Christmas Cactus
In many households, the Christmas cactus is a staple. Pink or lavender tubular blooms appear on these plants when they reach maturity. They are a great plant because of their lovely blossoms, extended blooming period, and low maintenance needs. We’re willing to wager that you have a Christmas cactus in your home. Many new types of Thanksgiving cacti, Christmas cacti, and Easter cacti have been introduced because of hybridization efforts throughout the past century. The majority of these plants’ natural ranges are in Central and South America, and they all belong to the Zygo-cactus family. Even though they share the name “cactus,” these plants are utterly unlike the typical desert cactus. Epiphytes are another kind of plant that grows in similar conditions as orchids. Typically, you can find them in the crooks of tree branches, where they are thriving in the decomposing leaves and other organic matter that has accumulated there. They have quite different care requirements from real cacti because of their tropical origins. Here are some tips for tending to them and the actions to take to get them blooming in time for the next holiday season. It’s best to keep your Christmas cactus indoors in a cool location where the temperature stays about 50 degrees between September and October. Keeping them out of the cold is a must. They should also be maintained in a dark environment where no lights will be left on overnight.
In reality, adequate light exposure, stable temperatures, and restricted watering are the keys to getting Christmas cacti to bloom in time for the holidays. Thus, during the autumn, the Christmas cactus should be situated where it will be exposed to indirect bright light inside. the light of day and the complete absence of light at night (much like you would do with a poinsettia, but a Christmas poinsettia prefers warm temps while the Christmas cactus prefers cold). Cacti need a shady, chilly area in the fall. Because it is a tropical plant, the Christmas cactus has to be watered about as often as any other tropical plant. It is best to water the plants completely and then wait for the top inch of the soil to dry out before watering again. The plants need less water during the fall and winter months if you want them to blossom. Humidity levels of 50–60% are ideal for Christmas cacti. A glass, vase, or tray of water should therefore be kept close to the plant. Humidity for the cactus can be supplied by evaporation. You may also provide the Christmas cactus with the humidity it needs by using a humidity tray. To achieve this, fill a waterproof saucer partly with pebbles and then fill it with water. Put the planter down on the gravel. Christmas cacti shouldn’t be kept next to any exterior doors. Also, don’t put it near a vent, fireplace, or other heat or draught source. An application of liquid fertilizer in the 0-10-10 nutrient ratio should be made in late October or early November. These fertilizers can be applied again in February. Apply a liquid, all-purpose houseplant fertilizer twice a month between April and September, when the plants are actively growing. There shouldn’t be more than 10 percent nitrogen in the fertilizer you use. The first figure on a bag of fertilizer indicates the percentage of nitrogen present. How do expert gardeners coax Christmas cacti into bloom in time for the holidays? They are kept in chilly greenhouses with temperatures averaging around 50 degrees, where the plants spend between 12 and 14 hours a day in complete darkness, and where just a small amount of water is given to each plant.
After the Christmas cactus flower buds have fully formed, one of the most disheartening things that can happen is that they fall off the plant. Many distinct factors can lead to premature bud death. Causes include excessive watering, low humidity, and inadequate lighting. The Christmas cactus needs a rest for around 30 days after the holidays. Repeat the process of placing it in a cool room with a small amount of water. Don’t be alarmed if it loses a few leaves or appears feeble during this rest period. Don’t try to trim, shape, or pinch your Christmas cactus now. When new growth starts in March or April, that’s when you want to do it. Similarly, February, March, or April is ideal for repotting a cactus. Remember that the plant will produce the most flowers if it is kept in a pot. It is not uncommon for a well-cared-for Christmas cactus to produce multiple blooms over the course of the year.
In regards to the Holiday Cactus
The Christmas cactus and its kin aren’t native to hot, dry places like the desert or the plains. These succulents, which are epiphytic and so grow on tree branches, are native to the tropical rainforests of southern Brazil, where they thrive in abundant humidity, diffuse light, and mild temperatures.
Do not water a Christmas cactus the same way you would a regular succulent. The same sunny, dry circumstances that other cacti thrive in are too much for them. These cacti need more frequent watering than typical succulents, but you should still be careful not to overdo it. For in-depth maintenance instructions, please refer to the section below.
Which Cactus Should You Give Thanks For?
The Easter cactus (S. Gaertner), the Thanksgiving cactus, and the Christmas cactus are the three most common “holiday” cacti. Each holiday cactus is named for a specific holiday, and its blooming season often corresponds to that festival. Most “Christmas cacti” offered nowadays, however, are Thanksgiving cacti, which bloom from November through February and are therefore easily mistaken for Christmas cacti. See our post on identifying and distinguishing among several species of festive cacti for more information.
CACTI POTTING For The Holidays
A Christmas cactus requires a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom, so keep that in mind when shopping. This prevents the ground from becoming excessively saturated. Most potting mixes made specifically for succulents are suitable for growing Christmas cacti. The drainage properties of your potting soil are crucial.
In what spot might a Christmas cactus thrive?
It’s best to provide plants with bright, indirect light. Someplace with an east-facing window or a light-filled bathroom would be perfect. The delicate leaves might get sunburned if exposed to too much sunshine. Temperatures in the 60s (or 15-18 degrees Celsius) in the evening and the 70s (or 21 degrees Celsius) during the day are ideal. Christmas cacti thrive in light areas where there is more humidity, such as the bathroom or the kitchen. Place Christmas cacti in a partially shaded area of the yard or on an unheated porch in the summer. Keep them there until the temperature drops to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). Don’t let them get too much sun outside.
Growing
Christmas Cactus Care Instructions
You should water the soil every 2–3 weeks, but only if the top inch or so seems dry. Take a 6-inch potted plant and water it when the top two inches of soil are dry. (Place a finger there and see!) If the soil is dry enough, you can soak it until it runs out of the drainage holes. Put a tray under the pot to collect the drips. After 10 to 15 minutes, drain the tray’s extra water so the pot isn’t sitting in it. When the plant is blooming, water it extra well to encourage maximum blooming. Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer once every two weeks from spring to early fall. You may help your cactus bloom better by feeding it once a month in the fall and winter. Late April is the ideal time to prune your plants for increased branching and blooms. The plant will send forth new shoots from the cut you make to the stem.
If you want to give the cuttings as Christmas presents, just stick them in a little bit of moist potting soil.
Growing a Flowering Christmas Cactus
Cooler temperatures and longer evenings in the autumn encourage blooming in Christmas cacti and their relatives. This is a rough guideline for the blooming of the three most common species of holiday cacti: Flowers can be seen on Thanksgiving cacti as early as late autumn and as late as midwinter. Christmas cacti usually bloom anytime between the beginning and the middle of winter. The blooming season for Easter cacti extends from late winter to about mid-spring. It’s possible that your cactus is getting too much sunlight or is sitting in a room that’s too hot. Try these suggestions to have yours bloom sooner rather than later!
Nights must be at least 14 hours long and days must be between 8 and 10 hours long for at least six weeks for flowering to occur. Cover your cactus or relocate it to an area that follows the sun’s natural path if you have bright inside lighting that is on at night. Temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 and 15 degrees Celsius) are optimal for flower bud development.
Exposing the plant to temperatures around 45°F (7°C) for several nights in a row will stimulate the budding process. When the plant is in bloom, it is especially important to water it regularly. The plant may lose its buds if the soil is too dry. Even if the cactus loses its buds throughout the winter, it should still flower next year.
Read More: Best Succulents plant gift in Bangalore
Suggested Types
Holiday cacti often come in one of three varieties:
- The Thanksgiving cactus, or Schlumbergera truncate, is commonly mislabeled as the Christmas cactus since it flowers from late fall to mid-winter.
- Early to midwinter is the prime flowering time for Christmas cacti.
- Cacti are known as Easter lilies and flower from late winter to early spring.
It’s a huge, flowering Thanksgiving cactus. These photographs were taken by Catherine Beckmann.
Intelligence And Perception
It’s important to maintain a Christmas cactus well-watered and cold when its buds show signs of opening.
Most holiday cacti awaken from their dormant winter state and begin new growth in late spring, making this the ideal time to propagate cuttings.
Pests/Diseases
Falling blossoms: Your Christmas cactus will certainly lose its flowers if you subject it to any kind of stress. As we stated in the section on plant care, this could be due to insufficient light or an abrupt shift in temperature. As the buds are developing, you need also to make sure the soil doesn’t dry out.
Overwatering can cause root rot and make the plant prone to mealybugs. If you notice any issues, simply prune away the afflicted regions and repotted them in fresh soil.
Cactus' Role in the Economy
Horticulturists place a high value on several types of cacti because of their status as both unusual plants and decorative garden accents. Some of these are grown for their unusual looks, while others are bred specifically for their showy blooms. Cacti are popular houseplants because they require little attention; if you forget to water them for a few days, or even a few weeks, they will likely survive. Over-watering, which makes these drought-adapted plants more susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases like soft rot, is the primary threat to most cacti treated as house plants.
Nearly all North American cactus species are suitable for cultivation, as are many Central and South American species. Most typically found in cultivation are members of the Mammillaria and Opuntia genera, though any species may be found in gardens or greenhouses. The Christmas cactus is a popular garden and house plant that features a flat stem and red, pink, or white flowers. As a result of its winter flowering period, this species is frequently induced by florists to bloom around Christmastime, when it is then sold as a living ornament to enliven houses. The candelabra cactus, scientifically known as Cereus peruvianus, is a tree-sized species native to South America that is often grown outside in hot areas or greenhouses in cooler climes.
In arid regions, where grassy lawns would demand an excessive use of precious and expensive water, many cacti species can be simply transplanted from their native environments into the neighborhoods of homes and businesses, where they can be used as central components of low-maintenance gardens. Collecting wild cacti is also done so that they can be grown in or around the house, or so that individuals can start their collections of these fascinating plants.
Unfortunately, most cactus species are very sluggish and rare re-colonizers of damaged environments. Some cactus populations have become threatened due to extensive losses of habitat to industrial and residential projects and excessive collections of wild plants. Protection of wild cactus populations is necessary for some regions due to the frequent and often covert theft of important species for cultivation. Unfortunately, many endangered cacti are vulnerable to poaching. This is due to the large geographical areas that need to be monitored in light of the possible multi-million dollar revenues from the illegal cactus trade. It is a serious ecological issue as the excessive and illegal collection has put several cactus species in the wild on the brink of extinction.
Opuntia ficus-indica, in particular, has the most widely consumed cactus fruit. Prickly-pear fruit, sometimes known as apples or tunas, can be eaten fresh or used to make jelly. In several countries, prickly-pear fruits are a holiday treat.
Peyote, also known as mescal buttons, is a cactus (Lophophora williamsii) that is used as a hallucinogen and in traditional medicine due to the presence of several alkaloids in its tissues. Some original Amerindian communities in the southwestern United States and Mexico, particularly those located in the Rio Grande Valley, place a high cultural value on the use of peyote. Peyote is used by these indigenous communities as a means to have mystical and spiritual awakenings. Some religious groups and the general public also consume peyote for its psychoactive properties.
Instructions for Tending a Christmas Cactus
Rapid bud loss can be brought on by either a shortage of water or extreme fluctuations in temperature. If you pay attention to these six elements, you can extend the blooming time of your specimen.
- Soil: Choose a nutrient-dense, humus-rich soil.
- Preserve a comfortable temperature of 65 degrees at all times.
- While your plant is in bloom, spray it frequently to keep the soil uniformly moist.
- Light: An east-facing window will provide the cactus with a good mix of indirect and direct light.
- Once buds have formed, fertilize every two weeks with a high-potassium formula.
- Planting: Transplant your cactus every year after it blooms.
Methods for Promoting Optimal Flowering
After plants have bloomed, it is best to keep them in a cold room (about 50 degrees). Keep the soil just damp and don’t give them any fertilizer. Follow this plan to promote flowering when new growth appears: For the next four to six weeks after the first signs of growth occur, keep the plants in an atmosphere with a temperature of between 55 and 65 degrees and give them 10 hours of light followed by 14 hours of pure darkness. When flower buds form, move the plant into warmer temps and resume normal culture. In around six weeks, the plants will begin to flower.