Description
The Christmas cactus comes from the tropical forests of Brazil, where it grows on trees and rocks. It has beautiful cream, pink or red flowers shaped like long bells at the ends of dark green stems. It usually flowers at the end of November and beginning of December, making an attractive winter decoration for our homes.
Requirements
It needs a bright or partially shaded position, but does not tolerate harsh sun. The temperature should not exceed 20°C in summer, and 6–10°C in winter. It is sensitive to being moved, reacting by dropping its flower buds. The compost should be slightly moist; during flowering water moderately and feed once every four weeks with fertiliser for pot plants.
Propagation
The plant is easy to propagate by cutting off a piece made of two flattened stem segments, letting it dry and inserting it in sandy, slightly moist compost. Rooting takes 3 to 6 weeks.
Care
The Christmas cactus does not need frequent repotting – every 3–4 years move it to fresh, free-draining cactus compost. The glossy, fleshy segments lose their shine after flowering.
To make the plant flower again, give it two rest periods a year: the first from August to October, the second after flowering, from February to March. During these periods move it somewhere slightly cooler, water less and stop feeding. When new flower buds appear in November, never move the plant to another place, as it may react by dropping all its flowers. After the required dry periods, water every 3–4 days and mist daily until it flowers.