How to Grow and Care for the Thanksgiving Cactus

[@Julia-yd7bo]

I really enjoyed this video 😊 I hope that someday my truncata will be as big as yours!

[@CACTASTIC]

Thank you Julia! Good luck with your cactus. I hope it brings you many years of joy.

[@CactusCaffeine]

Omg! Your cactus is so big and full of beautiful flowers! Love the orange hybrid that you created. It is one unique color.

[@CACTASTIC]

Thank you Ana. It’s always fun to grow your own hybrids. Merry Christmas!

[@Cactimania]

Awesome video, David. I’ve never seen such a healthy looking Christmas cactus, absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing with us. Have a wonderful day from Edith & myself 🌵☀️🌸🌺🌼🏜

[@CACTASTIC]

Thank you Daz! The Christmas cactus is such a nice houseplant and one of my all time favorites. I hope you and Edith are having a nice week. Warm regards.

[@vdwalt4464]

My Christmas cactus is 68 years old and grown from a 3 segment cutting from Great Grandmas plant she collected from Bazil. These cacti (all part of genus Schlumbergera) are native to the coastal mountains of southeast Brazil, and naturally grow among the tree branches or in cracks in the rocks at high elevations (2000 feet or more). A climate close to Washington states rainforest. White x Red = 25% White; 25% White split for Red; 25% Red; 25% Red split for White

[@CACTASTIC]

Wow, your Christmas cactus has such an incredible and storied history! It's amazing that it's been thriving for 68 years, and its origin from your Great Grandma's plant in Brazil makes it even more special. I love how these plants are long lived and get passed down. Schlumbergera are among my favorite houseplants!

[@georgebelansek4831]

That’s a huge cactus with tons of flowers

[@CACTASTIC]

It's definitely a mature Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus! It's putting on such nice show of flowers right now.

[@dpberry]

Thank you, David. I’m in central Illinois and just ordered a few true Christmas cactus cutting and a couple rooted Thanksgiving cacti. Looking forward to blooms next year (I doubt this year unless I buy one locally closer to the holidays that’s blooming). Your info is a great prep to get me started with these. *My grandmother was from Paspébiac, Quebec. Tough old bird! I love her and miss her very much. She didn’t leave me a Christmas cactus but she did leave me a short temper (only sometimes). 😅

[@CACTASTIC]

Thanks for your comment and for sharing your cacti plans. Those cuttings and rooted cacti should make for a beautiful display next year! 😊 My Thanksgiving Cactus are coming into bud right now, so I think it's going to be time for another video soon on these wonderful plants. Stay tuned! 🌵🌼🎥

[@jimp4037]

New subscriber here. I loved your very informative video. These are my favorite plants to grow and propagate. And the winter blooms really are a bonus for mental health. Some of mine are in full bloom now. They should be renamed "Halloween Cactus"!! 🎃

[@CACTASTIC]

Welcome to the channel Jim, and thanks for subscribing! 🌟 My Thanksgiving cactus are also blooming early this year. I had my first flowers open today, just in time for Halloween!🎃 I couldn't agree more about how these plants are great for mental health in the winter. These plants helped me get through many long New England winters. Stay tuned for a new Christmas Cactus video coming soon. Happy growing and happy Halloween! 🌵👻🎃

[@cathyhill64]

I would like to know how you keep your plant so "bushy" and full instead of uneven around. I have a red one and a pink, which is the one that's gotten so big but a little untidy. You have a beautiful plant there and I'm sure your grandmother would be extremely happy with your stewardship 😊

[@CACTASTIC]

Thank you! To keep it bushy, there are two things you can try: 1) Encourage multiple stems to grow from soil level. The fewer stems there are, the less bushy the plant will look. You can take cuttings from the plant and add them to the soil to start new stems. I like to have at least 3 stems for bushier plants. 2) Light pruning will help. Cutting it back encourages more side branching, which leads to a fuller, bushier plant. Hope this helps, and good luck with your cactus!

[@maryavelis1157]

I repotted mine to a smaller pot and had plenty of the sandy soil mix. no peat like mix.

[@CACTASTIC]

I hope your cactus thrives! I find they do tend to like smaller pots and don't need repotting very often.

[@sandrabeck8788]

Keep making plant videos!

[@CACTASTIC]

Thank you so much for the encouragement!! 💚💚💚

[@calypsoserr8601]

Hi you where saying you pollinated them it will be appreciated for you to make a Video and show us how and what it turn out thank for sharing your wisdom two years ago I started my collection of this gorgeous plants need the purple one still 😍💕

[@CACTASTIC]

Yes! I have pollinated these cacti before and grown them from seed. It takes quite a bit of patience to grow cacti from seed. I will definitely consider making a video on that subject. Good luck with your new Christmas cactus collection. These are such wonderful plants!

[@ethellong7445]

I have an Ollie, skinny leaves, mother's flower. I have a lou she was a church friend.

[@mnguyetnguyen-xf2vq]

Gorgeous

[@CACTASTIC]

Christmas cactus are the best!

[@lorirory]

David I have a cactus that looks like this one it always blooms beautifully in may, I’m confused on what kind it is Christmas or Easter? The problem I have is after it bloomed summer is here and the stems started turning pale yellow, i’ve had it for about 10 years now,l I had it outside, in the indirect light I’m not sure if I watered it too much or not enough I’m hoping to bring it back because it’s a little life seems to be fading please help! Thank you❤

[@CACTASTIC]

Hi Lori! If the cactus you have looks similar to the one in the video and blooms in May, it is likely an Easter Cactus. I'm sorry to hear that it's starting to show signs of yellowing. If you could send me a picture of the cactus, I might be able to provide a more accurate diagnosis and offer better advice. You can find my email address in the 'About' section on my KZbin channel page.

[@mauicountygis5450]

Well done.

[@CACTASTIC]

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. The thanksgiving cactus is a great plant that I really enjoy this time of year.

[@jeanetteanderson3912]

I know this is an older video so I don't know if you will get this message. I have a 20 year old cactus l think't believeit's a Thanksgiving cactus. Thiner not spikey leaves. It may get one or two blooms. My problem is it is gorgeous and large so I love it but can't get it to bloom. It is in my living room so sadly it is probably too warm at night and maybe too much light however dim light. Have you any suggestions for me. I can't move it I have no where else to put it. It would be magnificent if it blooms. Any help would be appreciated thank you so much 😍

[@CACTASTIC]

Hi Jeanette! Thank you so much for watching and sharing about your beautiful cactus-20 years is amazing! From what you describe, it might actually be a Christmas cactus, especially if the leaves have smoother edges without the characteristic spiky edged leaves of a Thanksgiving cactus. Here are a few suggestions that might help encourage it to bloom: 1/ Consider Light Levels: Sometimes, not enough light can limit blooming. I know you mentioned you can’t move it but if possible, giving it a bit more light during the day might encourage flowering. 2/ Try a Nighttime Cover: if you think it’s getting too much light at night - covering it each night with a cloth can help provide the extra darkness it needs without moving it to a new location. 3/ Reduce Watering Temporarily: Slightly reducing watering in the weeks leading up to bloom season can help. This drought stress can act as a natural trigger for blooming, signaling the plant that it's time to flower. 4/ Use a Phosphorus-Rich Fertilizer: Fertilizers high in phosphorus can encourage blooming, so applying one geared toward flowering plants a few weeks before blooming season could make a difference. Christmas cacti generally don’t need low nighttime temperatures to bloom and can often flower well at typical household temperatures in my experience. But maybe your home is much warmer than mine 😆 I hope one of these tips helps your cactus bloom beautifully!

[@jeanetteanderson3912]

@ do you ever mist your cactus? Just wondering if it was good for them.

[@CACTASTIC]

Good question! I typically do not mist my plants - I mostly worried about water spots and mineral buildup on the leaves. But I do periodically (2-4x a year) rinse down the entire plant and try to clean any dust and dirt off of the leaves.

[@DonnaTruitt-s4h]

Do I have to keep it dormant for 1 month before blooming time

[@DonnaTruitt-s4h]

Must it remain for 1 month before blooming time

[@CACTASTIC]

Hi! Some people do this and its the way my grandmother did it. She would even put the plant in a dark closet for a month. But I follow a slightly different method that has worked well for me. AFTER (and not before) my Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus blooms, I like to give it a little rest. During this cooler, non-growth phase, I make sure not to overwater. Instead, I allow the soil to dry out quite thoroughly between waterings. This often leads to another round of blooms during the winter season. To support these subsequent blooms, I give the plant some more water. Once the blooms fall, I return to allowing the plant to dry out again. Then as the seasons move into the warmer Spring and Summer months, I increase the watering frequency to match the plant's active growth period. So, in essence, the mini dormancy phase only occurs for me after my Christmas cactus has finished blooming. I never put my plants in a closet🙃I hope this approach helps you in caring for your Christmas cactus, and I'm sure you'll enjoy having it - they're truly wonderful plants!

[@Myrtuscommunis]

Wonderful!

[@CACTASTIC]

Many thanks, glad you think so! The Christmas/Thanksgiving cactus is one of my favorites.

[@simplypositiveme]

Wait, is Easter cactus different???

[@MaryTaylorJesusisLord]

How can you tell?

[@CACTASTIC]

Hi Mary! If you want to distinguish between a Christmas Cactus and a Thanksgiving Cactus, the simplest way is to examine their leaf segments. Christmas cacti have smooth, rounded segments, while Thanksgiving cacti have somewhat pointed and jagged ones. Interestingly, the original Christmas Cactus was more common in the past, but these days, you're more likely to come across Thanksgiving cacti. 🌵🦃🎄

[@alice.in.maddness]

HI David, I just came acroos this video and I'm super happy I did! I purchased a small Thanksgiving cactus in a 4" pot at the beginning of April. When is arrived, about 1/2 the branches and leaves were either broken and damaged or completely thin and soft. I'm hoping to save it but I'm a newbie when it comes to a cactus! I clipped off the very soft and broken leaves. It appears to be doing okay now but there's no sign of growth or anything really. It's just chilling out with its branches standing straight up haha. Do I just need be more patient with it? Is there something else I should do to encourage new growth or to help it recover? I have left it in its original nursery pot because I am afraid to stress it out by repotting it. The soil appears to be almost sand like with some bits of perlite (maybe) in it. I appreciate any help and advice! Your Thanksgiving cactus is gorgeous btw...absolutely amazing

[@CACTASTIC]

Hello! It's great to hear that you're caring for a Thanksgiving cactus. These plants are amazing! It seems like you may just need to have a bit more patience with your cactus. Cacti, even tropical ones like the Thanksgiving cactus, are slow growers. Since last summer, I haven't seen much leaf growth on any of mine. However, once the weather warms up and gets brighter in the summer, this should trigger new leaf growth on your plant. Regarding repotting, the decision is entirely up to you. If you want to repot, this is a great time of year to do so. However, it's probably not necessary at this point. You do want to make sure the soil dries out between waterings, so you'll need to be careful not to pot the cactus in too large of a container. If you do, the soil will take longer to dry out after watering. It sounds like you're on the right track with your new plant! Thanks for visiting my channel for some plant care tips. Congratulations on your new cactus, and I hope you enjoy lots of beautiful blooms next winter.

[@alice.in.maddness]

@@CACTASTIC Thank you so so much for the reply and help! When it arrived the soil was a bit moist still and so I waited to water it. I checked it with a moisture meter 2 or 3 days later and it was dry except for up close at the base on one side of the plant. The opposite side of the base was dry as a bone though. Looks like theres about 5 propagated branches in the pot next to eachother. So I waited another day or 2 and checked. The one side was still moist, so I added a tiny bit of water to the dry side, further out away from the base. Last night sometime the branch on the side that wouldn't dry out, had fallen off. It was lying on the soil when i woke up this morning. I'm trying to propagate the broken branch. I also pulled out the plant to check the roots. The branches on the dry side (that I watered a tiny bit) look great, the other moist side (that I never watered) was gross and mushy. I think it was already overwatered when I received it, at least the one side was. So I removed the yuck bits and soil. Repotted it back in the same pot with new, dry soil and said a few prayers haha. Hopefully with the overwatered half gone, it survives now. At least the soil will drain properly! Thanks again for the advice and tips! : ] 💚🌱

[@BrianMernick]

Litho. Not Lipo

[@CACTASTIC]

Thank you for the correction. You're right, it should've been 'lithophilic.' I noticed this slip up as well. Thanks for helping keep the information accurate!

[@liliethedwards370]

thanks for that useful information.

[@teresa4773]

The plant in video is beautiful but all this talking and you don't Show us anything..

[@CACTASTIC]

Thank you Teresa for sharing your feedback. I will keep this in mind when I create videos.