Cactaceae
Schlumbergera truncata
Bring home a classic holiday cactus that stays tidy, thrives indoors, and rewards you with impressive seasonal blooms when conditions are right. This Thanksgiving cactus is an ideal gift plant—compact, long-lived, and easy to maintain with bright indirect light and smart watering. Perfect for desks, shelves, and hanging baskets.
1. Basic Identification
Common Name: Thanksgiving cactus
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera truncata
Former Name: Zygocactus truncatus
Plant Type: Flowering houseplant (Cactus)
Plant Code / SKU: PLT-0101
Alternative Names:
Holiday cactus
Crab cactus
False Christmas cactus
شملوكا
2. Taxonomy & Classification
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Schlumbergera
3. Origin & Distribution
Native to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil (states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), where it grows as an epiphyte in humid forests. Widely cultivated indoors worldwide for ornamental use.
4. Visual Characteristics
Stems composed of flattened, leaf-like segments (cladodes) 2–4 cm long and 1–2 cm wide with scalloped margins. Bright to deep green foliage. Flowers appear at stem tips in late autumn, tubular and zygomorphic, 4–6 cm long, with overlapping petals in shades of pink to magenta; central white-to-pale style with multiple stigma lobes.
5. Size & Dimensions
Height: 10–20 cm when mature.
Spread: 20–40 cm, often cascading in hanging baskets.
Segment size: 2–4 cm length, 1–2 cm width.
6. Light Requirements
Bright, indirect light. Tolerates some morning or late afternoon sun but avoid harsh midday rays to prevent stem burn. Insufficient light can reduce blooming.
7. Watering Needs
Water thoroughly when the top 1–2 cm of soil is dry. Maintain even moisture during active growth and bud formation. Reduce watering slightly after flowering and during winter rest. Avoid waterlogging to prevent root rot.
8. Soil & Potting
Use a well-draining, airy mix such as a commercial cactus or orchid blend amended with perlite or coarse sand. Ideal pH 5.5–6.5. Ensure pots have drainage holes. Repot every 2–3 years in spring to refresh medium and prevent compaction.
9. Temperature & Humidity
Optimal temperature range 15–27 °C (60–80 °F). Protect from temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F). Prefers moderate to high humidity (50–60%). Provide humidity tray or occasional misting in dry indoor environments.
10. Fertilization
Feed with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) at half strength every 2–4 weeks from spring through late summer. Cease fertilization in early autumn to encourage bud set.
11. Maintenance & Care Level
Care level: Easy to moderate. Minimal pruning required—remove spent blooms and occasional thinning of stems to maintain shape. Monitor moisture and light to ensure consistent blooming.
12. Growth & Propagation
Propagate via stem cuttings: select 2–3 segments, allow cut ends to callus for 1–2 days, then insert into moist, well-draining medium. Roots form in 2–4 weeks. Seed propagation is uncommon in cultivation.
13. Common Problems
Overwatering can lead to root rot. Underwatering may cause shriveled stems. Bud drop due to sudden temperature changes or low humidity. Pests include mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites. Rare fungal issues include botrytis on blooms.
14. Benefits & Uses
Ornamental indoor plant prized for vivid seasonal blooms. Ideal as a desk, shelf, or hanging basket accent. Makes a popular gift plant for holidays and brighten indoor spaces.
15. Toxicity & Safety
Non-toxic to humans, cats, and dogs. Safe for homes with children and pets. Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort.
Schlumbergera truncata
Bring home a classic holiday cactus that stays tidy, thrives indoors, and rewards you with impressive seasonal blooms when conditions are right. This Thanksgiving cactus is an ideal gift plant—compact, long-lived, and easy to maintain with bright indirect light and smart watering. Perfect for desks, shelves, and hanging baskets.
1. Basic Identification
Common Name: Thanksgiving cactus
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera truncata
Former Name: Zygocactus truncatus
Plant Type: Flowering houseplant (Cactus)
Plant Code / SKU: PLT-0101
Alternative Names:
Holiday cactus
Crab cactus
False Christmas cactus
شملوكا
2. Taxonomy & Classification
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Schlumbergera
3. Origin & Distribution
Native to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil (states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), where it grows as an epiphyte in humid forests. Widely cultivated indoors worldwide for ornamental use.
4. Visual Characteristics
Stems composed of flattened, leaf-like segments (cladodes) 2–4 cm long and 1–2 cm wide with scalloped margins. Bright to deep green foliage. Flowers appear at stem tips in late autumn, tubular and zygomorphic, 4–6 cm long, with overlapping petals in shades of pink to magenta; central white-to-pale style with multiple stigma lobes.
5. Size & Dimensions
Height: 10–20 cm when mature.
Spread: 20–40 cm, often cascading in hanging baskets.
Segment size: 2–4 cm length, 1–2 cm width.
6. Light Requirements
Bright, indirect light. Tolerates some morning or late afternoon sun but avoid harsh midday rays to prevent stem burn. Insufficient light can reduce blooming.
7. Watering Needs
Water thoroughly when the top 1–2 cm of soil is dry. Maintain even moisture during active growth and bud formation. Reduce watering slightly after flowering and during winter rest. Avoid waterlogging to prevent root rot.
8. Soil & Potting
Use a well-draining, airy mix such as a commercial cactus or orchid blend amended with perlite or coarse sand. Ideal pH 5.5–6.5. Ensure pots have drainage holes. Repot every 2–3 years in spring to refresh medium and prevent compaction.
9. Temperature & Humidity
Optimal temperature range 15–27 °C (60–80 °F). Protect from temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F). Prefers moderate to high humidity (50–60%). Provide humidity tray or occasional misting in dry indoor environments.
10. Fertilization
Feed with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) at half strength every 2–4 weeks from spring through late summer. Cease fertilization in early autumn to encourage bud set.
11. Maintenance & Care Level
Care level: Easy to moderate. Minimal pruning required—remove spent blooms and occasional thinning of stems to maintain shape. Monitor moisture and light to ensure consistent blooming.
12. Growth & Propagation
Propagate via stem cuttings: select 2–3 segments, allow cut ends to callus for 1–2 days, then insert into moist, well-draining medium. Roots form in 2–4 weeks. Seed propagation is uncommon in cultivation.
13. Common Problems
Overwatering can lead to root rot. Underwatering may cause shriveled stems. Bud drop due to sudden temperature changes or low humidity. Pests include mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites. Rare fungal issues include botrytis on blooms.
14. Benefits & Uses
Ornamental indoor plant prized for vivid seasonal blooms. Ideal as a desk, shelf, or hanging basket accent. Makes a popular gift plant for holidays and brighten indoor spaces.
15. Toxicity & Safety
Non-toxic to humans, cats, and dogs. Safe for homes with children and pets. Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort.