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Find out whether your plant is a Thanksgiving , Christmas , or Easter cactus ( Schlumbergera or Rhipsalidopsis ) with these identification wind . The shape of the leaves , which are really modify branch or clade , ply the good cue .
To keep these plant growing year - round indoors , utilise theseChristmas Cactus Care Tips .
How to Identify Holiday Cactus Plants
Is this a Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter Cactus?
If you have a bet with a Quaker about the identity of a blossom holiday cactus beak up at the supermarket , you may just want to call a draw if you are arguing about whether it ’s a Christmas or Thanksgiving or ( less probable ) Easter cactus .
Why ?
Because marketers use these names for an array of different plants depending on the blossom time and where you live . And the same works can be tag with any of those names depending on when it is sell .
For example , the same cultivar sold as aThanksgivingcactus in the United States may be sell as aChristmascactus in Canada . Why ? Canada celebrates Thanksgiving betimes in October so , by the fourth dimension these flora are budding and blooming in November , that holiday is long gone and the nameChristmasmakes more sensory faculty to consumer .
And this is why it is best , when potential , to part with your friendship and key plant by theirbotanical namesinstead of regional vulgar epithet or merchandising terms . There will still be some difficult - to - ID works and taxonomic change and disagreements in the scientific residential district , but at least with botanical name we can begin to speak the same language .
Just to make the puzzle everlasting , I ’ve also seen holiday cactus flora tag with the wrong botanical name , which is not surprising when mass bring forth for holiday shoppers .
The most common pourboire for identifying holiday cactus is to look at theshape of the leave . We say “ farewell ” but these are really modify branches called cladode or “ clades . ” If distinct , it ’s a majuscule clue , but again there are raft of cultivars that will confound even an experienced bully - eyed gardener . There is more on this ( below ) .
If the leave ( clade ) are not clear-cut , the flowers also supply clue .
Schlumbergeras(see below ) grow similar flowers ( in a stove of colour ) with some subtle differences include pollen colour .
Rhipsalidopsis(Easter Cactus ) has a distinctly different flower formation thanSchlumbergerasand rarely gets overhear up in the argument .
But the good news is , no matter what it is , all of these plants necessitate the same care ( seeHoliday Cactus Care Guide here ) .
Related : Holiday Cactus Handbook : Year - round Care Tips
Types of Holiday Cactus
1Schlumbergera truncata | Thanksgiving cactus (United States) | Christmas cactus (Canada)
The quick way to identify a Thanksgiving cactus ( Schlumbergera truncata ) is to check the foliage for pointy edges and note the fourth dimension of yr it flowers .
2Schlumbergera x buckleyi | Christmas cactus (United States)
3Schlumbergera bridgesii | Christmas cactus (years ago)
Years ago , this one was consideredTheChristmas Cactus , although thebuckleyinow seems to dominate the title . you could read about the difference of opinion / account here at Davesgarden.com .
TheSchlumbergerascan bloom twice a year , first between October and February , and then between March and May , with clean , pink , orange , or carmine flowers .
4Rhipsalidopsis | Easter Cactus
These are sometimes also confused withOrchid Cacti , which are epiphyllum hybrid . The name and designation muddiness never stops !
Easter Cactus TriviaWhile long swash as a dissimilar genus , subgenusRhipsalidopsishas lately been transferred intoSchlumbergera , though this change has yet to be adopted by manyCactaceae(cactus plant crime syndicate ) authorities . It will be interesting to see if this change is embraced as time goes on .
So , unless the evidence is overpowering , preserve your friendly relationship . See if you may name your plants by their botanic names and agree the plant life by any common name is beautiful .
Ever comment littlewhisker - similar rootsgrowing from the leafage on your vacation cactus ? This is normal for any epiphytic plant ( “ melody plants ” ) . In the wilderness these roots would help the flora anchor to its host .
Summary
Whether your flora is marketed as Christmas , Thanksgiving , or Easter , they all demand the same tutelage . There is a complete care scout here .
Blooming clip may not ordinate with the correspond holiday and some will rebloom throughout the yr .
The vacation name designations can variegate by neighborhood and mislabelling is not uncommon . Both the common name and the botanical name , if it ’s actually provide , may not be right .
Plus , with so many varieties and generation of these plants uncommitted , the distinguishing characteristics are not always so obvious anymore . For example , the popular Christmas cactus of year past ( Schlumbergera bridgesii ) has scalloped sharpness . The newer one ( S. x buckleyi ) can have scallop or full point clades which makes sentiency since they were earlier cross fromSchlumbergera truncata(which has pointy clade ) andSchlumbergera russelliana .
Generally :
But , as always , it ’s best to use the botanical name — if you know it , not the holiday name , to annul het up variance with plant admirer .
If you want more free plants , habituate this tutorial to propagate your holiday cactus . It ’s very easy .
Resources
EmpressofDirt
FREETIPSHEET
Thanksgiving & Christmas Cactus Year at a Glance
This printable file shows ideal menage temperature through the year for reblooming .
Ebook
Christmas , Thanksgiving , & EasterHoliday Cactus HandbookYear - round Care Tips
by Melissa J. Will
About This Ebook|Visit Ebook Shop
This ebook is a digital filing cabinet ( PDF format ) you save to your gadget . It is not a strong-arm product .
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~Melissathe Empress of Dirt ♛
