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| Pink Holiday cactus courtesy Gardener's path |
I have lived in many parts of this country in my lifetime and like many of you, I garden indoor and outdoor. One of the most beautiful indoor plants I’ve run across is the Christmas Cactus. It was given that name because it blooms around Christmas. In a way it is misnamed because many of these plants bloom at times other than Christmas. I have one that blooms at Thanksgiving and then turns around and blooms at Easter.
The Christmas cactus is a very popular houseplant because when they bloom, they produce colorful, tubular flowers in many colors including pink, white, beige, red and lilac. Their beautiful flowers, long bloom time, and easy-care requirements make them a wonderful plant to grow.
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| Purple Holiday Cactus courtesy of Country Living |
The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) and its relatives don’t live in hot, arid environments such as deserts or plains. In fact, these epiphytic succulents are native to the tropical rainforests of southern Brazil, where they grow on tree branches and soak up the high humidity, dappled sunlight, and warm temperatures.
The bottom line: Don’t treat a Christmas cactus like it’s a run-of-the-mill cactus or succulent. They can’t take the same sort of sunny, dry conditions that other cacti can. It’s important to water these cacti more regularly than most succulents, but to also be cautious of keeping them too wet.
There are three main types of “holiday” cacti available. They include Easter cactus (S. gaertneri), Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata), and Christmas cactus (S. x buckleyi). Each holiday cactus typically blooms closest to the holiday that it’s named after. However, most of the “Christmas cacti” sold today are actually Thanksgiving cacti, which tend to bloom from November through February and therefore pass unnoticed as Christmas cactus.
Here are some tips for growing cactus:
• When selecting a pot for a Christmas cactus, be sure to choose one that has a drainage hole in the bottom. Do not over water. They grow well in most soils.
• Christmas cacti prefer a more humid environment, which makes a bright bathroom or kitchen a good spot to keep them. Plants should be kept in bright, indirect light. An east-facing window or a bright bathroom is ideal.
• Daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an evening temperature of 60-65°F (15-18°C) is preferred. Although I have grown them well at 60-65 24 hours a day.
• In the summer, Christmas cacti can be placed in a shady spot out of direct sun in the garden or in an unheated porch until temperatures get below 50°F (10°C).
• Plan to water every 2-3 weeks, but only water when the top one third of soil feels dry to the touch.
• When the soil is sufficiently dry, soak the soil until water runs through the pot’s drainage holes. Place a tray underneath the pot to catch the water. After 10-15 minutes, discard any excess water in the tray so that the pot doesn’t sit in water. It's especially important to water well while the plant is flowering.
• From spring through early fall, feed every 2 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. During the fall and winter, feed the cactus monthly to encourage successful blooming.
• Prune plants in late spring to encourage branching and more flowers. Simply cut off a few sections of each stem; the plant will branch from the wound. If you wish, place the cut pieces in a lightly moist potting soil—they root easily after a few weeks and make for excellent Christmas presents!
• Blossom drop: If your Christmas cactus is exposed to any type of stress, the plant will likely drop its blossoms. This could be related to the amount of light, or a sudden change in temperature, as discussed in above plant care section. Also, ensure that your soil doesn’t get too dry while buds are forming.
• The plant may be susceptible to mealy bugs and, if over-watered, root rot. If you have problems, cut out infected areas and repot in clean soil.
I have had fun and success with Christmas Cactus for more than 30 years thanks to my Grandmother introducing me to them. It is a fun and challenging plant.
References:
Our Breathing Planet