Thanksgiving Cactus

Thanksgiving Cactus Schlumbergera truncata

What is the plant

Schlumbergera truncata, the false Christmas cactus, is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests.

Christmas cactus Schlumbergera truncata is a much branched cascading epiphyte, also knows as crab's claw cactus up to 30 cm tall before weeping and 30-45 cm in diameter. The individual flattened, spineless joints of these popular cacti form arching, pendulous branches from whose tips hang satiny, zygomorphic flowers that ranges in colour from red to pink, purple, orange, white or multicolour, with yellow pollen, white filaments, and terete ovaries.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

18°C - 24°C

Hardiness zone

10b - 11b

Difficulty

Easy

Hibernation

Cold Period

Water
During a flowering period, keep thanksgiving cactus evenly moist. A handy way to water a thanksgiving cactus is a “soak and drain” method. To do this, bring a plant to a sink and give it a good watering, allowing a water to drain out of a drain hole in a bottom of a pot.
Sunlight
Grows it's best and fastest with full sun exposure, but it can do well in partial shade.
Fertilizer
Most cacti and succulents don't need a specific blend. They grow healthy and happy when fed with a highly diluted all-purpose fertilizer. However, a low-nitrogen content, water-soluble fertilizer is best suited for the job. Use a 5-10-10 blend or 10-10-10 fertilizer diluted to 1/4th strength.

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Soil
Mix together three parts potting soil, three parts coarse sand or gravel, and two parts perlite or pumice. Don't use a potting soil mix that contains fertilizers because the fertilizer can burn cacti roots and cause leggy growth.
Pruning
By removing overgrown foliage, you will improve airflow to the plant, and light will be better able to penetrate all portions of the plant. This actually leads to a fuller and healthier-looking houseplant.
Temperature
The plant is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 30°F (-1.1°C), it's best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors.

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Container
Plants that don't like a lot of moisture will need a drainage hole for moisture to escape and for airflow to circulate through the pot. Another important function of drainage holes is to allow water to flush the soil of excess salts from fertilizers. Terracotta containers are a good choice for cactus gardens. They let water evaporate faster than other materials. Terracotta containers are a good choice for cactus gardens. They let water evaporate faster than other materials.
Popularity
58,353 people already have this plant 7,962 people have added this plant to their wishlists