I shared some quick snaps of my cactus (succulent?) in flower from my phone a while back on my Instagram feed with a promise of a couple of clearer images, well here you go….a couple of quick snaps with the “Big Camera”.
All I did to produce these flowers was give it a good watering. This plant appears to be quite clear in its watering needs, with the branches wilting as watering is needed. A good soaking and it perks right up again.
So it’s just a matter of paying attention to what it needs, not like my fussy Peace Lily that refuses to play nice with me. Such a drama queen!
It seems there are several cactus / succulents that are quick similar in appearance. The common names I’ve found suggest they were named by an American!
The Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving cactus and the Easter Cactus. Unsurprisingly the names apparently refer to when they flower.
Looking at the leaf shape and images provided on the Gardening Know How site it seems more likely it’s a Thanksgiving Cactus based on the pointy leaf shape.
Having decided what its common name is, let’s find its proper name : Schlumbergera truncata. Also known as the crab cactus.
That’s why it’s worth using proper names if you know them, to remove ambiguity introduced by using common names.
Growing Stuff 