Anyone have a true Christmas cactus?

last year

I can't seem to find true Christmas cactus online or through local nursefies. Every nursery proudly points to their Thanksgiving cactus collection, not realizing there is a distinction. The Christmas cactus has smooth leaf edges and oval leaves. I'm trying to find a cutting of true Christmas cactus from a white flower variety. I already have Thanksgiving, An Easter variety would be nice too.

Featured Answer

Dawn Wigley

3 months ago

You're looking for a unicorn. White flower doesn't exist on that plant form. Only shades of pink.

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Comments (13)

gardenfanatic2003
last year
It does seem to be difficult to find a true Christmas cactus. The ones I see for sale marked Christmas cactus are actually Thanksgiving cacti. 🤷‍♀️
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Matt Barnett
Original Author
last year
Exactly. Almost everything labeled as Christmas cactus or Easter cactus is actually a Thanksgiving cactus. Even professional growers mislabel them. I can understand amateur hobbiests, but the pros? Really?
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41 North (Zone 7a/b, NE, coastal)
last year
last modified: last year
What about Easter Cactus, are those true? Picked up two today for cheap, one pink, one red. I love the epiphytic cacti, all kinds.

Above are Thanksgiving cactus, I just leave them outside, they will get like this in November.
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gardenfanatic2003
last year
Found out Schlumbergera Buckleyi flower later than Truncata, so they're considered Christmas cactus as well. I found some of those on eBay.

Deanna
Matt Barnett
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
The actual bloom time isn't what makes them a Christmas cactus, its the species and cultivar. The same plant may bloom weeks or months earlier or later in different climates. I am trying to find the original Bridgesii cultivar, and it shouldn't be this hard, given how easy they are to propegate from cuttings. You clip a couple sections and stick them in dirt, with nearly 100% success rate. There is no barrier to availability, other than the mislabeling of Thanksgiving cactus as Christmas cactus. If I could find a cutting, inside of 6 months, I could make 100 plants.
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gardenfanatic2003
last year
Original Christmas Cactus

Scroll down to where it says Synonym. Buckleyi = Bridgesii

They aren't in commerce.
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Matt Barnett
Original Author
last year
Which is why I'm reaching out to see if anyone has one. 😁
gardenfanatic2003
last year
And I mentioned that there are some available on ebay if you search for Buckleyi.
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Matt Barnett
Original Author
last year
The ones in eBay are the standard pink flower version, and I was looking for the white flower variety, which are a bit more rare.
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Randy English
2 months ago

I've been growing this Schlumbergera truncata for years and it blooms like 5 times a year
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Dawn Wigley
2 months ago
Lucky you. What zone do you live in? Couldn't resist this Easter cactus at Walmart. Blooms look multi color. And yes, I bought a white one too
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Dawn Wigley
2 months ago
Randy, anytime your MB drops segments, you can send them to me...hahaha!!
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