Schlumbergerais a small genus of cacti ( of the family Cactacaea ) with six to nine species found in the coastal mountains of south - easterly Brazil . In the wild , the species ofSchlumbergeragrow either on trees(epiphytic)or on rocks(lithophytic)in habitats that are generally shady with high humidness . Most species ofSchlumbergerahave stems which resemble leaf - like pad join one to the other and flowers which appear from areoles ( minuscule light- to sour - colored bumps ) at the joints and top of the stems . They are leafless , the green stem acting as photosynthetic organs ( carrying out the process of photosynthesis ) .
genus Schlumbergera truncatawas in culture in Europe by 1818 , andS. russellianawas introduced in 1839 . The two species were on purpose intersect in England by W. Buckley , result in the hybrid now calledS.×buckleyi , first recorded in 1852 . By the 1860s , a hearty bit of cultivar were available in a range of colors and habits , and were used as cosmetic plant . They descend out of favour until the 1950s , when breeding summarize in Europe , North America , Australia and New Zealand . New works were produced by crossing among the species and existing cultivar ofS. truncata , S. russellianaand the hybridS.×buckleyi .
Common names for these cacti generally cite to their inflorescence season . In the Northern Hemisphere , they are calledChristmas cactus , Thanksgiving cactus , crab cactus , andholiday cactus .
The cultivar of the Christmas cactus settle into two master groups :
TheTruncata Groupcontains all cultivars with characteristic deduct mainly from the speciesS. truncata : prow segments withpointed teeth ; flower contain more or less horizontally , commonly above the horizontal , whose upper side is differently mold from the lower side ( zygomorphic ) ; and yellow pollen . Flowers occur in flushed , majestic , pink , bloodless and icteric . These cultivars generally flower sooner than members of the Buckleyi Group and , although common names are not apply consistently , may be distinguished as Thanksgiving cactus , crab cactus or hook cactus .
genus Schlumbergera truncataPhoto : Lukas Mizoch , Wikimedia Commons
TheBuckleyi Groupcontains all cultivar with at least some feature film clearly showing heritage fromrusselliana : fore segments with rounded , more symmetrical tooth ; more or less symmetrical ( even ) flowers which hang down , below the horizontal , inbright magenta cherry to pink ; and pink pollen . These cultivars generally bloom later than members of the Truncata Group and are more potential to be called Christmas cactus .
In the United States , cultivars are circularise in large issue for sale before Thanksgiving and are often called Thanksgiving cactus . The name Christmas cactus is often curb to cultivar of the Buckleyi Group . In Europe , plants are mainly sold later in the yr , in the menstruum before Christmas , and are ordinarily called Christmas cactus .
Attempts have also been made to classify cultivars by color . A trouble with this access is that the flowers of many cultivar exhibit different colors depend on the temperature during bud formation and maturation . In picky , temperatures below 57 ° F produce pink tones in otherwise lily-white and icteric cultivars , and deepen the colour in pink and crimson cultivars . The availability of iron to the plant life has also been evoke to sham flower colour .
AN INTERESTING human relationship : pollenation AND HUMMINGBIRDS
Although this relationship is n’t important to our everyday care ofSchlumbergera , it ’s an interesting example of adaptability . The bloom have developed adaptations for pollination by hummingbirds : flowers are tubular in shape with abundant ambrosia , and colors are towards the ruddy end of the spectrum . Most species requirecross - pollinationto Seth seed . An exceptions isS. microsphaerica , a species find at higher EL where hummingbird may be absent or less rough-cut . This species propagates vegetatively , that is asexually . Birds start the seeds by have it off them against trees where the seeds will take root ( epiphytic ) , or segments from the flora break off and root in the tree .
GROWING consideration
Schlumbergeragrows best inlight tone . Full sunlight is good in midwinter , but bright sun during the summer month can make plants search pallid and yellow . extremity of the Buckleyi Group tend to be more large-minded of eminent lightheaded layer than members of the Truncata Group . Too much lighter causes stems to take on a red coloration ; very low light layer will prevent flowering .
Ideal growth fall out at temperature between 70 ° and 80 ° F during the growing time of year , which is April to September forS. truncata , and March / April to September forS. xbuckleyi . meliorate humidity by using gravel - take saucers to place your plants upon and keep this moist .
The holiday cactus is tolerant of dry , somewhat under - watered condition , specially during its remainder period after blooming until springtime , but do not let the soil dry out out . Most problems arise from over - watering , especially during the dark days of winter . The advice sometimes give to withhold water to produce flower bud has been evidence to be wrong . Keep the soil somewhat moist throughout the year;water when the top inch of soil in the container finger dry to the touch . Reduce fertilize from fall until spring . fertilise plant monthly from the time newfangled outgrowth depart in late winter or early spring , and throughout the summer , using a soluble fertilizer for houseplant .
Best container emergence typically come about in awell - drained potting mediumcontaining one part pot soil , two part peat moss , and one part knifelike sand or vermiculite . blossom product is best when the plant is kept moderately wad bind . General inadequate growthcan be a augury of over - potting , i.e. , the pot is too large for the plant ; they like to be snug in a green goddess . Repotting is only necessary about once every 2 - 3 years ; choose only a slimly larger container . The potting medium must be well - drained with good aeration .
FLOWER PRODUCTION
When do you want blooms — for Christmas or Thanksgiving ? Count backward eight week to ascertain the autumn date to start to prepare the plant for reblooming . The arcanum of goodflower bud production involves temperature and dark(thermo - photoperiodic ) control condition .
For best anthesis provide : lustrous daytime luminousness , night temperatures between 55 ° and 65 ° F , and long nights . recollective nights are defined as 13 hours of continuous dark each day , set about in the middle of September . Continuous darkness means NO lighting during the dark menses , including lamp light within the household . Cover the flora with a dark textile or identify the plant in a whole obscure room from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day for 6 to 8 week . According to the Chicago Botanic Garden , blossom bud will forge ifONEof the stick to condition is met :
ForS. x buckleyi , even cool nighttime temperatures are preferred . If indoor temperatures at nighttime can be kept at 45 - 55 degrees F. ( which avowedly can be difficult to do in a home ) , bud will usually form in autumn without utilize the strict 13 hour iniquity regime . When we lived in Chicago , we had a hugeS. x buckleyiplant that put on a spectacular blossom display year - after - class . I now pull in that it had in effect indirect light , but more significantly , it was placed in a glassed entryway which was uncomfortably cold for us but everlasting for the plant . In that pillowcase , the dingy full point was not met , but the cool temperature was .
The Christmas cactus will remain in flower for four to six weeks , with each flower lasting six to nine years . After the industrial plant has blossom , prune back each stemby pinching off enough sections to achieve a uniform habit . ( Use the pinched stems for propagation , described below . ) Resume normal watering and fertilization when young growing appears .
If you require to put your plant out of doors in the summer , be sure to keep it in a shaded spot with indirect ignitor , and bring it at bottom before the temperature falls below 45º. Check carefully for insects and clean off with piddle .
PROPAGATION
Schlumbergeracan beeasily circularise with cutting of 3 - 5 segments . unlike origin give slightly different rooting recommendations . Some say to plant stem segment in moist vermiculite ; others recommend placing the segments in a mix of guts / peat or soil / vermiculite / peat . Many reservoir recommend letting the segments dry for several days in a cool dry place until a callus is formed ; this will help oneself prevent root rot . One source underscore pinching the segment rather than cutting . I think that there are so many minor variations because masses have been successful using many dissimilar techniques . I ’ve successfully rooted the segments in water and then planted them in pot dirt but my research did n’t show this as a recommended method acting .
pestilence AND disease
Unopened flower bud may drop due to a act of cistron , including : an excessive numeral of bud , a sudden change in temperature or light , or other environmental factors , such as drying out of the originate medium . The major disease is root rot , which can be prevented by avoiding overweening lacrimation . Two substantial worm pestilence are : aphids that fertilise on young shoot , bud , and prime ; and root mealybugs , which round below soil level . Other insect admit mealybugs ( foliar - alimentation ) , soft browned scale , and red wanderer soupcon . Stems and root can be rotted by diseases make by fungi and interchangeable organisms . Aphids , mealybug , and other invertebrate pests can propagate viruses . Symptoms vary with the species , but a loss of vigor is usual . There is no discussion for virus diseases ; it is recommended that septic plants be destroy . See the clause from Penn State Extension onChristmas Cactus Diseases .
There is an interesting Q / A regarding spots on a Christmas cactus and recommended discussion , which was mail to the Extension germ , Ask an Expert .
EASTER CACTUS
Now that we have surmount the identification and caution of Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus , allow ’s move around our attention to the third , lesser - know holiday cactus , Easter cactus . to begin with classified asHatiora gaertneri , it was reclassified asSchlumbergera gaertneri , although it is sometimes identified asRhipsalidopsis gaertneri(by the Missouri Botanical Garden , for example ) . For our purposes , we ’ll recognize it as being very exchangeable in appearance to the other two vacation cacti except that its theme segment are rounder at the tips and have soft , brown bristles . heyday are 2 inches across and made up of a uniform outskirt of 12 to 15 point flower petal that glow out like a hula dancer ’s skirt . Care and requirement are very similar to the other vacation cacti , with a mates of chief exceptions : it does well in shiny ignitor ( rather than in part shade ) , although not in unmediated sun , and it requires a longer , little - day period , 8 - 12 workweek , before flower in late February to early March . Flower tones range from bloodless to ruby-red , orange , peach , lavender , and pink .
SUMMARY
Although noted as well-situated - care houseplant , Schlumbergerarequire some steps for reblooming . Those steps primarily require assure non-white and cooler temperature for about 8 hebdomad before peak foresee at Thanksgiving or Christmas . Watering prerequisite must also be monitor , and most problems rise from overwatering . Most of our holiday cacti areS. truncatacultivars , Thanksgiving cactus , which has pointed segments and a compass of colorful blooms in violent , pink , empurpled , white , and even yellow . Christmas cactus , S.xbuckleyi , has more rounded segments and its flowers are beautiful Battle of Magenta red to knock . Both cultivars are gorgeous holiday additions , and are enjoyable throughout the year . A third holiday cactus , Easter cactus , will brighten the abode in early springiness in a range of colors .
SOURCES
“ Christmas Cactus Diseases , ” Penn State Extension , https://extension.psu.edu / christmas - cactus - disease
“ Care of Specialty Potted Plants , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension , ext.pubs.www.vt.edu › dam › pubs_ext_vt_edu › 426 - 101_pdf
“ Spots on My Christmas Cactus , ” Extension demand an Expert , https://ask.extension.org / questions/544980
“ maintenance of Christmas Cactus Important After the Holidays , ” Purdue University Extension Service , https://www.purdue.edu / hla / website / yardandgarden / tending - of - Noel - cactus - important - after - holidays/
“ Christmas Cactus , ” Chicago Botanic Garden , https://www.chicagobotanic.org / plantinfo / christmas_cactus
Schlumbergera , Wikipedia , https://en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Schlumbergera
Christmas Cactus ( Schlumbergera ) , Royal Horticultural Society , https://www.rhs.org.uk / advice / profile?pid=840
Commercial Production of Christmas Cacti , University of Massachusetts Extension , https://ag.umass.edu / glasshouse - floriculture / fact - sheets / commercial - producton - of - holiday - cacti
“ Is it a Thanksgiving , Christmas or Easter Cactus ? ” Iowa State Extension , https://www.extension.iastate.edu / linn / news / it - thanksgiving - christmas - or - easter - cactus
Plant of the calendar week : Easter Cactus , University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service , https://www.uaex.edu / yard - garden / resourcefulness - library / plant - workweek / easter - cactus-4 - 28 - 06.aspx
“ What Holiday Cacti Do You Have ? ” Missouri Botanical Garden , https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org / gardens - gardening / your - garden / help - for - the - home - gardener / blog / articleid/242 / what - vacation - cacti - do - you - have.aspx
