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True Christmas cactuses were a hybrid created in England over 150 years ago, and despite their popularity, you will rarely, if ever, see them for sale in a store. That’s most likely because you have a Thanksgiving cactus. One of the biggest complaints about Christmas cactuses is that they never bloom at Christmas. Your Christmas cactus most likely isn’t a Christmas cactus You want loose, sandy soil that drains quickly, so the roots don’t become compacted or soggy. This is an important consideration when choosing soil for your Christmas cactus. Rather, the epiphytic plant takes in water and nutrients through its leaves and shallow root system via the air, rain, and organic matter that collects on its host plant.Īn epiphyte’s root system is less dense than plants that grow in the soil, and the roots are mainly used for clinging to the plant it’s growing on. Not to be mistaken for a parasite, epiphytes do not feed off of or harm the plant they grow from. An epiphyte is a plant that grows on the surface of another plant. It’s an epiphyteĬhristmas cacti are epiphytes. Christmas cactuses are tropical plants rather than desert-dwelling plants. Well, it means they aren’t as drought tolerant as a true cactus, so they need to be watered more often, and they can’t take the heat of the direct sun. While it is a succulent and does store moisture in its leaves, members of the Schlumbergera family are not considered a true cactus. It’s not really a cactusĭespite its name, the Christmas cactus is not a cactus. So, let’s broaden your Christmas cactus knowledge with a few important points that will help you have a healthier plant for years to come. Whether you’ve got this whole thing figured out, or you need to plumb the depths of our in-depth Christmas cactus care guide, there are a few things that Christmas cactus owners should know. The care and feeding of Christmas cactuses seems to baffle both new houseplant enthusiasts as well as folks who have had one in their home for decades. It doesn’t look like a cactus, and supposedly it blooms around Christmas, but most people’s plants bloom in November, if at all. The level of toxicity can vary from mild to life-threatening.ĭo your homework before you bring plants and cut flowers into the home so that your cats stay safe.The Christmas cactus is quite a strange houseplant when you get right down to it.
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Kittens are particularly at risk due to their curious nature. Toxic and non-toxic Christmas plantsĬats can’t differentiate toxic plants from non-toxic plants and poisoning can occur. While Thanksgiving cactus is non-toxic to cats, fertilisers and pest repellents used on or around the plant may be potentially toxic. Thanksgiving cactus has 2-4 saw-toothed serrations (claws) along the margins and the Christmas cactus has rounded serrations (scallops). Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus are not the same, although it is easy to confuse the two as they both boom later in the year and have a similar appearance. Are Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus the same?
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Thanksgiving cactus can be grown outdoors in warm climates but unlike other succulents, it prefers to grow in partial shade. Flowers grow in a variety of colours including red, rose, purple, lavender, peach, orange, cream, and white. The crab-like serrated, segmented flat stems (known as phylloclades), grow out in a characteristic arch, making them a perfect hanging plant. In the wild, Schlumbergera species grow on the surface of tree branches (epiphytes) in rain forests. Thanksgiving cactus is a popular tropical cactus native to Brasil that blooms around Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving cactus, False Christmas cactus, Crab cactus, Holiday cactus Thanksgiving cactus ( Schlumbergera truncate) is non-toxic to cats.