Holiday Cacti Care
Our modern-day holiday cacti ancestors came from the mountainous rainforests of southeast coastal Brazil. These epiphytic cacti evolved above ground in trees where branches met, in pockets where leaves collected and mosses grew. While these plants are members of the cactus family, Cactaceae, they are treated as succulents. Some of these long-domesticated cacti can have lifespans that exceed one hundred years when properly tended.
The optimal growing temperature for holiday cacti during the winter is 68°F during the daylight hours and 60°F at night. These are considered short-day plants, meaning they need at least twelve hours of uninterrupted darkness per day to flower. They prefer filtered light and are damaged by full sun conditions.
Three cacti are commonly known as "holiday" cacti, named for the time of year they bloom. The Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are from the same genus, Schlumbergera (formerly known as Zygocactus) but are different species. The Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri) is from an entirely different genus. Flower colors include red, purple, pink, white, orange, and gold.
The Thanksgiving cactus has stem segments that contain two to four saw-toothed serrations. The blooms grow horizontally to the stems. Its anthers, the part of the flower’s stamen that produces pollen, are yellow.
The stem segments of the Christmas cactus are scalloped and pear-shaped. Its blooms are droopy with purplish-brown anthers. The blooms of the Thanksgiving and Christmas are very similar. Growers have hybridized these plants and created thousands of cultivars.
The Easter cactus has rounded stem segments, and its blooms are flat and star-shaped. It is quite easy to tell this cactus apart from the other two by its flower. Easter cactus also needs longer periods of dark and cold for their flowers to form.
When watering a holiday cactus, water from the top down, wetting the potting soil thoroughly. Use a water-soluble plant food for feeding as directed. When the medium becomes dry, water again.
A holiday cactus, particularly a Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus, can bloom more than once a year if appropriate care is given. Once a cactus has bloomed, remove the spent flowers or let them fall off on their own. After blooming, water less frequently and ensure the plant has twelve to fourteen hours of darkness.
Propagate cuttings of holiday cactus by pinching or twisting off a length of stem with three to five segments and place the stem in a good potting medium. Use a rooting hormone powder to encourage rooting. Water well and cover the pot with a piece of plastic bag, providing a humid "greenhouse" for the plant. Place the pot in bright but indirect light until roots form, usually in three to eight weeks. At that time, remove the plastic bag, water, and fertilize. Another propagation technique is to set the cutting in water until a good root system has developed and then transplant it into a well-draining potting medium.
These cacti like to be pot-bound and enjoy a light misting of water daily. When repotting, wait until the blooming period has ended and the flowers have wilted. Never attempt to repot the plant while it is actively blooming. Late winter or early spring is best. Repotting should be done every three to four years when the plant looks "tired" or when roots begin to grow through the drainage holes.
Remove the plant from the pot, loosening the roots. Repot with a fresh well-draining potting mix in a slightly larger pot with the root ball one inch below the pot’s rim. Lightly pat the soil to remove any air pockets, and water moderately. Place the plant in a shaded location for two to three days, then resume a regular care routine.
Conditions that contribute to the lack of blooms include root rot from saturated soil, overfertilization of the plant while its buds develop, drought stress, and too much light. Temperature extremes and lack of light may also cause buds to drop.
