These cultivars are commonly known as Thanksgiving cacti or Zygocactus. The Thanksgiving cactus has segments with conspicuous teeth on the margins, flowers have rounded ovaries with no ribs and yellow anthers. Some cultivars of holiday cacti are derived from crossing the Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus. These plants have characteristics of both parents. Numerous cultivars of holiday cacti are grown.
Consumers buy plants based primarily on flower color and number.
Flowering of holiday cacti is controlled by photoperiod and temperature. Plants initiate flower buds when the days become shorter than the critical daylength which occurs naturally in the fall of the year. That's why holiday cacti are one of the easier plants for homeowners to get to flower. Holiday cacti often bloom much earlier than Christmas. To prevent this, provide your plants with more than 12 hours of light a day until mid October.