CARE OF CHRISTMAS CACTUS
The poinsettia may be the most popular holiday plant, but Christmas cactus - in full bloom during the holidays - creates its own show. Christmas Cactus is possibly the second most popular plant for the holiday season. Schlumbergera is the correct botanical name for Christmas Cactus. Christmas Cactus is also frequently called Zygocactus, which at one time was their proper botanical name. Native to Brazil’s humid forests and a member of the cactus family, Christmas cactus do have slightly different growing requirements than a desert cactus plant.
Christmas Cactus History
Christmas Cactus has been kept as a holiday plant since the 1800's. Early breeders crossed Schlumbergera truncata with Schlumbergera russelliana creating the beginnings of the hybrid plants you see today. Some confusion exists, because there are several types of cactus sold during the holiday season. Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) blooms near Thanksgiving, about a month before Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii). The Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) is Spring flowering and blooms near Easter time. These cacti are differentiated by the leaflet and stem. Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti have sharp teeth along the leaf margin; where as the Easter cactus has smooth undulations.
Christmas Cactus is normally available in bud or bloom from late October through December in a variety of tabletop container sizes as well as hanging baskets
Watering and Fertilizer
Christmas cactus like well-drained soil, consisting of two parts potting soil and one part clean sand. Allow soil to dry slightly between watering, because the plant does not tolerate heavy wet mixes. Fertilizing should take place after flowering and as plants start new growth in spring. Any all purpose house plant fertilizer is sufficient for proper growth.
Location and Temperature
The plants adapt to low light in the home, but produce more blooms if exposed to increased light intensity. Keep the plant in a sunny, indoor location during winter months. Plants can be moved outdoors in the summer and used as hanging baskets being sure to place it in a shady or semi-shady location. The leaves turn reddish if exposed to too much sunlight.
Pruning
It is best to prune your Christmas Cactus after it has finished flowering. Pinch your plant back 1 or 2 leaves (the leaves are called phylloclades). Either cut the phylloclades at the joint with scissors, a sharp knife, or pinch with your thumbnail and index finger. Pruning helps the plant to branch out which should increase your bud count the following season. It also helps to promote new root growth.
Re-flowering your Christmas Cactus
Christmas Cactus are what they call thermo-photoperiodic. In short this means bud set is triggered by a combination of day length and temperature. When day length is approximately equal to darkness the plant knows its time to grow buds. The secondary trigger that most hobbyists miss is temperature. Chilling the plant at 50 to 60 degrees for a week or two should cause the plant to start setting buds.
A critical period for the Christmas cactus is during bud formation. The plant does not like to be moved or have its environment changed once buds begin forming. It aborts newly formed buds if placed in a drafty location, or the plant's lighting is changed.
Now you know the secrets of Christmas Cactus. A properly cared for plant can live for 20 years or more flowering year after year.
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