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Thanksgiving vs. Christmas cactus: How they’re different

How to tell if your Christmas cactus is really a Thanksgiving cactus

Rebecca Wolken
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Friends and families share holiday cacti every year, but how do you know if you have a Thanksgiving cactus or a Christmas cactus? When comparing a Thanksgiving cactus vs. a Christmas cactus, it’s easy to see why people are unsure. These cacti are closely related and are difficult to tell apart. Even their flowers look alike! What makes it worse — department stores, plant shops, and garden centers often mislabel these plants, which contributes to the confusion.

To properly care for your cactus, you need to know what kind of cactus it is. Here’s your handy guide to telling these two cacti apart, and how to care for them so your cactus will last long past the holiday season.

Thanksgiving cactus in bloom

What is a Thanksgiving cactus?

The Thanksgiving cactus, or Schlumbergera truncata, is actually a succulent and not a cactus. The best way to distinguish this plant from a Christmas cactus is by inspecting the leaves. The leaves of a Thanksgiving cactus are much pointier than Christmas cacti. In addition, each segment has serrated sides with pointed spines. These toothed edges are likely why this plant is also known as “Crab Claw Cactus.”

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You might also be able to spot the difference between these plants because of their flowers. While the flowers are very similar, a few minor details will help you figure it out. First, Thanksgiving cacti bloom around, you guessed it, Thanksgiving. Flowers can appear at the ends of each segmented “branch,” or they can bloom between segments. They come in red, pink, peach, purple, orange, or white. However, the best way to tell the difference is by looking at the anthers of the flower. On a Thanksgiving cactus, these are yellow and on a Christmas cactus, they’re pink or brown.

The Thanksgiving cactus likes partial shade; however, you can offer them more light when they bloom and they’ll still thrive. The “cactus” in their name might suggest otherwise, but when it comes to watering, they prefer soil that stays moist for a more extended period, and they don’t like to dry out completely between waterings. To ensure the plant has enough food to produce a lot of pretty blooms, you’ll want to provide it with plenty of fertilizer during the growing season.

Christmas cactus in bloom

What is a Christmas cactus?

A Christmas cactus, or Schlumbergera bridgesii, has a much softer look to its leaves than its Turkey Day cousin. The segments on a Christmas cactus have scalloped edges, and the ends almost look like they go straight across.

The blooms of a Christmas cactus show up around Christmas time, but they can also appear around March and May. They are either pink or white, and you’ll want to look for those pink or brown anthers to ensure you have a Christmas cactus.

The Christmas cactus loves partial sun or diffused light, so a window with a thin window treatment would be perfect! They’re adaptable to most soil conditions, but they prefer their soil to stay moist. While the name cactus might make this confusing, these are “tropical” plants that love water. Don’t let the soil dry out completely between waterings, but the Christmas cactus can handle dryer soil than the Thanksgiving cactus.

In early spring and summer, this plant will want a boost of fertilizer, which you can provide with a water-soluble option or slow-release beads. However, be sure to stop fertilizing once you see flower buds, and then resume once the plant is finished blooming.

A Christmas cactus in full bloom

Which plant should you choose?

Deciding on which plant to choose as a gift for friends or family is simply a matter of preference. These plants are both easy to care for, bloom during a time of year when most plants are dormant, and they look so similar it’s hard to tell them apart. However, if it matters to you that you give the plant on the proper day it’s named after, we recommend taking our tips and tricks with you to the store. If you can tell the difference on your own, you can be sure you’re not a victim of incorrect labeling.

Both of these plants are lovely additions to any home during the holidays, and we love that families have been sharing and gifting them for decades. Maybe add both to your own collection so you can enjoy blooms during all the major winter holidays!

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Rebecca Wolken
Rebecca Wolken
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rebecca's has written for Bob Villa and a Cincinnati based remodeling company. When she's not writing about home remodeling…
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