Plant care card

Thanksgiving cactus

Schlumbergera truncata · Cactus de Acción de Gracias

Also called crab cactus, claw cactus, false Christmas cactus or holiday cactus

A Thanksgiving cactus is easy to keep: give it bright light without hot summer sun, water when the top inch of soil is dry, and keep it away from drafts. It's a rainforest cactus from Brazil, so it wants more water and humidity than a desert cactus. It usually starts blooming in late November, and getting it to bloom again takes long, dark nights from September.

Grove care rating

Moderate 5 of 10

Keeping it healthy all year. Getting it to bloom again: Moderate.

Non-toxic to cats and dogs (NC State)

No signs of poisoning listed. Not on the ASPCA list by name; any plant can still upset a pet’s stomach if it eats enough. Children: NC State lists it as non-toxic.

Pet poison line: ASPCA (888) 426-4435

Good for: homes with cats and dogs, fall color by late November, hanging baskets · Think twice if: lamps or streetlights shine on it at night in fall, you like to move plants around in fall.

Needs at a glance

Light3 of 4 · Bright indirectA bright window, shaded from hot summer sun
Water2 of 3 · Let the top dryWater when the top inch is dry; evenly moist while budding
Humidity2 of 3 · Above averageA pebble tray helps in dry winter rooms
Soil when pottedAiry, well-drained mixCactus mix, or potting mix with perlite

Indoors: best at 60 to 70°F (16 to 21°C). Keep it above 50°F (10°C) and away from drafts and heat vents.

How the rating adds up

0 = easiest · 1 = moderate · 2 = hardest

Missed waterings1 of 2 · ModerateFine drying a little, but drought drops buds
Light flexibility1 of 2 · ModerateNeeds bright light; hot summer sun scorches it
Humidity1 of 2 · ModeratePrefers humid air; dry air can drop buds
Pests and disease1 of 2 · ModerateMealybugs, spider mites; rot if overwatered
Sensitivity to change1 of 2 · ModerateDrops buds after sudden changes while budding

Growing outdoors

All year: USDA zones 10 to 12, where the coldest winter nights average 30°F (−1°C) or warmer.

Elsewhere: summer outside in light shade. Bring it in when nights reach 50 to 55°F (10 to 13°C).

Containers
Hanging baskets

Sources: NC State, Clemson, Illinois, RHS, Chicago Botanic Garden, Penn State, UConn, ASPCA, ASPCA plant list, NYBG, Iowa State, USDA zone map and USDA PLANTS. Full list below.

Verified November 2026 · How we rate plants

Is a Thanksgiving cactus safe for cats and dogs?

As far as the experts say, yes. NC State Extension lists the Thanksgiving cactus as non-toxic and pet friendly for cats and dogs. The ASPCA doesn't list it by name. Its Christmas cactus entry, filed under Schlumbergera bridgesii, is listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and that's the entry most owners find, since many Thanksgiving cacti are sold as Christmas cactus. Any plant can still upset a pet's stomach if it eats enough, so a cat that chews the stems may throw up.

NC State, ASPCA, ASPCA plant list, Illinois

How often should I water a Thanksgiving cactus?

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, then soak it until water drains out and empty the saucer. Once buds form in fall, keep the soil evenly moist, because drying out then makes buds drop. After it blooms, water less until new growth starts. Soggy soil is the real danger: it rots the roots.

Clemson, Illinois, NC State, Chicago Botanic Garden

How much light does a Thanksgiving cactus need?

Bright light, with a few hours of gentle sun at most. Hot summer sun can scorch the stems or turn them yellow, so shade it in summer. Fall and winter sun is fine, and it needs bright days in fall to set buds. Too little light means fewer flowers.

NC State, Clemson, Illinois

What temperature does a Thanksgiving cactus like?

Aim for about 60 to 70°F (16 to 21°C), the same range we give the Christmas cactus. NC State gives a wider range for the Thanksgiving cactus, 60 to 80°F (16 to 27°C), and it handles the warm end in spring and summer. In fall, while it sets buds, it does better a bit cooler: Clemson says 60 to 68°F (16 to 20°C), and Illinois suggests nights of 55 to 65°F (13 to 18°C). Keep it above 50°F (10°C), and away from drafts, heat vents and sudden swings, which can make the buds fall off.

NC State, Clemson, Illinois, UConn

Why is my Thanksgiving cactus dropping buds?

Something changed while the buds were forming. The usual causes are a sudden temperature change or draft, a move to a new spot, soil that dried out or stayed soggy, too little light, or a room that got colder than about 50°F (10°C). Pick a bright spot before buds appear, then leave the plant there until the flowers open.

NC State, Clemson, Illinois, RHS

What's the difference between a Thanksgiving cactus and a Christmas cactus?

Look at the flat stem segments. A Thanksgiving cactus has two to four pointed, claw-like teeth along the edges of each segment, which is why it's also called crab or claw cactus. A Christmas cactus has rounded, scalloped edges. The Thanksgiving cactus has yellow pollen and flowers held up and out, while the Christmas cactus has purplish-brown pollen and hanging flowers. It also blooms first, from late November, about a month before the Christmas cactus. Many plants sold as Christmas cactus are really Thanksgiving cacti or hybrids, say Illinois Extension, Iowa State and the UC Master Gardeners; NC State says most store plants are hybrids of the two. Bloom time can shift, so the teeth are the surest clue. Both need the same care, and our Christmas cactus card covers the other one.

Clemson, Illinois, UConn, NC State, Penn State, Iowa State, UC Master Gardeners

How do I get my Thanksgiving cactus to bloom again next November?

Give it long, truly dark nights in fall. Starting between September 1 and mid-September, give it at least 12 to 14 hours of complete darkness every night (NC State says 13) for 4 to 6 weeks. A spare room with no lamps works. About two hours of lamp light can undo a night, so keep evening lights off it. Cool nights near 55°F (13°C) also set buds, whatever the day length. Buds show up 3 to 8 weeks after you start. Once they do, normal light is fine: keep the soil evenly moist and don't move the plant.

UConn, Clemson, Illinois, NC State

Can a Thanksgiving cactus live outdoors?

Yes, all year in USDA zones 10 to 12, where the coldest winter nights average 30°F (−1°C) or warmer, in light shade and with protection from frost. Elsewhere it can spend summer outside in light shade. Check it for pests and bring it in when nights drop to 50 to 55°F (10 to 13°C).

NC State, USDA zone map, UF/IFAS, Illinois, Clemson, UConn

How do I propagate a Thanksgiving cactus?

Take a cutting of two to five segments in late spring or early summer, twisting it off at a joint. Let the cut end dry for a day or two so it seals, then set it about an inch deep, right way up, in moist, well-drained mix. Keep it in bright, indirect light. Roots form in a few weeks.

NC State, Clemson, UConn, RHS

How Grove helps

Grove turns watering into a check of the soil, so nobody waters a wet pot. In September, you can add the nightly darkness routine as a repeating task and assign it, so whoever is home that evening moves the plant to a dark room.

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