Now that you’ve seen the maintenance tips, let’s focus on blooming.
Blooming depends on the season: Thanksgiving cactus blooms first, followed by the Christmas cactus, and finally the Easter cactus.
Here’s how to trigger blooming in all holiday cactuses.
Dormancy Induction
To ensure your holiday cactuses produce flowers, they need to experience a dormancy phase. This usually doesn’t happen automatically, so you’ll have to help things along.
Start by reducing watering and stopping any fertilization. Place your cactuses in a room where the temperature is maintained between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
For Christmas cactuses, you’ll need to ensure they are kept in complete darkness for 12 to 14 hours each day. This also applies to other festive cactuses. The dormancy phase typically lasts a few weeks.
Ending Dormancy
Wait until you see new flower buds forming on your holiday cactuses before moving them to a different location.
The new spot should have plenty of bright indirect light and be free of drafts. In a few weeks, you will see the flower buds begin to open.
Deadheading Blooms
To extend the blooming period and promote the development of more flowers, remove the spent flowers from your holiday cactuses.
By following these steps, you can enjoy vibrant and blooming cactuses throughout the holiday seasons.