I usually grow it in the basement, but take it upstairs when it … The Thanksgiving cactus plant is a tropical cactus with its native home being in the gigantic rain forests of South America. The other main difference is the time at which the plant flowers. Breeding plants that have different colored flowers will result in more seeds and, as a plus, the baby plant will have a beautiful mix of colors. ", Your email address will not be published. Click to see our Privacy policy. This can be done with 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts per gallon of water. When they bloom, both the Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus have tube-shaped blooms, whereas the Easter cactus has a more daisy-shaped flower. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; One easy way to do this is to put the plant in a cool closet with the closed door each evening and take it out the next morning. Anne Hartshorne says. These plants often bloom in shades of pink, yellow, white, or red, which adds a bright contrast to your traditional fall décor. The word epiphyte comes from Greek words epi (meaning “upon”) and phyton (meaning “plant”.). Head to the Gardening Cook to find out how to grow schlumbergera truncata. The leaves have tubular shaped flowers which are produced from notches in the stems or from the tips. You can grow it outdoors, in partial shade, all year long in the warmer zones – 10 and above. This routine will fulfill all the Christmas cactus fertilizer requirements, including the high magnesium needs of this epiphyte. Tip: After fertilizing an indoor cactus, always put it in bright sunlight. The leaves of Thanksgiving cactus plants are broad and flat with small serrated edges. Spring cactus enters a dormant period in mid-September, at this … In about 3 weeks, the cuttings will have rooted and you’ll have new Thanksgiving cactus plants. ... Fertilize the plant with a general-purpose fertilizer monthly during … The mature size of Thanksgiving cactus is about 12-24 in (30-60 cm). Reduce watering in late summer, irrigating the Thanksgiving cactus only when the top 1 inch of soil feels completely dry. Place the plant outdoors in the shade during the summer months but bring indoors if the temperature will drop below 50 degrees F. Place the pot in bright light but not direct sunlight. Transplantation . Even though they look similar, the Easter cactus actually belongs to a completely different plant group. The best is a homemade fertilizer for Christmas cactus. Thanks, Rob. A. 3 years ago. I will also give you tips on growing and propagating your Christmas cactus as well. Fertilizer Injector Knives (6). Pour it into the plant’s potting mixer slowly. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Unlike other cacti, the Christmas/ Thanksgiving cactus enjoys a humid atmosphere, don’t hesitate to spray its foliage. Follow the directions on the fertilizer packaging. per approx 4 l.) of water of Epsom salts. User. January 22, 2019 at 4:47 pm. If you are looking for other holiday plants to enjoy during the cold weather be sure to also check out these posts: Schlumbergera truncata is a popular, winter-flowering houseplant with gorgeous blossoms that flower for quite a long time. Fertilizer:Fertilize if needed once a month in the spring and summer with a half strength NPK ratio of 20-10-20. Most places mistakenly sell Christmas Cactus as Thanksgiving Cactus! Pruning the plant in the spring will encourage it to branch out and become more bushy. During the fall, the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti depend upon shorter day lengths (8 to 10 hours) and cooler temper… amzn_assoc_asins = "B08L8DX3DS,B08GSS6Y3K,B00AB5WI7W,B01MYSGA7X"; Thanksgiving cactus plants are available in many locations, starting in the fall. Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata) has longer, more pointed leaf segments than Christmas Cactus and of course it tends to bloom around Thanksgiving rather than Christmas. Keep your mower blades sharp. Answered by BushDoctor on September 12, 2018 Certified Expert . It is still best not to overwater these succulents and it is crucial that the water drains away rapidly. Dust the end with a rooting hormone and let it callous over for about a week. The straight answer to this question is no. In nature Schlumbergera s receive a constant supply of nutrients from decaying tree foliage, bird droppings, and other natural fertilizer. The care is the same and I will show you what the difference is too. With small ingestions, there is generally no signs of toxicity. Q. when do I start to fertilize a thanksgiving cactus and with what chemical. 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