Hey Plant Friends! 

This week we are talking about Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, more commonly known as Spring Cactus or Easter. This plant belongs to the Cactaceae or Cactus plant family and is native to South America. You may be familiar with this plant as it is closely related to the Thanksgiving Cactus and Holiday Cactus. The Spring Cactus blooms March – May and is known for its vibrant, star-shaped blooms easy care. This group of cactus are quite popular and resilient and are known to live for many, many years. 

Let’s talk about care. Treat spring cactus similarly to regular cacti with the exception of when they are in bloom. While they do tolerate drought, make sure to keep them well hydrated upon bud set. When not in bloom, allow the soil to dry down between waterings. Spring cacti thrive in bright light. When it’s time to repot, we recommend using a gritty mix that has ample drainage like the Sol Soils Cactus Mix. As we all know, when collecting plants, we sometimes deal with pest issues. Check for pests weekly while watering, especially the undersides of leaves. Keep a bottle of Bonide’s Insecticidal Soap on hand for easy treatment.  

There are 3 different varieties of holiday cactus - Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter! Each variety is easily identified by their leaf shape. The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) has very pointed and claw shaped projections on the edge of their leaves. The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) has leaf projections which are more scalloped, or tear drop shaped. The Easter cactus (Schlumbergera rhipsalidopsis) has rounded leaves.  

We currently carry Spring Cactus in 2”, 4”, and 6” pots in many different colors. If you have any further questions feel free to reach out to us by phone, Instagram, or email us - hello@tonkadale.com. 

Happy Planting!