Thanksgiving cactus vs. Christmas cactus: Learn how to tell the difference between these festive holiday plants.
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Knowing the difference between a Thanksgiving cactus and aChristmas cactusrequires an eagle eye.
Read on to learn the key characteristics that make their true identities clear.
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This is partly why they make sucheasy-care houseplants, though they do needmore regular wateringthan a desert cactus would.
They have similar-looking flowers bloom in shades of pink, red, yellow, or white.
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2.
A Thanksgiving cactus flower has yellow pollen.Credit:Getty Images / Credit:Tom Meaker / EyeEm
Protruding from each blossom, a cluster of long, thin anthers will be tipped with pollen.
It also goes by zygocactus at some stores.
A Christmas cactus, on the other hand, comes from a species calledSchlumbergera russellianawith someS.
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truncata, andpossibly a couple of other species, mixed in.
The resulting hybrid is known asSchlumbergeraxbuckleyi.
Bloom Time
Your plant’s bloom time can be a major clue to its identity.
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A Thanksgiving cactus blooms earlier in November, whereas aChristmas cactus will likely bloomin late November or early December.
