Easter cactus or Christmas cactus?
Easter cactus looks a lot like its winter-flowering cousins, but Kew now places it in a separate genus, and it’s less often sold. Three ways to tell:
- Stem segments. Smooth, with only faint, rounded scallops along the edges and a few brownish or yellowish bristles at the tips. There are no pointed teeth, which rules out Thanksgiving cactus, and the bristles set it apart from Christmas cactus.
- Flowers. Wide open and star-shaped, up to 3 in (7.5 cm) across, in red, pink or white. Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti have long, tubular flowers.
- Timing. Late March to May, around Easter, sometimes with a few more flowers in early fall.
It’s also easy to confuse with rose Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis rosea), which looks like a miniature version, with smaller segments and smaller pink flowers. Kew lists a garden hybrid between the two, Rhipsalidopsis × graeseri (formerly Hatiora × graeseri). If your plant’s label says graeseri, that’s what you have.
Getting it to bloom
Easter cactus is fussier about flowering than its cousins, and without a proper cool rest it often won’t bloom at all. Buds form late, around February or March, after a cycle that runs through fall and winter:
- First, long nights. In fall, give it 14–16 hours of unbroken darkness every night, at 60–70°F (16–21°C), for 3–4 weeks.
- Then a cold spell. Move it somewhere cooler, 47–55°F (8–13°C), for another 4–6 weeks. Keep it bright by day.
- Then warmth and longer days. Bring it back to 60–70°F (16–21°C) as the days lengthen. Buds should follow, opening from late March into May.
In a cool room with no lights on at night, winter may take care of most of this for you.
Light
Give it bright, indirect light. Direct sun in the hottest part of the day scorches the segments. In fall, keep it away from lamps after dark, because it needs long, uninterrupted nights to set buds.
Water
Keep the soil lightly moist from spring to fall, but never soggy, and water less in winter while it rests. It's touchier about this than Christmas cactus. Too wet or too dry, and it drops whole stem segments.
Soil & pots
Use a moist but well-drained cactus mix, in a pot with a drainage hole. It likes humidity, so in a dry home try a bathroom, or stand the pot on a saucer of pebbles and water.
Temperature
It's comfortable at 60–75°F (16–24°C) for most of the year, but it needs a cool spell to flower. Nights around 50°F (10°C) in late winter promote blooming. Outside USDA zones 10–12, keep it as a houseplant that summers outdoors in shade.
Is Easter cactus safe for pets?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs. The ASPCA lists Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) among its non-toxic plants, and its Christmas cactus entry, which also goes by Easter cactus, is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating any plant can still cause vomiting or an upset stomach.
Propagation
Easter cactus roots from stem cuttings, just like its holiday cousins. Take them in late spring or early summer, once it has finished flowering.
- Remove a piece 2–5 segments long, at a joint.
- Let the cut end callus overnight.
- Insert it about 1 in (2.5 cm) deep in moist perlite or coarse sand, the right way up.
- Keep it in bright light and water when the mix starts to dry. Roots take six to eight weeks.
Common problems
FAQ
Is Easter cactus toxic to cats and dogs?
No. The ASPCA lists Easter cactus as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. As with any plant, a pet that eats a lot of it may still vomit.
What's the difference between Easter cactus and Christmas cactus?
Easter cactus has smooth, bristle-tipped segments and flat, star-shaped flowers in spring. Christmas cactus has scalloped segments and long, tubular flowers that hang down in winter. Easter cactus also needs a cooler winter to bloom.
Why isn't my Easter cactus blooming?
It most likely missed its cool rest, or had light at night in fall. It needs long nights followed by several weeks at 47–55°F (8–13°C) before it will set buds.
Why is my Easter cactus dropping segments?
Almost always watering. Too wet or too dry, and it sheds segments. Feel the soil. If it's soggy, let it dry a little; if it's bone dry, water thoroughly.
Is Easter cactus a Schlumbergera or a Hatiora?
Both names are still in use. Kew's Plants of the World Online currently accepts Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, but you'll see it sold and described as Hatiora gaertneri or Schlumbergera gaertneri. It's the same plant.
Sources
- Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri (Regel) Linding.: Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Rhipsalidopsis × graeseri (Barthlott ex D.R.Hunt) P.V.Heath: Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Do You Know Which Flowers and Plants are Toxic to Pets? Our Experts Explain!: ASPCA
- Christmas Cactus: ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: ASPCA Animal Poison Control
- Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri: North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Rhipsalidopsis rosea: North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- All About Holiday Cacti: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Holiday cacti: University of Minnesota Extension
- How to identify and care for holiday cacti and get them to rebloom: University of Illinois Extension
- Thanksgiving & Christmas Cacti (HGIC 1554): Clemson Cooperative Extension