My Mom has a Christmas Cactus. We call it the Confused Cactus because it blooms for: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and Easter!

I have a potential tenth tip and a personal story. I've heard/read that when propagating a christmas cactus, that it's good to pot it in a mix of the original soil from the mother plant along with new cactus mix. Same goes for repotting the mother plant - keep some of the old soil. I'm not sure if it matters but I had a lot of success doing it that way (never once had a failed cutting). When my grandmother was getting too sick and forgetful to care for it and after moving to a nursing home, I was given her huge, ancient christmas cactus (which I now think is actually a Thanksgiving cactus because of this video!). It had been kept alive for many years but wasn't properly cared for. I cut it way back, propagated cuttings, allowed them to establish through her last months, and gave those new plants to family members to remember her by when she passed away. The first Christmas she was no longer with us, the mother plant bloomed like crazy and it made me feel like, in a way, she was there at our celebrations. I still tear up when I think about it. Yeah, it's just a plant, but I'm glad we all have a living piece of her to nurture and love for hopefully many more years.

I've had mine since 1987! Has not been repotted for 20 years

You did this video perfectly. I love how you got right to it without any unnecessary chatter and then you gave so much useful information. Perfect! Thank you.

I had an orchid for three years and bingo! Out of no where, a Christmas cactus started growing in the same pot. A florist told me sometimes they get mixed in with potting soil.

Great job. Talks fast and doesn’t waste words. I get tired of presenters who ramble on, often about irrelevant or extraneous issues...chatty, boring and wasting time. I keep saying...Get to the points! She was perfect for my preferences.

My Christmas catus just died. It was one hundred and twenty three years old! Have had lots and lots of babies from it. It had seventy eight blooms on it five Christmases ago. Absolutely beautiful.

I have a Christmas cactus that is over 60 years old, I'm 67 and remember it on my grandmothers porch. It's the first of November and is in bloom my grandmother died on her birthday in November so it may be a tribute to her. My birthday is in May and it blooms then also. Unusual world.

My Grandmother got a Christmas cactus when she was 15. Over the years she took care of it and it grew so large that she ended up splitting it multiple times. Our family now has 4-5 (not 100% sure how many as they are spread out over aunts, uncles, and cousins) and while not all of us are great with plants these things have lasted for so long. My Grandma is now dealing with memory loss and once she passes I'm sure the cactus's will be a good memory for our family. The plants are over 50 years old.

Never thought there's three kinds of cactus. I thought they are all Christmas cactus. Thanks for the video.

Another tip to get your cactus to have a great bloom is to not water it the entire month of October when you’re restricting light. Once you bring it back out into the light begin watering it again. I’ve had great success with this care method.

My mom has one for at least 30 years. A friend of her gave her a clipping back then and it’s been thriving ever since. Mom loves it. It looks EXACTLY like a Christmas cactus. Same flowers even. But mom lived in Brazil and there they bloom in MAY! They are known as MAY FLOWERS. 🌺

Love that she talks fast! Simply just rewind to the spot where you need to review her info. Very informative especially when she talked about the differences in the shape of the leaves to distinguish one from the other 👍😀❤️

My wife and I have my mother's Christmas cactus which is around 80 years old. Mom used to plant it in her garden in early spring. When threat of frost was approaching she would dig it up and repot it and bring it inside. We enjoy up to 2 blooms a year and it is constantly growing.

I did not know that I could be jealous of someone else's watering can. I have learned much about myself today. LOL

This has to be one of the best youtube informational videos I have seen. No empty words, no beating around the bush. Talk fast and just the facts. I don't understand the negative votes?? Maybe people that could not keep up and don't know how to pause the video. I watched three videos before I landed on this one and the others were just people that liked to hear themselves talk. No info in the first mintue or two. You get right to the point and keep it moving. I just subscribed and this is one of maybe 3 youtube sites I have ever subscribed to.

Took a cutting from my mother's Christmas cactus about 2 months ago, just started to bloom! I want to take the best care of it so it lives forever. Great tips, and a very lovely woman as well! Thank you

THANK YOU so much for your TIP #5! My Christmas cactus has gone from bleached out to a deep healthy green & has even sprouted BUDS!! And all because of your tips! Even my husband has noticed the difference!

I have a christmas cactus which was on the counter at a church sale. Poor thing was dying. I got it for $1 . Took it home, in order to replant I had to break the pot it was in ,it was all root, no dirt. I was able to save two branches of it. I repotted it and happy to report it survived. I have had it for 14 years now. It has moved twice with me cross state. I have transplanted it 5 times into larger pots, it now lives in 3, 14inch pots each one standing just as high. I do notice they grow better when they are next to each other, Mine will start to bloom in late October and will bloom right thru mid July. I do get apox 100 blooms at once, on each plant ,when they fall off there is another ready to open.They bloom like this thru July. My mom had a christmas cactus which only gave 3 to 4 buds a year. I am very gifted by this plant and the blooms it gives me, it is so beautiful. Thank you for this video, I will now look for the other cactus plants.

I watch this video every year to remind myself how to care for my Thanksgiving cactus. Thanks Laura!

My girlfriend gave me one for Christmas and this video was exactly what I needed. Thanks much.

Ironically, my Christmas cactus starts arrived this morning. I’m now having coffee with Laura, learning how to best care fo it. My great aunts had huge cactus plants, & I had a yearning to travel backwards 🎄. You rock, but my favorite is you with your mom. Sweet Christmas greetings. Elizabeth

I really like that you talk fast and cover a lot of ground. I also do not like a really slow moving videos with a lot of extraneous commenting. I love your cheerful nature too!

Your the only one I found with all the information I needed to care for 4 of these plants. They were all flowering and still are. I just needed to know about the care after the blooms die. Your the Queen Mother of gardening and so prepared when you post your videos. I wasted so much time looking for the answers I needed when all I had to do was come to your channel. Thanks so much... your a gem.💎

Mine always blooms around my daughter's birthday so I call it my Chloe Cactus !

What reason could ppl have to dislike this?? This is very informative...Thank you!!!!

I just found a cactus on clearance at lowes home improvement store and it has a reddish hue and very dry soil so I just watered it well tonight! Thank you for the tips!

Wow. What a beautiful story Joyce. Thank you for taking the time to share not only the story but the tip as well.

Your videos are amazing because they are focused and have loads of information. Your voice is pleasant and you really give helpful tips on the subject. Thank you so much!

What a lovely tradition for your Dad and his kids to have a festive present buying afternoon along with lunch etc.

It's worth noting that Easter cactus flowers are radially symmetrical, whereas Christmas cactus flowers are bilaterally symmetrical. Very Good Video !!

Omg, today I bought my first Christmas cactus, a red one...and you do a video on this plant, thank you! Your video is quite helpful

I bought one last Christmas, re-potted it in Cactus Compost and it’s doing really well! Thank you for your tips x

I feel way more confident taking care of cacti after watching your videos. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Perfect, found this video right after finding a new Christmas cactus at my local (NV) shop. Fantastic tips, thanks!

Awesome information. Thank you so much for sharing! I think the snow that we get once in a lifetime here in south Texas got mine this year. I've had it for probably 12 yrs. I got the start for it from my grandmother, who taught me all the things you told us about the care and keeping of Thanksgiving Cactus. Thanks again. Merry Christmas to you guys!

Thank you! I’ve had a THANKSGIVING cactus for a number of years(although we thought it was a Christmas cactus! 😊) but it has never really grown much. You have just given me the reasons why, although it has recently had a bit of a growth spurt, with a number of new leaves developing. I will reposition it, and add some gravel to the saucer and see what develops from now on. Thanks again! Regards Gail from the UK x

I could listen to you and your information forever. I have gotten such great tips on some of my succulents that were bolting. Thankyou so much

This video may very well be the best I have ever listened to. Very informative and the narrator doesn’t waste a bunch of words. It was a sheer joy to listen to her get to the point as well as thoroughly cover the subject. She gets an A++++ !!

I bought a Thanksgiving cactus last December. Its flowers fell off shortly after I brought it home, probably from the shock of a change in the environment. When all danger of frost is over, I always take all my houseplants outside and place them on a table under my covered patio. I am quite surprised, in a good way, to see that the Thanksgiving cactus is forming buds, in May. Looks like they can bloom year-round if placed outdoors in the spring. I live in zone 6 (Ohio).

Love your videos! Thank you, I learned something new about the so called Christmas cactus which mine is a thanksgiving one judging by the pointer leafs.

I repotted mine a month ago using the saucer of pebbles tip. I’m very pleased with the results. Thank you.

Good morning! Thanks for this! Watched your video of repotting a 200 year old cactus and this info helped.

That was super interesting! It sounds like they are more closely related to Air Plants than cactus or succulents. I have a couple and I love them.

I live in Texas and as soon as we were about to get our first freeze, I brought them in and put them under a grow light and they are blooming and thriving like crazy!

Fab. Just received a beautiful one three weeks ago. Happily I’m caring for it correctly.

So I literally just replanted a thanksgiving cactus I just got a few weeks ago. This video couldn't come at a better time really. Thanks Laura! This helps me understand my new plant more.

I love her.She is an amazing visionary in the field of garden design. As well as extremely knowledgeable. Her husband behind the scenes is the wind and muscle under her wings.There is another supporter and supervisor. The cat Cheddar.A red tabby who insists on popping up to everyone's delight.I really enjoy her videos.

Thanks for sharing, it will be more clearly understand if you slow down the talking and leave the images a little longer so we can see the difference between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cactus. Thanks again

Thank you so much for covering this, I have a Thanks Giving Cactus, he blooms sometimes in spring, and it's only like one or twoI am so glad you covered the kind of soil to use. Wow, I had no idea I could use cuttings to make more cactus . Really neat I have to try that. I always let my little friend dry out first. He never buds out, just a few buds. You are the best teacher, thank you for all your dedication!!! Thank you again!!

I have my grandmothers cactus it’s over 50 years old. So this was very helpful.

I found the perfect spot in my home for my Thanksgiving cactus. It starts blooming around November 1st and is filled with big blooms. The blooms last 2 to 3 weeks and then starts again every 3 weeks or so and keeps it up until Spring! It is in a upstairs cooler room facing the East and every Spring I set it back about 6 feet from the window and then move it back to a foot from the windows in October. It is about 10 years old. I keep it setting on a bed of pebbles with water in the bottom but not up to the bottom of the cactus pot. I also have a little humidifier running in the room in winter months.

Thanks to your video I now know that I have a Thanksgiving cactus! Just purchased it yesterday from a local supermarket and although it's tiny it is loaded with beautiful pink buds! So excited to see this plant grow!

This video was really helpful and has identified a lot of stuff I actually did right when I rescued the plant from my late aunts driveway, it's much happier in the partial shade of the lemon tree in my yard and has recently started blooming.

I have a Thanksgiving cactus, was told by my friend that gave me the cutting that it was a Christmas cactus. Thanks for the foliage identification.

This young lady did a great job helping me understand how I need to care for my new plant. I just wish she was talking slower. I've had to listen a few times and stop the video so I can take notes...LOL

great video. I appreciate the info. I have a Thanksgiving cactus that has bloomed now twice this year.... in late SPring and now early December. I also have the Easter Cactus which has never bloomed. Now I have to figure out how to bring the blooming cactus out of the cool basement upstairs into warmth without bud drop.

you are amazing !! I have watched several videos to save my Christmas Cactus . You are the only 1 to explain quickly and easily what to do. Thank You.

Love how you get to the points! No blah blah! Thanks!

Apparently I rescued a Thanksgiving cactus not a Christmas cactus. No wonder it bloomed early. Thanks for the description Laura!

Thank you I greatly appreciate this information I have my Mom’s Christmas Cactus that’s 30yrs old & still going strong & it blooms several times a year ....

Can I like this video about 100 times? Just love all the info you gave here. I’m a struggling house plant parent. I love them but they don’t love me back. I just bought 2 tiny cacti, one a Christmas and one a Thanksgiving. I gave one to my daughter and honestly didn’t know which one was which. I now know I have the Christmas and my daughter has the Thanksgiving. Mine has been on the window ledge and it doesn’t look happy. It’s drooping. The soil is always dry but I was afraid to over water. Now I know I can water at least once a week. Thank you! We will see if I can keep this one going, haha.

I love your videos! I’m learning so much! Thank you so much for them! I’m a beginner plant lover, and you’re teaching me so such!

I would love to see some videos on roses!

They love the rainy season in Florida. I hang them on my tree branches.

I could watch you Laura for hours 😊 you gardens are beautiful and your knowledge is impressive!!!

I have never had success with these plants, but I absolutely love them...you've inspired me to give them another try! (now that I might actually know what I'm doing!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I moved my Christmas cactus into our bathroom, hanging in front of the window and have been watering it like you advised. It has little tiny blooms on it! I'm so excited!

It’s June 8 and my Christmas cactus are still budding. 😳💕

We live in zone 9b in CA, and have grown both Christmas and Easter cactus outdoors year round. They are in huge pots kept under the house eaves so no frost gets on them. Bloom every year and the blooms last for months. We love them.

Very Helpful..I like that she got to the point and gave the basics without getting into bogged down and go on and on.

I have one large Thanksgiving cactus blooming now that I've had about 4 years. One small one that was very small when I bought it last year that's yet to bloom. My Christmas cactus I thought was going to bloom and decided to have a growth explosion instead. I bought one labled "Summer Cactus", which I had never heard of before, earlier this year. Turns out after watching this all the way to the end, it's an Easter cactus. I've had segments break off before and stuck them in soil, but never had any luck with getting roots. Remembering a trick my Grandmother taught me, if I drop the ends in water I get roots forming in about a week.

Love these tips! Thanks!

So very helpful because I just bought one in Tucson, and I'm encouraged by your tips.

Absolutely love your Dad !💙 He could become a regular on the channel and educate farmers to inspire future farmers! So much good information is being lost with people like your Dad. He could share it!

I’ve had my thanksgiving cactus for the past two years. It didn’t bloom in 2019, but bloomed during Easter 2020 and now again during thanksgiving 🤗

Exellent video!!!! I have 10 of these and I just love them!!!! They’re so easy to maintain...I even have some out on my patio and some do get direct sun and they’ve been doing fantastic! They just have to become acclimated to a certain spot and left there...well that’s my experience with them anyway...they’re gorgeous!!!

This video came right on time! I was given one if these as a Christmas gift I was treating it like a normal succulent.

Thank you for this video! I have a Christmas cactus and it’s limpy and not doing well and hasn’t bloomed in several yrs. now I know how to help it!

Thank you! I got gifted a Christmas cactus a couple months ago and surprisingly it's still alive and okay (Plants normall die on me really fast, which makes me want to take care of this one even more). I've been googling a lot on how to take care of it and honestly more often than not I've come out of it even more confused that I started off with. But this video really helped me a lot with how straightforward it was. Also learned that I've apparently been overwatering it, yikes!

Such a FANTASTIC video Laura :-D I LOVE my Christmas cacti :-D thanks so much for sharing and sending lots of love an dhappiness and plant power from Ireland XXXX

This is exactly how I care for my African violets and they do great. I'm getting a Thanksgiving cactus from a friend this week, she has two and they are taking over all her indoor plant space. Thanks for all the tips. I feel confident that my cactus will love it's new home.

Thank you. You did an excellent job of explaining how this plant works. This is my first try so I needed to know every point you covered. Again, thanks.

This will be our family's new go to holiday video as we have killed one per year.thank you!

Girl... I've never in my life owned a cactus but I could watch you talk about paint dry and it make me want to 😁😁😂😂💜ya

Thank you for the tips now I have two Christmas and thanksgiving cactus. Love all your VD

I repotted my mother in laws, cactus plant this spring and it's doing beautifully, I plan on bringing it in our nights are starting to cool down. I also brought back two different jade plants, I'll get some cactus soil and plant them this week. What a wonderful idea of sharing a part of a planet with love one's, instead of a card, for a present.

I have to remind myself that Christmas cactus blooms for me in June/July/August (Australian winter) and Thanksgiving cactus in March/April/May (Australian autumn). Easter cactus is the same though.

Can you do a care video on. Christmas poinsettias.!!! 🎄🎁🌸

Excellent explanation Laura! I had mine in plastic pots and they did not do well. Repotted them into clay pots and they are thriving and huge!

Two years later but right on time! Thanks so much

I appreciate your well prepared videos and ability to "stuff" a ton of information into ten minutes or less!

Love the information and your picture have helped me identify which one I have which was difficult because it has bloomed all 3 holidays. My big problem is that it will suddenly drop leaves. They are healthy, (firm and bright green). I have lost upwards of 20 in one day easily. Any suggestions.

Very impressive session. Loads of excellent advice. I think I will begin (in my later years) to grow a slew of these cacti. I visited a home some time ago that had about 50 of these plants, all various sizes, colors, types. Truly spectacular. Hope you do many more of these sessions. Thanks!

That's so cool! I just checked and I have pointy leaves which explains why it bloomed at thanksgiving. Yay! You have taught me so much and inspired me to do more with plants than I have in my whole life! I just also finished getting 200 tulip bulbs in for next spring!

Sooo confused! I read many articles that say they like their soil to be nice and moist during their blooming season. I have it it my bathroom but it started looking limp. I cut a bit of leaves off and mist it once a day but she still doesn't look good. So now imI have it in my loving room non direct light and water it when the soil is dry. I have not checked the roots yet. Maybe I just need to trim it back some more

Oh my Gosh!! Thank you so much for this video! I have my husbands Grandmothers Christmas cactus and the last few years it won't bloom. I transplanted it this fall (will have to do it again as you said to put them in a clay pot) and I am so scared that I will kill it that I hate to even move it or do anything different to it. I was even nervous about transplanting it. It is a big plant. I couldn't seem to find any info on the proper care of a Christmas cactus till now. I am going to try all your tips for caring for it and hopefully it will bloom next Christmas for me. Thanks again and keep up the great videos. Merry Christmas.

You did a great job explaining the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus. Now I am able to take care of my Christmas cactus. Thank you for helping me with and knowing the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus and how to care for my Christmas cactus without A lot of other distractions.

I’ve had mine for several years now. I just repotted it for the first time today! Hope it goes well! I’ve heard they live for decades. My friends mom has one from her grandma that’s like 20 years old. Mine is the least picky plant I own next to my actual desert cactus that I legit never have to water lol

Thank you for the great information! I want a garden answer T-shirt!