Thanksgiving cactus

The Thanksgiving or crab cactus is a spineless, forest-dwelling cactus from the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil, where it grows perched on tree branches and mossy rocks rather than in desert sand. Its flattened, jointed green stem segments carry sharply pointed teeth along the edges, and tubular pink, red or white flowers open from the segment tips in late autumn.

• The pointed, claw-like teeth on the segments separate it from the true Christmas cactus, which has smooth, scalloped edges.
• It sets buds in response to long nights and cool temperatures, which is why it reliably flowers as days shorten in autumn.
• In the wild it is an epiphyte, rooting in leaf litter caught in tree forks rather than in soil.

Care
Give it bright indirect light and let the top of the gritty, fast-draining mix dry between waterings, and avoid moving or overwatering it once buds appear or they may drop.