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Time to Think About Holiday Cacti

Jane Moyer
Latest posts by Jane Moyer (see all)

Now, at the hottest time of the year, it’s time to think about those holiday cacti that hold the promise of blooming on schedule this winter! They will only show their flowers if we do our part now.

Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus, Easter cactus. They are beautiful additions for the holidays, but are even better appreciated when the other decorations are packed away and everything seems a bit dark and gloomy. That is when a gorgeous blooming cactus can bring a little life back into life!

Because these members of the Zygo-cactus family are long-lived and rather easy to grow, they are a popular houseplant, often passed down from generation to generation. Native to the same tropical areas of Central and South America where orchids originate, they are not related to desert cacti. In their natural environment, they are most often found growing in the forks of tree limbs where decayed leaves and other natural debris accumulate.

The cacti calendar can easily be adjusted to have blooms on your own timetable.  Master Gardener and cacti expert Chuck Timberman had a simple formula for getting a Thanksgiving cactus to bloom at the appropriate time: 8-8-8. Starting in August (the 8th month), restrict the cactus to 8 hours of bright but indirect daylight per day for 8 weeks, keeping it in a dark place for the other 16 hours (absolutely no artificial or natural light). Want it to bloom for Hanukah, Valentine’s Day, or your birthday? Adjust the formula to start the dark period approximately 10-12 weeks ahead of the targeted bloom date.

Really, the key to getting a holiday cactus to bloom includes correct temperature and limited watering, in addition to the proper light exposure. Optimum temperature during this time is 50º-60º even though for Thanksgiving cactus, we’re talking about fall in the Rogue Valley. Keeping the plant in a cool room of the house seems to work adequately. Big no-no’s are placing it near a door that opens to the outside or near heating ducts, fireplaces, or in drafty areas. Normally, holiday cacti should be watered thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry, but less frequently during the time leading up to blooming.

Happy Holidays!