HOLIDAY CACTUS Dennis Morgeson Agent for Horticulture Washington County
History ■ Holiday Cactus got their names from because of the times of the season they bloomed such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter ■ Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus are in the same genus ■ All holiday cactus are epiphytic (growing in trees) or epililithic (growing on rocks) ■ All are native to the mountains of Brazil ■ Leafless-the stems themselves photosynthesize ■ Plants were in cultivation in Europe by 1818 depending on species etc. ■ Hybrids were on the market by the 1850’s (we will not get into all the variations in cultivars and species)
Native Range of Holiday Cactus
Holiday Cactus Types ■Thanksgiving CactusSchlumbergera truncata - Pointed teeth along leaf Most of these are sold as Christmas Cactus‌.they naturally bloom around Thanksgiving and will continue to.
Holiday Cactus Types ■ Christmas Cactus Schlumbergea bridgesii – Flat leaves with rounded teeth
Holiday Cactus Types ■ Easter Cactus Rhipsalidopsis (Hatiora) gaertneri – Pointed teeth with fibrous hairs at leaf joints
Uses ■ The countries with warmer climates, such as, Africa, Latin America, and Australia don’t have fir trees to decorate at Christmas time, so they decorate a Christmas Cactus instead. ■ They are also popular gifts to give on a holiday.
Description & Color ■ Tropical Perennial Cactus ■
The flowers on the plant bloom generally once a year and come in colors of fuchsia, yellow, salmon, pink, white, orange, red and sometimes they will even have more than one color.
■ The green pointed, leaf-like structures on the plant are actually called cladodes and are modified stem segments. ■ Could reach 30-45 centimeters tall.
Culture ■ Christmas Cacti need to be kept in a sunny location while inside ■ They can be moved outside in the summer, but need to be kept in a shady or semi-shady area. ■ Ideal temperatures during the growth period from April to September is 7080 F
Water and Fertilizer ■ Water when growing medium is dry to the touch ■ During summer the cacti are tolerant of slightly drier conditions ■ Never let plants become waterlogged especially in winter ■ Plants must not dry out when in bud or flower…constantly moist is a must or bloom drop will occur….moist NOT WET!!!
Water and Fertilizer ■ Start fertilizing in late winter or early spring as new growth starts ■ Throughout the summer maintain a one-half strength of a well balanced soluble fertilizer such as 20-10-20 or 20-20-20 with trace elements ■ Holiday cacti have a higher requirement for magnesium than many other plants ■ Monthly watering with one teaspoon of Epsom salt to 1 gallon of water will help but don’t do it during the same week as the monthly fertilizing ■ Stop fertilizing in late summer (you will get greater bloom production)
Growing Media ■ Grow best when somewhat pot bound (epiphytic), requires repotting only about every three years ■ Soil- one part coarse sand or perlite, one part potting soil, and two parts peat, or just buy a soil mix for cacti ■ Do not use any media that has clay or heavy soil ■ Your pot needs to have proper drainage.
Pots?
Problems? Fungal Diseases ■ “Basal Stem Rot”- brown spots form at the soil line, and as the tissue dies, it turns tan and falls away (don’t injure stems, don’t over water, fungicides?)
Problems? Fungal Diseases ■ “Botrytis Blight”- the flowers die and become covered in a gray fungal growth (increase air flow, keep foliage and flowers dry, fungicides?)
Problems? Fungal Diseases ■ “Impatiens Necrotic Spot virus”- plants may have no symptoms or may be yellowed, spotted, or wilted (spray for thrips, discard infected plants, don’t grow around impatiens)
Problems-Insects
â– Mealybugs and scale insects-Control with imidachloprid (Bayer Advanced For House Plants)
Where Can You Get Them? ■ At stores such as Wal-Mart, Lowes, etc. during the Christmas season ■ Greenhouses (Pemberton’s) ■ Mail Order ■ In floral shops during the Christmas season. ■ Extension Office at THE WHEELBARROW SERIES Classes
Tips On Getting Re-Bloom ■ Bright light. ■ Long nights. Fourteen hours or more of continuous darkness each day is required before flower bud set will occur. Long nights should be started about the middle of September and continued for at least 6 continuous weeks for complete bud set. Note that as little as 2 hours of interrupted lighting will inhibit flower bud set. Buds normally will be visible in 3 to 4 weeks. The photoperiod has no effect on flowering once the buds are set. ■ Fall growing temperatures should be kept between 60 and 68 °F, but as close to 68 ºF as possible for maximum flower production. Plants grown with night temperatures between 50 and 59 ºF will set flower buds regardless of day length, but growth will be slower and bud drop may occur at 50 ºF.
Tips On Getting Re-Bloom ■ Pinching back the stems in early June to promote branching and more terminals for more flowers. ■ Pinching (also called leveling) at the end of September to remove any terminal phylloclades (stem segments) that are less than 1 cm (0.4 inch) long and to make all stems approximately the same length. These short and immature stem segments will not initiate flower buds until mature. After a short phylloclade is removed, a flower bud forms on the previous, more mature stem segment. ■ Easter Cactus bloom when coming out of dormancy in spring and don’t need the above treatments, except pinching to get more blooms
Propagation ■ In May or June pinch off sections of stems with 3-5 phylloclades (stem segments) ■ Allow segments to heal or callus by placing them outdoors in the shade for a day or two ■ Use cacti potting medium and new or disinfected containers ■ Place three cuttings in a 4 inch pot, cut end should be in the soil about 1 inch ■ Water the pots and place a clear plastic bag loosely over the plant and secure to the pot with a rubber band ■ Place plant bright indirect light until rooted, 3-8 weeks ■ Also can root cuttings in water……
What’s Out There? http://www.whittongreenhouses.com/ http://www.pecketts.com/tropical_foliage/ holiday_cactus/ http://www.bobsmoleys.com/s-z.html
Sources? ■
http://www.gardenersgardensupplies.com/christmas-flowers---history-of-the-christmas-cactus.html
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http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/cactusFAQs.html
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http://www.guide2christmas.com/p1_christmas_cactus.php
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http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/giftflowers/flowersandoccassions/christmas-cactus
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http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/azgard/2003044719003313.html
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http://www.demesne.info/Garden-Help/Indoor-Plants/Christmas-cactus.htm
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http://www.ehow.com/how_2095829_grow-christmas-cactus.html
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http://www.doityourself.com/stry/christmascactus
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http://www.christmascactus.org/christmas-cactus-diseases/
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http://ezinearticles.com/?Cactus-and-Christmas-Cactus&id=1583279
Questions?