Thanksgiving cactus blooms — a short introduction to this piece.
Thanksgiving cactus blooms: Quick Notes
A well-timed Thanksgiving cactus kicks off the holiday display with full-colored flair in November. Schlumbergera truncata brightens early in the cool season with ruffled tubular blooms in bold pinks, purples, and reds to soft salmon and white.
Flowering ahead of Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) and Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri), Thanksgiving cactus blooms right in time with the autumnal festivities. The tropicals perform well as houseplants, enjoying summer outdoors and moving inside for winter protection and the big show.
For Thanksgiving cactus to bloom for the holiday, special attention to temperature and day length supports budding and flowering. The easy-going tropicals shine for the season with the best placement and a few key cultural requirements.
Keep It Cool
To promote blooming in a Thanksgiving cactus, bring it indoors to protect it from cold fall temperatures. Avoid bringing it inside too early, though, as the cactus benefits from cool nighttime temperatures to initiate budset. Bring them inside as temperatures drop into the 40s (around 4°C). Protect the tropicals against temperatures below the low 40s to avoid cold damage.
In their mountain forests, Thanksgiving cactus grows at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 feet. Ideal daytime temperatures range from 70-80°F (21-27°C). Winter nighttime temperatures are near 55-60°F (13-16°C). From about mid-September on, cool nights promote bud development for blooming around Thanksgiving.
Warm nighttime temperatures (70°F or 21°C, or higher) for extended periods beyond mid-September limit bud development or cause buds to drop. When summer heat lingers into September nights, bring the pots inside to a cool room or space with natural light.
If your indoor potted specimen is in a warm location, move it nearer a window to experience cooler conditions. If temperatures stay above 60°F (16°C) at night, we’ll cover a trick to compensate below.
Aim for consistent temperatures, avoiding drastic fluctuations and hot or cold drafts that can damage tender buds.
Initiate Budding With Darkness
Along with cool nighttime temperatures, increased hours of darkness (and shorter daylengths) trigger budding. For about six weeks, the tropical succulents need at least 12 hours of darkness each night to develop strong buds.
In warmer weather, compensate with longer dark periods to make up for the lack of chill. If room temperatures are above 60°F (16°C) at night, try to limit daylight hours to about 9 to 10. Use coverage tricks to provide about 15 dark hours.
One method to increase hours of darkness is to turn off the lights in the room early in the evening (or keep them off). If you really want to make sure blooms are in place for Thanksgiving, place a light-blocking cover over the cactus at night for several weeks.
This coverage provides the necessary hours of darkness to prompt a holiday bloom time. Once buds form, they can stay in their growing spot without the need for added darkness.
A cardboard box or dark fabric creates a removable dark cover. You can also move them to a dark pantry or closet at night, returning them to their bright growing location during the day. Move them at night for about four weeks to mimic the necessary photoperiod.
During the day, the specimens require plenty of bright, indirect light for the best growth and flowering. Position them near a bright window, with an east or south-facing placement as ideal.
Use a curtain as a filter, or place pots slightly away from the window to keep them out of the intense sun. Too much direct sunlight, especially in the afternoon, can scorch stems and hamper flowering.
Adjust the Watering Regimen
In their rainforest nooks and crevices, the succulents have plenty of access to moisture in the air. As houseplants, they benefit from moderate moisture, without roots sitting in overly saturated soils.
To initiate budding, some growers reduce water sessions slightly as buds begin to form, usually from August to September. A little stress from withholding water prompts strong stems and bud initiation. Extend the length of time between sessions to try this approach, without letting stems wilt. As buds swell, resume a regular watering schedule.
Water Thanksgiving cactus thoroughly when the potting mix feels dry about one inch below the surface (a knuckle deep). This is usually once every week or two, depending on the growing environment, plant size, container type, and potting media.
Watering lessens during the cool season as uptake and evaporation lessen. Err on the dry side rather than overwatering, but don’t allow plants to wilt or for soil to dry out completely. Well-draining soils and pots are essential for the best root support.
Stop Fertilizing
In the wild, the cacti receive nitrogen through raindrops and other nutrients from decaying plant material on trees. At home, the succulents benefit from a low-grade application during warm months. They don’t need fertilizing as their bloom time approaches.
It’s tempting to want to feed them to boost nutrition and ensure Thanksgiving cactus bloom, but fertilizing should stop in September as active growth slows and buds form. A final round supports budding and strong stems without an overage of leafy growth. Nitrogen promotes leafy growth but inhibits bud development, resulting in less flowering with a late delivery.
Resume fertilizing holiday cacti in early spring as active growth resumes. Opt for a houseplant fertilizer (like 10-10-10) and use it at ¼ strength. Apply it every other watering session in the warmer months or once a month if using full-strength applications.
Thanksgiving cactus blooms appears here to highlight key ideas for readers.
