Two of the most popular holiday cactus varieties are Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus. They are both easy to grow, and will rebloom year after year during the cold winter months! In this post, I show you how to tell the difference between these two popular plants, and share my holiday cactus care tips.
Once the summer is over, most of my houseplants are done with their active growing period and will rest during the winter. But, there are a few that are just beginning to come into their active growing season in the fall. Mainly the holiday cactus.
One of my favorite and easiest to care for houseplants are my holiday cactus plants. I love that they flower at an opposite time as most other plants. They add so much cheer and color into my house during the darkest, coldest months of the year! That’s why they made my list of the best indoor flowering plants!
Holiday Cactus Varieties
There are three main types of cactus plants that fall under the “holiday cactus” umbrella: Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus.
Christmas cactus blooming
Many people don’t know that there are two types of cactus houseplants that will start to bloom during fall and winter: Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus.
People get Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti confused all the time because they look very similar.
However, there are subtle differences between these two common varieties. Once you know what to look for, it’s easy to tell them apart.
Thanksgiving cactus blooming
What’s The Difference Between Christmas Cactus and Thanksgiving Cactus?
Once you learn how to tell the difference between these two holiday cactus plants, you might be surprised to discover that the plant you’ve always referred to as your Christmas cactus is actually a Thanksgiving cactus (or visa versa).
One main difference between them is the shape of the leaf segments. Christmas cactus leaf segments are rounded, and Thanksgiving cactus leaf segments have sharper points.
Difference between Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus
Another difference between them is the timing of when they flower (which is how they get their common names!).
Thanksgiving cacti bloom in November, right around Thanksgiving time. Christmas cactus plants bloom sometime in December, close to Christmas time.
White Thanksgiving cactus flower
How To Care For Holiday Cactus Plants
Winter cactus plants have an opposite growing season than most houseplants do. They like to rest during the summer, and they flower in the fall or winter.
Usually, I will move my holiday cacti to a south facing window and start watering it more often in late August or early September in order to trigger the blooms.
Flower buds on Thanksgiving holiday cactus
After a few weeks, I will fertilize my winter cacti and leave them in the sunny location until after they’re done blooming. I recommend using an organic plant fertilizer for potted cactus plants, rather than a harsh chemical one. A general purpose indoor liquid fertilizer works great, or you could use compost fertilizer tea.
Once my plants are done blooming, I will slowly reduce the amount of water I give them and keep the soil on the dry side for the rest of the year.
In the early spring, I move my holiday cacti away from the sunny window so they can rest all summer.
Pink and white Thanksgiving cactus flowers
How To Rebloom A Holiday Cactus
Cool nights and shorter days in the fall induce the blooming process to start for both Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus plants.
They should start flowering around the holiday they are named for, but sometimes they’ll bloom earlier or later if the timing is off. This is common, but don’t worry, it won’t hurt your plant.
Here are a few extra steps you can take when fall comes to help ensure that your holiday cactus will bloom beautifully…
- Keep the plant in an area where it gets bright, indirect light during the day, and complete darkness for at least 12 hours at night.
- Ideally, the temperature should remain around 50F degrees. But it’s more important that the evening temperature is cooler than it is during the day (aim for a 10F degrees or more lower at night).
- Reduce watering during this time, and allow the soil to dry out slightly (but never let it dry out completely).
- When flower buds begin to form, go back to watering the plant as you normally would.
- If your holiday cactus plant is outside, be sure to protect it from frost, or the flower buds could get zapped.
More Holiday Cactus Care Tips
- Keep your plants out of the sun in the summer, hot sun could damage the leaves.
- The best time to take cuttings for propagation is after your plant is done blooming.
- All types of holiday cacti like to be root bound, and will produce more flowers that way. If yours needs to be repotted, it’s best to do it in early spring. You can use a general purpose potting soil, or a succulent soil mix.
- Never overwater your plant. Keep the soil on the dry side when its not actively growing. During their active growth period (fall-winter), the soil should be kept evenly moist. If you struggle watering correctly, I recommend buying a soil moisture gauge to make it easy.
- These tough plants thrive on neglect most of the year.
Thanksgiving cactus holiday plant
If you love winter blooming plants, then you should definitely add these gorgeous cactus plants to your collection. Follow these easy holiday cactus care tips, and you’ll enjoy flowers year after year!
Keeping houseplants alive during the winter is a struggle for many gardeners. If this sounds familiar, then pick up a copy of my Winter Houseplant Care eBook. It has tons of information about how to care for plants (including fun winter flowering plants!) through the long winter months, so they won’t only survive, they will thrive!
Products I Recommend
More Posts About Winter Blooming Plants
- How To Care For Christmas Amaryllis Gift Plants
- How To Care For An Orchid Plant
- The Ultimate Cyclamen Plant Care Guide
- How To Care For Poinsettia Plants
Share your holiday cactus care tips in the comments section below!
Donna nelson says
Thanks for showing us the difference…..now I know what my cactus is…..!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome. Don’t keep us in suspense!! Is your plant a Christmas cactus or a Thanksgiving cactus? 🙂
Marylou Mead says
How do I start a cutting from a thanksgiving catus
Amy Andrychowicz says
Each section of the Thanksgiving cactus leaf nodes can be rooted, and the process is just like you would propagate succulent cuttings. Here’s a post with details… How to Propagate Succulents
Scott streeter says
I had a friend who kept hers in a pot but out in the direct sun light all summer. I’m trying to save it. I have it in my basement with a grow light. Its wilty looks almost dead. I will try to send a pic. Can it be saved? And what can I do to bring life back. I’m not expecting flowers this yr. Just want to revive it get some green in the leaves.
Amy Andrychowicz says
As long as the main stem is intact and firm you should be able to save it. Just be careful not to overwater it. You can also trim off any leaves that were heavily damaged from the sun to help encourage new growth.
Pam Fyffe says
Everyone always thought I was crazy because mine blooms at Easter…I’m so glad to know that it is supposed to! Do you have a picture of an Easter cactus? Thank you, Pam
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL, glad you found a positive ID! I don’t have a photo of an Easter cactus, sorry.
Jan says
My white thanksgiving cactus was beautiful, but is thru blossoming already! My red Christmas cactus is blooming already, and is so lovely! Thank you for showing us the leaves so we could identify our plants! Jan
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sound beautiful!! You’re welcome. 🙂
Jodie. Butler says
This explains why my “Christmas Cactus” is getting ready to bloom right now… I purchased them after Christmas, but they have always bloomed around Thanksgiving, since that time.
Jodie
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL! It’s funny, it seems that pretty much everyone makes the common mistake of thinking their Thanksgiving cactus is a Christmas cactus. Happens all the time! Glad you got a positive ID now. 🙂
Erica says
I bought mine from a garden center and it’s was labeled as a Christmas cactus. It matches the Thanksgiving cactus above. Lol
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL! That is such a common problem with holiday cactus plants! Glad you know what it really is now. 🙂
Lorraine says
IMG_1729.JPG
My cactus is 90 Years old!
My dad ( who is passed) brought a slip home from school as a boy!
The lobes do not match what you have shown in your pics, although it does bloom during the Christmas season!
Today, (I managed to keep it going) it spans 4 ft across with branches bigger than your thumb!
Just wanted to share!
Any thoughts on the kind it is?
Amy Andrychowicz says
WOW, that is incredible!! I love it when plants have a long history and a story behind them. Thanks for sharing!! You can’t upload photos here, but you can share them on my Facebook page, or by tagging me on Instagram or Twitter. I’d love to see it!
Joyce Moyer says
I also want to see what it looks like I have a house.plant that is 15years old Thank you
Pat Webb says
Thank you so much for your tips. I too did not know there were different kinds. I thought mine were Christmas Cactus but I just learned that I have 2 Thanksgiving Cactus.
I’m happy to report that I have been taking care of them exactly how you say to take care of them.
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL, it’s a common mistake! Glad to help make a positive ID for your Thanksgiving cacti. Sounds like you’re a natural at caring for them, and I bet your holiday cactus plants flower beautifully for you every year!
Rosemary Anderson says
I just bought what I thought was a Christmas Cactus as it was labeled as such. Now I can see that it is definitely a Thanksgiving Cactus. Thanks for the article!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! I hate when plants are mislabeled. Hope your new Thanksgiving cactus thrives for you!
Mary Northrop says
I have a Christmas cactus about 20 years old… I mixed all 4 colors in the pot. and it was beautiful ,,, But last year it got very woody… I tried everything… This Christmas it really looks like it’s on it’s last year.. What can I do to save my plant that everyone loved to see.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Humm, it sounds like your Christmas cactus may have been overwatered at some point. If the main stem has already died, then the only way to save it is to propagate it. I would try propagating some of the healthy branches to see if you can grow new plants while still trying to nurse the mother plant back to health. That way, if the mother plant dies, you will still have new plants from it.
Dawn Smith says
I have a Christmas caucus. What window of light for the fall? I know it is the south window for summer but fall?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Actually, you should put your Christmas cactus into the south facing window in the fall, and leave it there until spring. Then move it to a filtered sun location during the summer. Christmas cactus plants have opposite growing seasons as most other houseplants, and they like to rest during the summer months.
Karen says
I made a terrible mistake a year ago with a large Thanksgiving cactus. I didn’t know that a root bound Thanksgiving cacutus is a happy cactus. So I separated it into thirds and put the smaller plants into larger containers! UGH. All the plants are alive (and one even had a few blooms this winter) but I wonder if I should put all the plants back together into one pot.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you’re right, holiday cactus plants do prefer to be pot-bound. I would either put them back into one pot, or repot each plant into a smaller pot. Good luck!
Pearl G. Smith says
My Thanksgiving Cactus hangs on my front porch through the summer (facing NNE) and doesn’t complain. Thanks to your article here, now I know why. This past blooming period, my blooms were almost white whereas in the past, they had been a Shrimp color. Does it need something? Thank you, Pearl
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s hard to say exactly what caused the flowers on your Thanksgiving cactus to change colors, but from what I’ve read in the past, it’s most likely due to temperature. When holiday cactus plants are kept cooler, the flowers are usually more pink. I’m not sure how much of a difference in temperature would cause the flowers to turn white on your plant, and it’s probably going to be difficult for you to figure out since it sits outside through the summer. 🙂
Vivian says
I have a Christmas Cactus (I’ve had it for many years). Some years it doesn’t bloom at all, sometimes it blooms in August. It is starting to bloom right now. Should I put any fertilizer on it? I usually do once a month in spring & summer, but I’m not sure since it’s blooming!
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s not uncommon for Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus plants to bloom during different times of the year than their named holiday. But, are you sure your plant isn’t an Easter cactus? They are another common type of holiday cactus that bloom in the spring, and their leaves look similar to a Christmas cactus. If you’re sure your plant is a Christmas cactus, I would not fertilize it right now. They have the opposite growing season than most houseplants, so your plant is probably confused. Move it to a spot where it gets indirect sunlight during the summer, slow down on watering, don’t fertilize, and allow it to rest. Then in the late summer/early fall, give it more light, start watering it more often, and slowly start fertilizing. If you do that every year, your plant should start behaving like a Christmas cactus again. LOL
Vivian says
Thanks so much for your advice. I’ve never seen an Easter cactus, so I’m not sure. It looks exactly like the Christmas cactus pictured.
Liz says
I have a Christmas cactus I’ve had for several years it doesn’t grow it’s still the same size when I bought it it does bloom but doesn’t grow what should I do
Amy Andrychowicz says
As long as your Christmas cactus is healthy and blooming, then I wouldn’t worry that it’s not growing very fast. But you could try repotting it into fresh potting soil to see if that will help to trigger new growth.
Marla says
Not sure which type we have as it is at work and we got a couple of propagated ones. They seemed severely root bound last year so I repotted them. They have never bloomed. Our work space stays around 67 degrees year around and sporadic light I g. Do you think they will do better with more direct lighting
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, consistent lighting would be better for it in order to trigger blooming. They need bright light during the day… but, they also need darkness at night in order to bloom. So, if the lights never go off in the office, then this may be the problem. If you want your holiday cactus to bloom, I would bring it home so that you can control the environment better.
Kacy says
Hello! I’m trying to save a co-worker’s Thanksgiving cactus that hasn’t been tended to, other than over-watering. I’m going to take it home, inspect the roots, and re-pot it. What type of pot is best? One that drains well? The container it’s in now is a ceramic square with zero drainage.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, put the Thanksgiving cactus into a pot that has drainage holes in the bottom for sure.
Marlena says
My thanksgiving cactus has been flowering for years but this year the leaves are shriveling up and dying. What can I do yo save it?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Shriveling leaves on your holiday cactus usually means the plant has been overwatered, but it can be caused by underwatering too. Check the soil to make sure it’s not wet. If it’s moist, then be sure to allow it to dry out completely before watering it again, and be sure the pot has plenty of drainage to prevent root rot. Also check the base of the stem to make sure it’s not rotting or mushy. Another thing that can cause holiday cactus plants to drop their leaves is when the air temperature is either too hot or too cold, or a if they experience a sudden change in temperature. So make sure the plant isn’t being exposed to cold drafts from a door or window, or that it’s getting too hot sitting near a fireplace or heat vent.
JoeyMacDougall says
I have some yellow, white and purple cactus however the leaves are pale and almost see thru. I’m trying lower light but they look the same. I live in zone 9/10 in Florida. I have my red and shrimp color high plants almost can’t put my arms around. I need help with my pale babies, any suggestions?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It sounds like your holiday cactus is getting too much sun. I recommend moving it to a spot where it doesn’t get any direct sunlight, especially if you have it growing outside. It can take some time for it to recover after moving it out of the sun. If the leaves have gotten sunburned, they will never go back to normal. They’ll likely eventually drop from the plant, but the new growth should be nice and green.