Holiday cactus 101
A holiday cactus can brighten the gray days of winter with its vibrant blooms.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN
Fellow Idaho Master Gardener Brenda Hochhalter is the Queen of Holiday Cacti. This is just one area of her vast collection.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN
The Thanksgiving cactus grows upright and arches. The clades have sharp points like crab claws, and the pollen is often yellow.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN
The blossoms of a true Christmas cactus hang downward from the plant, and the clades are scalloped or Christmas tree-shaped, without sharp points.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN
Easter cacti have distinct star-shaped flowers that close at night; their clades are smooth with small bristles at the tips.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN
Holiday cactus can be propagated in a small jar of water, or clades can be propagated in soil.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN
These Thanksgiving cacti seedlings are from seeds Brenda collected after cross-pollinating her plants with a Q-tip. If pollination occurs, a seed pod will form below the spent flower.
Photo by CANDACE GODWIN
The Christmas cactus (genus Schlumbergera) is one of the most popular plants to give and receive during the holiday season. And for a good reason — its cheery flowers of many colors can brighten even the grayest winter days.
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