PlantFiles: Thanksgiving Cactus, Holiday Cactus, Crab Cactus
Schlumbergera truncata

I have had one of these nestled in an oak tree in my yard for about four years, never any damage and the flowers cascade out of the tree. Worth a try for 9a gardeners who want flowering epiphytes on their trees.

Ah, the joys of winter-flowering plants! I have a Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus, one of each. And they're both treated in the same way, nothing scientific or high-maintenance here. They reside on my screened porch all year long, here in Jacksonville FL, where the exposure to sun/shade varies with the seasons. It fluctuates between mostly shade during the summer and 1 - 2 hours of direct sun mid-fall through late spring. Watering is done freely throughout the summer when it's the hottest and I let them dry out between waterings the rest of the year. Clay pots seem to be working very well for them. It's mid-November and, as usual, both are full of buds on all sides (no rotating of pots required in my circumstance). The Thanksgiving cactus is about 5 years old and will be blooming bright pink in time for its holiday namesake...my Christmas cactus,12 years old now, will be showy in white flowers with magenta centers just in time for Santa...you can't go wrong with this low-maintenance (no matter what the books say), winter-blooming beauty.

I have 2 Thanksgiving Cactus plants, one is the white, double length bloom with the neon pink stamen (or anthers?). I pretty much ignore them until late October, early November. We keep our house cool at night, mid 60's. After ignoring them for 8 months, I rotate them a quarter turn each week, when they get watered with half strength Shultz plant food. Once they start to bud, they only get moved for their one time soaking, and then back to their spot. They still get rotated so they will have buds all over, instead of just one side. If we are lucky, we have one centerpiece for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas. I'll post close ups when they come back into bloom.

Schlumbergera sp., the Christmas cactus, have some of the most exotic and beautiful flowers of the plant kingdom. Native to the rain forests, of Central and South America, they are epiphytes, found hanging on trees, and prefer a humid environment.
Blooming is triggered by temperature and light period, flowers form when one of the following conditions are present. 1: Maintain a night temperature of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the plant will produce buds regardless of light period. 2: At temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit a minimum of 13 hours of uninterrupted total darkness is required every night. 3: At temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit a minimum of 15 hours of uninterrupted total darkness is required every night, for bud formation. Once buds do form plants can be keep in normal light and temperatures. In Anchorage, AK, they will often bloom a second time, if taken outside for the summer, due to our cool evening temperatures, even though we have very long days

I WAS GIVEN THIS PLANT A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL. I DIDN'T DO MUCH WITH IT FOR A COUPLE YEARS, AND FORGOT TO EVEN WATER IT MOST OF THE TIME. WHEN I MOVED INTO AN APARTMENT WITH A BALCONY, I REPOTTED IT AND USED A GOOD FERTILIZER ON IT. I HAVE ROOTED SEVERAL MORE CACTUS PLANTS FROM THIS PLANT AND I HAVE REPOTTED IT JUST TWICE. IT BLOOMED ALMOST THIS MUCH AROUND EASTER ALSO.

Sclumbergera trunctata has flat, 1½-2½ inch stem segments with 4-8 toothed (pointed), marginal notches. Numerous hybrids have been created, resulting in a wide range of colors available on the market. Plants bloom in autumn and require shorter day lengths and a drop in temperature to set buds. A high phosphorus fertilizer and even moisture is recommended while plants are in active growth. After blooming let plants rest and allow them to dry out between watering. Tip cuttings root easily in spring.