x buckleyi became known as Christmas cacti as they bloom in December. truncata blooms around November it became known as Thanksgiving cactus, while both S. truncata and before the winter blooming S. x buckleyi would bloom after the fall blooming S. This hybrid was created in 1850 at Rollisson’s Nursery, England by William Buckley, who crossed S. There continued to be taxonomical shuffling over the years with the result that Schlumbergera has become the accepted genus for Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti, along with a handful of other species.Ĭhristmas cactus is the common name given to both S. The name referenced the fact that this species has zygomorphic flowers, which in layman’s terms means they are symmetrical only in one plane: vertically. In 1890 Karl Schumann created the genus Zygocatus, into which Epiphyllum truncatum (today’s S. russelliana, which at that point was called S. Originally given the botanical name Epiphyllum, it was in 1858 that the genus was renamed Schlumbergera after the French cactus collector, Fédéric Schlumberger. To explain the myriad names these holiday plants go by requires a little taxonomical history.ĭuring the early part of the nineteenth century explorers discovered these cacti growing in the Brazilian rainforests. ![]() For all your gardening questions, call the Linn County Master Gardener Hortline at 31.Holiday cactus, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter cactus, Zygocactus or Schlumbergera – what’s in a name? Potentially confusion, if the naming of these cacti is anything to go by, but fortunately when it comes to growing these colorful beauties, the care is very similar. Enjoy these carefree holiday plants and start a new gardening tradition. There are reports of plants being handed down from generation to generation and being over one hundred years old. If the plant turns reddish in color it is an indication of too much sun, lack of phosphorus or lack of water. These plants are relatively disease free unless over watered. If you want to encourage spring time blooms, simply return the plant to its short day conditions. The Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus may re-bloom again for you in the spring but not as profusely as holiday time bloom. The plants seem to do the best when root bound. The plant's soil should be dry to one inch below the surface before watering and not fertilized or repotted while blooming. ![]() The plants enjoy bright light but not direct sunlight. That could be due to drafts, too-warm temperatures, too much water or direct sunlight. Sometimes a plant might start to drop buds at this time. When the buds appear it can be brought into a warmer area for your enjoyment. The Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus require approximately 6 weeks of short days in order to bloom whereas the Easter cactus requires 8-12 weeks of short days to bloom hence the name Easter cactus. A seldom used bedroom or lower level is the ideal place. ![]() If you have over summered your plant outdoors or purchased it from a florist or nursery the plant should be kept in a cool location and in a dark area until it sets buds. So in order to induce the plant into bloom it must have 12-24 hours of darkness and cool temperatures. All of these three cacti are known as short day plants.
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