Schlumbergera truncata – Thanksgiving Cactus

Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata): A classic trailing cactus with lime to forest green stem segments and gorgeous, crimson red, to white blooms. These blooms tend to appear in the fall, earning it its festive name. Remember, this variety likes more water and less sunlight than many other cactus species.

Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus differ, primarily, in two ways. The first, and most apparent, are the flower colors. Christmas cactus has red to white blooms while Thanksgiving cactus has hot pink to red blooms, with less white. The second, and more definitive is the length of the teeth on the margins of each stem segment (cladode). Thanksgiving cactus has much longer, pointer teeth while Christmas cactus has much shorter teeth. In a pinch, this can be used to tell these two apart without blooms.

Soft succulents will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures they can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. They need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot. Pick containers with drainage holes and use well-draining cactus and succulent soil with 50% to 70% mineral grit such as coarse sand, pumice, or perlite. Water deeply enough for water to run out the drainage hole, then wait for the soil to fully dry before watering again.

This variety is easy to re-root from stem cuttings. Look to our Succulent Cuttings Guide for tips on succulent propagation.