What is the difference between Easter cactus and Christmas cactus?
Are these two types of cactuses different? What is the difference between these houseplants – Christmas cactus and Easter cactus? Do they require same care? Which one is easier to grow? Easter is coming soon and I was thinking to buy Easter cactuses for gifts. 🙂
Thank you in advance for all your answers!
The stems of the Easter cactus are similar to the Christmas cactus, but they are not scalloped or toothed. Easter cactus is known for the bristles that can be found on the edges of their leaf segments. They say that the Easter cactus is considered more difficult to grow than the Christmas cactus, but frankly speaking I haven’t noticed this.
These cacti have a different bloom time. Easter cacti typically bloom in spring, around the time of Easter, and Christmas cacti blooms in winter, around Christmas, so their names reflect this fact 🙂
Also, the Easter cactus requires a dry period (very little water) for flower bud initiation, when Christmas cactus you should water weekly. Easter cacti are especially sensitive to overwatering.
Hello Mark! We have an article about Easter cactus in our Snaplant blog, where you can read some interesting information about Hatiora gaertneri or Easter cactus, and its growing tips. Check it out here >>> Easter cactus
