Holiday Cactus

 

The Holiday Cactus - Schlumbergera

It's time to talk about the much loved Christmas Cactus.

First, the answer to the old question, "is there a difference between a Christmas Cactus and a Thanksgiving Cactus?"  Yes there is.  There are actually six species in the genus family of Schlumbergera.  The three most common are S. truncata, S. russelliana and a cross between the two S. buckleyi. Different places I have looked show different common names for the family.  I have included a good description of the plants that I found on Wikipedia to help you decide which plant you have.  This can be important because growers can force blooms out of season.  In other words, make a Christmas Cactus bloom at Thanksgiving and vise-versa.  All three will bloom in the fall between September and December.  Of course there is also the possibility that you have an odd plant that blooms whenever it wants.  My mother has one from my paternal grandmother that blooms every year for my father's birthday in March.

There is another plant called an Easter Cactus, that looks a lot like this family of plants.  It is related but it will not be discussed here and now.  I only mentioned it because one or two of you may ask.  If you want to know more about the Easter Cactus, e-mail me at joneskathee@gmail.com or add a comment to this blog.

Now, before you buy a Holiday Cactus you should know a few things.  First, this plant does not like to be moved.  So when you bring it home from the store, it will drop a number of flowers.  Find it a home in the house and it will create new blooms as long as you don't move it again.  Though it likes bright sun, to get it to bloom (or continue to bloom), the Holiday Cactus will want long nights and cool days.  A sunny window area to the east or west of your house will do well. 

Fertilizing is important before and during flowering as flowers take a lot of energy to create.  Holiday Cactus will like the same food that you would give a tomato.  Water the pot heavily and then let it dry out between watering.  Next year, cut back on the watering in the month of August to help the plant set its blooms. 

I hope that answers all your questions on this wonderful plant.  If you have any more, please forward them to me at joneskathee@gmail.com or add a comment to this blog.

Sincerely,

k.k.jones

 

Reprint from Wikipedia

The Truncata Group contains all cultivars with features derived mainly from the species S. truncata: stem segments with pointed teeth; flowers held more or less horizontally, usually above the horizontal, whose upper side is differently shaped from the lower side (zygomorphic); and pollen which is yellow. They generally flower earlier than members of the Buckleyi Group and although common names are not applied consistently may be distinguished as Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus or Claw Cactus.

The Buckleyi Group contains all cultivars with at least some features clearly showing inheritance from S. russelliana: stem segments with rounded, more symmetrical teeth; more or less symmetrical (regular) flowers which hang down, below the horizontal; and pollen which is pink. They generally flower later than members of the Truncata Group and are more likely to be called Christmas Cactus.

joneskathee@gmail.com