Key Difference – Christmas vs Easter Cactus
 

Christmas cactus and Easter cactus are two-holiday cactus that looks alike. Their plant bodies are flattened, and leaves are stems. The fuchsia-like flowers are produced from notches in the stems. The scientific name of Christmas cactus is Schlumbergera bridgesii while the scientific name of Easter cactus is Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri.  The key difference between Christmas and Easter cactus is the time they bloom; Christmas cactus blooms in the Christmas season whereas Easter cactus blooms in February.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Christmas Cactus
3. What is Easter Cactus
4. Similarities Between Christmas and Easter Cactus
5. Side by Side Comparison – Christmas vs Easter Cactus in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Christmas Cactus?

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a cactus that blooms in the month of December. The name “Christmas cactus” actually comes from this blooming season. The Schlumbergera species are native to the tropical forests of Brazil. Thus, this is considered as a tropical plant.

Christmas cactus needs cool temperatures (approximately 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit) to start the production of flowers. The flowers have a unique, tube-shaped “double flower” appearance with neon pink stamen. If the temperature is below 50°F, flowering buds tend to fall off the plant. Plant segments also tend to shrivel and die if the top layer of the soil is not kept moist.

Figure 01:Christmas Cactus

These plants also need full, direct sunlight during the late fall and all winter long. At other times of the year, they should be grown in partial sun conditions. Excessive sunlight during non-flowering times can cause the plant to turn yellow and fail to bloom in the next flowering season.

What is Easter Cactus?

Easter cactus (scientific name: Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri.) is a member of Rhipsalidopsis family, which is native to the natural forests of Brazil. As its name implies, Easter cactus plants start blooming in the months of April and May, close to Easter. The flowers are starburst shaped with yellow stamen and crimson colored petals.

Easter cactus grows in humid environments. The plant should not be exposed to full sunlight. Easter cactus prefers temperatures around 75-80°F in spring, summer, and autumn. The winter temperature should be kept to 45-6°5F.

Figure 02: Easter Cactus

Since these cacti grow on rocks and trees in the wild, they require a special soil mixture to grow healthy. The soil should be kept moist, but not soggy. If the plant is under-watered, the segments of the plant will start to collapse towards pot and begin turning yellow. If over-watered, the segments will start breaking off.

What are the Similarities Between Christmas and Easter Cactus?

• Both Christmas and Easter cacti are known as holiday plants.
• Their plant bodies are flattened, and leaves are stems. The flowers are produced from notches in the stems.
• Both plants are native to Brazil

What is the Difference Between Christmas and Easter Cactus?

Summary – Christmas vs Easter Cactus

Christmas and Easter cactus are two popular holiday plants. The main difference between Christmas and Easter cactus is their blooming seasons; Christmas cactus starts producing flowers in the Christmas season whereas Easter cactus starts producing flowers close to Easter.

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Reference:

1.“Schlumbergera Bridgesii.” Houseplants Expert. Available here  
2.“Hatiora Gaertneri.” Houseplants Expert. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1.’Christmas Cactus 01′ By Gabriel VanHelsing – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2.’Hatiora gaertneri ‘Sagitta’ 01′ By Kor!An (Андрей Корзун) – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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