Dec 8, 2023 By Lisa Lewis 3 min read

Lisa Lewis, Greene County Penn State Extension Master Gardener

Though they mainly originated from the mountainous rainforests of Brazil, holiday cacti can find a happy home in many Greene County abodes. These houseplants can live up to 100 years, being passed down from generation to generation. They can produce a wide range of bloom colors, including white, cream, peach, orange, red, lavender and purple. They do not have true leaves, so photosynthesis occurs in their segmented green stems. Pinching back the stems when blooming is finished causes increased branching and greater bloom production the following year. Because of their pendulous stems, they make great hanging baskets but grow equally happily in a pot on a table or shelf.

There are three main types of holiday cacti: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. They can be distinguished not only by the bloom time for which they are named but by the appearance of their stems and flowers. Thanksgiving Cacti have stem segments with saw-toothed, serrated edges, and their flowers have purplish-brown anthers (the pollen-producing protrusion from the throat of the flower). The stem segments of the Christmas cactus are more pear-shaped with scalloped edges, and their flowers are more drooping with yellow anthers. The stem segments of the Easter cactus are more rounded, with flowers being flat and star-shaped and held horizontally to the stem.

All holiday cacti enjoy growing in bright but filtered or indirect sunlight. This replicates the amount of sunlight they received growing in the tree limbs of the Brazilian rainforest where they primarily originated. They are considered short-day plants, meaning they require a seasonal shift toward shorter days and longer nights with at least 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness. Exposure to lamplight or streetlights at night can disrupt the budding process. They enjoy reasonable humidity levels, such as those common in our region. They like to grow in well-draining potting medium (roughly 60% soil and 40% perlite is good) in pots with drainage holes and saucers to collect excess water. They like to have their soil evenly moist while blooming — but never water-logged — and to have their soil dry out between watering when not in bloom.

They bloom best when pot-bound. So, re-pot no more frequently than every three years or so or when the roots are growing out of the drainage holes. Over-watering is the most common problem and causes root rot as well as attracting other pests/diseases. Fertilize once a month with houseplant fertilizer at half-strength. Avoid drafty areas or areas with abrupt temperature changes.

Propagating is simple to do. Simply pinch off a branch 3 or 4 segments long and either root in water, with or without rooting solution, or directly place several pinched-off branches approximately one inch deep in a four- to 8-inch pot filled with potting medium. Water well and cover with a clear plastic bag secured to the pot with a rubber band, creating a mini-greenhouse. Remove the bag and water again when roots have developed three to 8 weeks later. These fairly undemanding and cheerful houseplants will reward your efforts with several weeks of blooms, again and again, for many years to come.