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Christmas Cactus

By 250 News

If you enjoy having plants in the home but forget to water them, then growing Cacti is the way to grow. 

There are many different types, sizes, and shapes of Cacti, which have been divided into two groups. The largest group is the Desert Cacti, which are cacti found in the semi-desert areas of America. The Forest Cacti is the smaller group and these are cacti that in nature grow on trees in the tropical jungles of America. Most Forest Cacti have leaf-like stems that trail down which is different from the Desert Cacti, which are spine-covered. One of the best-known forest cacti is the ‘Schlumbergera’ type commonly called Christmas or Easter Cactus.

Their flower color, and shape as well as the shape of the stems, define the different types of Schlumbergera cactus. Stems generally are 1½ -2 inch segments of scalloped edged leaves that are shiny and smooth. The flowers grow at the joints of the stems and are long and tubular in shape that come in varying colors of pink, red, orange and white. This is one of two times per year that these Cacti are very popular because of their beautiful flowers. The Christmas Cacti are now available in many of the garden centers as they are full of buds and ready to bloom. 

To have a Christmas Cacti bloom successfully in your home you should purchase a healthy cactus that has lots of unopened buds. When transporting the plant home have it protected from the cold by having it wrapped in a paper sleeve or bag so it is not chilled or freeze. At home, you want to place it in an area free from drafts or heat sources choosing a well-lit location. A common complaint of Christmas Cactus is that the flower buds drop off before it gets into bloom, which occurs when the plant goes into stress. 

Treat the plant when it is in bloom as any other houseplant, watering it enough to keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy. After it has finished blooming, it will require less water so let the soil go dry before watering again. 

Forest Cacti can be brought into bloom again but it is not always easy. The plant needs to have a resting period so after it has finished blooming place it in a cooler room (12-15 Celsius) for a couple of months and allow the soil to go dry before watering it thoroughly. Over the summer months the plant is placed outdoors in a shady location and brought indoors before the first frost. In mid-October, place the plant somewhere where it will receive 12-14 hours of darkness each night and cool (8-12 Celsius) temperatures as well as cut back on water. You need to forget about it for a while! 

As soon as buds appear, treat as you did the previous year when you bought the plant.

If the plant needs to be transplanted into a larger pot because it is root bound, this is done right after it has finished blooming. Use a cacti mix of 2 parts good quality potting soil mixed with 1 part sand and 1 part vermiculite.


-Jos

-Jos van Hage  owns three Art Knapp's garden centers in the Prince George region
-Highway 16 West
-Highway 97 North
-Highway 97 South at the Old Cariboo Highway


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