Differences Between Christmas & Easter Cactus
They might seem like different variations of the same plant, however the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) and also the Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri) are entirely different plants. They flower at different times of the year, as their titles suggest, but that is just the beginning when it comes to telling these two colorful and decorative plants.
Origin
Both kinds of cactus originated at precisely the same part of the world, the forests in Brazil, but each type’s kind of forest differs. The Christmas cactus comes in tropical rainforests while its lookalike develops in drier forests. As with all plants, each cactus’ source determines the quantity of water, heat and sun it has to remain healthy. Both Christmas cactus and Easter cactus are hardy outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b through 11, and they can be grown as houseplants in most zones.
Leaves
Holiday cacti don’t have any true leaves; instead, their stems each consists of a chain of leaflike segments. The Christmas cactus stem segments have rounded, smooth borders with a little rippling. The stem edges of the Easter cactus, on the other hand, are tipped with bristles, which look at the joints in which the sections that were leaflike link.
Water Prerequisites
They may be forest plants, but at heart these plants are cacti. They want much less water. Every week, the Christmas cactus can be watered about once, however the Easter cactus is not being a jungle plant, needs to have its soil dry out between waterings to keep healthier.
Blooming
In order to encourage flourishing at the moment all vacation plants have to be. Christmas cactus ought to be left outside until the night temperatures drop below 50 F. Take it inside afterward, but keep it in a room that’s under 65 F. Keep the plant in a dark room after 5 p.m. and away from heating ducts, and water that the plant weekly. Easter cactus, on the other hand, requires a miniature drought to kick off its period. Water it sparingly from October through November, and keep it. Move the Easter cactus into a room in December, and water it about once each week to keep its soil from drying.