Regional
(2009-11-20)
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FORT COLLINS, CO
(KUNC) -
Christmas Cactus
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All of these years I thought we had a Christmas Cactus but we really have a Thanksgiving Cactus. I knew it bloomed earlier but it's also a different species.
Both types of plants are tropical cacti. They are native to Central and South America jungles. They're epiphytes like orchids. That means the cacti grow naturally in the branch crotches of trees. They root into the decaying bark and debris that collects in the branch crotch. Knowing about their native habitat helps us grow these cacti as houseplants.
Coming from the tropics, the holiday cacti need more water than desert cacti. Water holiday cacti so the whole root zone is moist. Then don't water until the top few inches of soil are dry. These tropical plants like higher humidity too.
Holiday cacti grow best in potting mixes that have a lot of bark or peat moss in them. They don't like potting mixes that are mostly soil. Shop for mixes that orchids like and you're cacti will be happy.
Some tips to get Holiday cacti to bloom include cutting back on water. Let them dry out a bit more than normal for a few weeks before the holiday. Also keep them in the coolest room in the house for the same few weeks. And if you want to assure they bloom at the appointed time, only let them get twelve hours of sunlight daily.
The biggest problem we have with our Christmas Cactus is the flowers form and the fall before opening. The flowers abort because of over watering. Cut back the water and the flowers will open.
Early spring is the time to rework holiday cacti. In March plan to repot and prune these cacti. Pinch or prune the branch tips to shape the plant. Don't pinch more than one third of the plant away. Repot the cacti into a larger container with the proper potting mix.
Our holiday cacti spend the summer outside. We keep them in a shady spot. A sunny spot our intense Rocky Mountain sun will burn them. One of our plants almost doubled in size outside this summer.
And how to tell the difference between the holiday cacti: Christmas Cactus has scalloped leaf segments. They also bloom at the tip of the last segment. Thanksgiving Cactus has two to four pointy teeth along the edge of the last leaf segment. Their flower is centered between two of the teeth. Easter Cactus has rounded teeth along their segments. Easter Cactus will bloom on and off all year long.
tomthrogmorton@mywdo.com
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