Why is my Christmas cactus blooming early?

A Christmas Cactus has smooth, rounded edges on the leaf segments.

---

If your Christmas cactus is beginning to bloom long before the Christmas season arrives there is probably a good reason for that. While it may look like a Christmas cactus to you, it may actually be a Thanksgiving cactus.

Both belong to the genus  Schlumbergera but there are several species of  Schlumbergera that are very similar in appearance. Each blooms at a different time giving rise to the common names of Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera  bridgesii).  A Christmas cactus blooms in December, while a Thanksgiving cactus blooms in late October and November.

Both plants produce showy blooms that range in color from white and yellow to shades of pink, purple and red with a lot of variation in between. These holiday plants brighten dark winter days long after the flowers outside have faded.

A Thanksgiving Cactus has pointed ends on the leaf segments.

---

There are two simple ways to tell if you have a Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus.

1. Leaf Shape: Check the shape of the leaves. If the leaf segments are smooth and slightly scalloped, it is a Christmas cactus. If the edges of the leaf segments are jagged or pointed, it is a Thanksgiving cactus.
2. Blooming Time: As a rule, Thanksgiving cactus begin blooming in November while Christmas cacti bloom in December.