CHECK OUT OUR GARDENING BLOG / TIPS page
CHECK OUT OUR GARDENING BLOG / TIPS page
There are many different types of cacti that bloom between Thanksgiving and Easter.
Each is appropriately named by the holiday it blooms near.
The differences between these plants are found in the leaf edges ( see above ).
Christmas cacti have scalloped edges while Thanksgiving and Easter cacti have pointed edges.
The Thanksgiving cactus is most common, probably because it is easier to get to bloom.
They each are available in a variety of flower colors including white, pink, red, and orange.
When purchasing a new plant, look for uniform green growth with a good flower bud set.
While "cacti" usually suggest high temperatures and dry air, this is not what these holiday bloomers prefer.
Unlike most cacti, these like moist soil and cooler temperatures.
Take care of your flowering cacti much like you would any other houseplant. Give it a cool, sunny window or other location with bright, indirect light. Too much light can cause flower color to fade. Day temperatures of 70o F
and evening temperatures of 60-65oF are considered ideal.
Avoid overwatering during flowering. Do not fertilize when plants are flowering.
The secret of getting your holiday cactus to bloom is one of air temperature. All of these cacti require a cool night temperature of about 60oF to bloom. Long nights are important too for blooming.
Bring it back to a cool, sunny window as soon as buds start to show. Often the Thanksgiving cactus will bloom without manipulating its growing environment, but the Christmas cactus may need more environmental controls.
If buds start to drop, it may be an indication of one of three things: the plant may need repotting, the temperature may be too high, or the light intensity too low. These plants seldom flower well at temperatures above 70oF.
If you don't have a holiday cactus, consider getting one this holiday season.
Spring: Provide fertilizer after flowering
Summer: move outdoors to a shady area and maintain water and fertilizer.
Fall: move indoors before frost and maintain drier soil. Start the budding regimen in September.
Winter: put in a location where it will get four to six hours of indirect sunlight. Keep soil moist. Do not let the air get too dry.
Often the Thanksgiving cactus will bloom without manipulating its growing environment, but the Christmas cactus may need more environment control.
If buds start to drop, it may be an indication of one of
three things: the plant may need repotting, the temperature may be too high, or the light intensity too low. These plants seldom flower well at temperatures above 70oF.
Des Plaines IL Garden Club
PO Box 1461, Des Plaines, IL 60017
Copyright © 2024 Des Plaines IL Garden Club - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder
Our Annual Fall Luncheon and Fundraiser was a great success with The Basket Raffles. Big board, a Silent Auction, and Bake Sales. This year, we had the addition of a 50/50 raffle, with the proceeds going to our scholarship fund! We had a record of 198 in attendance.
Another Awesome Job!
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.