by R. Renee Bembry

Created on: September 20, 2009

Do not let the term "Thanksgiving Cactus" prevent you from embellishing your home with this beautiful plant all year long. Regardless of name, Thanksgiving Cacti can add decor to your home during anytime of year, not just Thanksgiving time.

Thanksgiving Cacti are a lot like Christmas Cacti. Both plants have segmented leaves, form arching branches, grow tubular flowers from pointy buds, are pleasing to the eye, and fun to discuss.

Knowing the differences between the two plants is important if you plan to purchase and care for them and more so if you plan to gift them. You want to know which plant you are caring for so you do not pass incorrect information. Likewise, you do not want to tell someone a plant is one type of cactus when it is actually the other type.

If you do mix up the two cacti, however, do not feel too bad. The fact is nurseries often sell Thanksgiving Cacti as Christmas Cacti. If nurseries can mix up the two - why should laypersons not do the same?

The best way to tell a Thanksgiving Cactus from a Christmas Cactus is to examine the edges of its flat, segmented branches. Upon examination, you should notice that despite the likeness of the plants' smooth leaves, Thanksgiving Cacti leaves are pointy or toothed compared to smoother scalloped leaves on Christmas Cacti.

Although Thanksgiving Cacti are nicknamed for their thorny looking teeth, the teeth are not as pokey as they look - at least not in younger plants. You can rub you finger against the teeth - even press into the teeth without puncturing your finger. So if you hear these beauties referred to as Crab Cactus - their nickname - you can rest assure they will not puncture you the way a crab will.

Like Christmas Cacti, Thanksgiving Cacti favor rainforest like climates and are native to jungle canopies. Just the same, however, Thanksgiving Cacti can grow outside their natural habitats, either indoors or outdoors, when provided proper care.

Caring for Thanksgiving Cacti is quite simple and requires little effort. When growing outdoors, give them plenty of shade for half the day during summer to keep them from shriveling up. During winter, give them plenty of warmth to prevent them from freezing. In some climates, it is also wise to bring Thanksgiving cacti indoors or at least cover them with lightweight fabric. This is essential when growing crab cacti where temperatures fall below 50 degrees.

Thanksgiving Cacti often bloom beautiful scarlet flowers from November to March. Their scarlet coloring

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