Schlumbergera x truncata
Thanksgiving cactus
Easiest of flowering houseplants or potted garden plants. Double pink to red flowers attract hummingbirds. Bright shade, good drainage, regular water in warm season, protect from frost.
 Height | 6–18in |
|---|---|
 Width | 1–2ft |
 Tolerates | Pots |
 Water needs | When soil is mostly dry. |
Typically this plant wants to almost completely dry out. It comes from an area with predominantly summer rainfall and is actively growing during that time, when it is forgiving of overwatering errors. During winter dormancy it should be kept extra dry and will be intolerant of overwatering. This also helps with flower production. Remember that if kept in a small pot your plant will want more frequent watering. | |
 Hardy to | 30°F |
 Plant traits | Epiphyte, Flowering, Hanging, Succulent, Tropical |
 Indoor / outdoor | Indoor |
 Drainage | In Pots: Cactus Mix, Orchid Bark |
 Origin | Brazil |
 Sunset zones | 17, 22–24, H2 |
Growing Notes
This plant is not typically planted in the ground. Due to its epiphytic nature it excels mounted, in vertical walls, or pots.
Special Interest
What's the difference between Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus? They bloom around their named holiday, but beyond that Christmas cactus have red to white flowers, while Thanksgiving cactus have hot pink to red flowers with less white in them. Also, the Thanksgiving cactus has much longer pointier teeth.
The above information reflects the observations of Grubb and Nadler and our extended plant community. We always consider input from fellow horticulturists and welcome feedback from those with additional information on the culture of this plant.
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