Christmas cactus - Christmas holiday decorating with Christmas cactus blossoms

Flower & Garden Magazine, Dec-Jan, 1993 by Inger Skaarup

December is the season for clove-studded oranges, sprigs of mistletoe and fragrant greenery. But the holidays also signal the season for a glorious selection of blooms, from assertively colored poinsettias to stately amaryllis and narcisii with blooms as pure as new-fallen snow. But perhaps none of the holidays flowers is more spectacular than the Christmas cactus, which produces, from droopy branches, a flourish of exquisite bloooms.

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgessi), a native of South America's tropical rain forest, is indeed one of the most popular holiday plants; a fact that couldn't be due to its often peaked foliage of thin, flattened stems joined in 1-1/2-inch-long leaflike segments. The foliage, however, diminishes to a mere background foil as the stunning flowers unfurl on the ends of the stems, singly or in pairs, colored variously from the most delicate salmon to white with a faint whisper of apple-blossom pink, shocking magenta and suave deep red.

If you are already growing this plant, you know that getting the Christmas cactus to show its most appealing side may take some determination. To bloom successfully year after year, the plant must undergo resting and growing periods under specific conditions.

After this season's bloom, set the plant in a cool (about 60 degrees) place and reduce the water supply to the point of just preventing the foliage from shriveling. A spot before an indirectly lighted south, west or east window is ideal.

In late April or May, set the plant in a shady garden spot or on a porch. If placed outside, keep an eye out for snails and slugs. The Christmas cactu's active growth will take place in the warm, humid summer conditions. Make sure the plant never dries out and feed it with a fertilizer especially formulated for cacti or a diluted houseplant fertilizer.

If you need to report a Christmas cactus, do it immediately before you set the plant our for its season of active growth. Mature plants generally need repotting only every third year because the plant's root system is proportionally small. Being somewhat potbound will not cause it any harm. The plant prefers a light, porous soil with some humus. Both plastic and terra cotta pots are suitable for this plant; some growers also recommend it for hanging baskets due to its drooping growth habit and downward-facing flowers. Whatever container is used, it should have a hole for drainage.

Spring is also is a good time to propagate the Christmas cactus from foliage segments of last year's growth. They root easily on damp vermiculite. Do not keep the potting medium too moist, however, or the segments will rot.

Toward the end of September, move the plant indoors again to an evenly cool spot. Discontinue fertilizing and keep it on the dry side until the flower buds appear, but do not let the cactus dry out. During this time and until flowering takes place, it is important that the plant receives a minimum of 12 hours of total darkness for every 24 hours.

Unfortunately, following these basic steps won't guarantee a show of blossoms. As gardeners who have unsuccessfully grown this plant will attest other factors influence the Christmas cactus' willingness to bloom just in time for the holidays.

Most marked among these factors is the plant's sensitivity to changes in temperature or light exposure and its resulting bud and flower drop. To prevent bud drop, it is critical not to move or disrupt the plant. Other reasons for this plant to shed its buds include lack of fertilizer or too arid a soil during the active growth period or too great a variation in day and night temperatures during the bud-forming stage. Bud drop is less of a problem with recently introduced hybrids, but it still occurs to a degree.

The fragile Christmas cactus blossoms are very sensitive to hot drafts and dry air. Keep the plants away from heating vents, if you want the blooms to last. With this precaution, the plant will bloom for up to six weeks. If, however, you want to enjoy the cactus in a warmer room where you spend more time or entertain, the blooms will probably last only a week.

Although decided popular, the Christmas cactus must be one of the most challenging plants for indoor gardeners. If you can't provide the Christmas cactus with its unique growing requirements, or if you have tried it and were not rewarded with a show of blooms, don't despair. During the season, these plants are relatively inexpensive at the nursery, so just buy one. There's no reason to deny yourself the lovely holiday display of the Christmas cactus. Editor's note: Sources for Christmas cacti are listed on page 91.