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Christmas Cactus: Holiday Cacti, Cactus Flowers And Plants
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Published: August 28, 2007
Holiday cacti are blooming plants that brighten the winter by providing cactus flowers during months when most plants are dormant. One type of holiday cacti is the Christmas cactus. These cactus plants' flowers are delicate, with many petals perched at the end of each branch of the spiny leaves. The leaves are long, flat and segmented with sharp scalloped edges that have a spike at each point.
The contrast between the smooth, spiky leaves and the full flowers is remarkable, making the blooms even more striking. The stunning Christmas cactus flowers can be red, pink, apricot or white.
Getting these holiday cacti to bloom on schedule for the season takes special care. Before a Christmas cactus will flower, it needs long periods of dark, uninterrupted by artificial or natural light and cool temperatures. Twelve to 13 hours a night of pitch black without a hint of streetlight or overhead light is needed to make a Christmas cactus want to produce flowers. A closet that is not used frequently works well, as long as the temperature inside the closet remains cool. The nightly temperature needs to be around 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit while the cactus is in the dark.
Sharp contrasts in temperature need to be avoided or the Christmas cactus may drop its buds before they bloom. The plant should be kept away from doors that open to the outside, window drafts, heating vents, fireplaces or any other sources of cold or hot air. Once these holiday cacti have bloomed, the cactus flowers will last longer in cooler temperatures.
A Christmas cactus should be kept in a well-lit area during the daytime at around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit after blooming. The more sun the cactus gets, the more flowers it will have. However, too much sun can cause the leaves to turn pale yellow and wilt. The cactus must adjust gradually to being indoors again in the fall and should be brought inside for only a few hours at a time at first. The time indoors can be increased slowly until the cactus is indoors entirely for the winter.
Unlike some cactus plants, a Christmas cactus needs humidity and a fare amount of water. Dishes of water kept near the cactus can provide humidity as they evaporate. When the top inch of soil in the Christmas cactus' pot is dry, these cactus plants should be watered thoroughly and the excess water should be drained and discarded. Too much water can cause root rot, which is a common problem with Christmas cactus.
When a Christmas cactus shows new signs of growth in the spring, it is time to prune and repot. Pruning encourages branching and new growth. The segments of leaf that have been removed can be used to propagate new Christmas cactus plants. A cactus grows better and stays healthier when it is slightly root bound. Therefore, it should only be repotted once every three years or so.
If a Christmas cactus is given the attention it needs, it will provide beautiful cactus flowers periodically for many years. A Christmas cactus needs long periods of darkness, cool temperatures at night, and to be kept free from drafts to prepare it to bloom. After blooming and all year round, a Christmas cactus requires plenty of sunlight, humidity and a proper amount of water. If these instructions are followed carefully, a healthy, well-cared-for Christmas cactus will be the focal point of the holiday season.
Sources:
"Care of Christmas Cactus." Ed Hume Seeds. 20 Aug. 2007. http://www.humeseeds.com/xmasccts.htm.
"Christmas Cactus, Holiday Cactus, Zygocactus: Schlumbergera x buckleyi." Dave's Garden: For Gardeners . . . By Gardeners. 2000-2007. Dave's Garden. 20 Aug. 2007. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1510/.
Doubrava, Nancy. "Christmas Cactus." Clemson Extension: Home and Garden Information Center. The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. 20 Aug.2007. http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/hgic1554.htm.
Lerner, B. Rosie. "Care of Christmas Cactus Important After Holidays." Purdue University Consumer Horticulture. 23 March 2006. Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. 20 Aug. 2007.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/christmas_cactus. html.
Lerner, B. Rosie. "Christmas Cactus FAQs." Purdue Yard and Garden News. 2001. Purdue Extension. 20 Aug. 2007. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/cactusFAQs.html.
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Getting these holiday cacti to bloom on schedule for the season takes special care. Before a Christmas cactus will flower, it needs long periods of dark, uninterrupted by artificial or natural light and cool temperatures. Twelve to 13 hours a night of pitch black without a hint of streetlight or overhead light is needed to make a Christmas cactus want to produce flowers. A closet that is not used frequently works well, as long as the temperature inside the closet remains cool. The nightly temperature needs to be around 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit while the cactus is in the dark.
Sharp contrasts in temperature need to be avoided or the Christmas cactus may drop its buds before they bloom. The plant should be kept away from doors that open to the outside, window drafts, heating vents, fireplaces or any other sources of cold or hot air. Once these holiday cacti have bloomed, the cactus flowers will last longer in cooler temperatures.
A Christmas cactus should be kept in a well-lit area during the daytime at around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit after blooming. The more sun the cactus gets, the more flowers it will have. However, too much sun can cause the leaves to turn pale yellow and wilt. The cactus must adjust gradually to being indoors again in the fall and should be brought inside for only a few hours at a time at first. The time indoors can be increased slowly until the cactus is indoors entirely for the winter.
Unlike some cactus plants, a Christmas cactus needs humidity and a fare amount of water. Dishes of water kept near the cactus can provide humidity as they evaporate. When the top inch of soil in the Christmas cactus' pot is dry, these cactus plants should be watered thoroughly and the excess water should be drained and discarded. Too much water can cause root rot, which is a common problem with Christmas cactus.
When a Christmas cactus shows new signs of growth in the spring, it is time to prune and repot. Pruning encourages branching and new growth. The segments of leaf that have been removed can be used to propagate new Christmas cactus plants. A cactus grows better and stays healthier when it is slightly root bound. Therefore, it should only be repotted once every three years or so.
If a Christmas cactus is given the attention it needs, it will provide beautiful cactus flowers periodically for many years. A Christmas cactus needs long periods of darkness, cool temperatures at night, and to be kept free from drafts to prepare it to bloom. After blooming and all year round, a Christmas cactus requires plenty of sunlight, humidity and a proper amount of water. If these instructions are followed carefully, a healthy, well-cared-for Christmas cactus will be the focal point of the holiday season.
Sources:
"Care of Christmas Cactus." Ed Hume Seeds. 20 Aug. 2007. http://www.humeseeds.com/xmasccts.htm.
"Christmas Cactus, Holiday Cactus, Zygocactus: Schlumbergera x buckleyi." Dave's Garden: For Gardeners . . . By Gardeners. 2000-2007. Dave's Garden. 20 Aug. 2007. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1510/.
Doubrava, Nancy. "Christmas Cactus." Clemson Extension: Home and Garden Information Center. The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. 20 Aug.2007. http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/hgic1554.htm.
Lerner, B. Rosie. "Care of Christmas Cactus Important After Holidays." Purdue University Consumer Horticulture. 23 March 2006. Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. 20 Aug. 2007.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/christmas_cactus. html.
Lerner, B. Rosie. "Christmas Cactus FAQs." Purdue Yard and Garden News. 2001. Purdue Extension. 20 Aug. 2007. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/cactusFAQs.html.
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