Indoor plant flowered for the end of year celebrations, easy to maintain, the Christmas cactus is covered with beautiful flowers all throughwinter at the ends of fleshy stems without thorns.
Appellation
Also called Schlumbergera, the Christmas cactus is part of the family of Cacti (Cactaceae). Do not confuse it with the Easter cactus, named Rhipsalidopsis, with different flower shape and flowering times.
Botanical description of the Christmas cactus
This succulent plant forms evergreen fleshy stems that are covered with small, trumpet-shaped flowers of color pink, white, red or salmon. It flowers most often in winter, although in our interiors, it can offer other blooms out of season.
Origins of the Christmas cactus
They are found in tropical forests from southeastern Brazil. Plants delicious epiphytes in nature, they cling to the branches oftrees and their flowering branches droop.
Cultural requirements of the Christmas cactus
Once in place near a source of light, do not move the schlumbergera anymore because it hates being moved all the time. He appreciates a warm atmosphere, around 20 ° C and humid to thrive. Once in bloom, fertilize it once or twice a month to support flower bud production.
For the waterings, keep the soil moist but not soggy, throughout the flowering period and space out the water supplies the rest of the year, taking care to let the soil dry between 2 waterings. Do not leave water in the saucer as the roots may rot. Prefer non-calcareous water at room temperature.
If your Christmas cactus is cramped in its pot, repot it in the spring in a larger pot, in a special cactus potting mix. In summer, you can install your plant in a corner of the balcony or the Terrace, without Sun direct. This bowl ofair It will do him the most good and you can enjoy it more.
At the end of October, after its rest period, stimulate flowering. To do this, stop watering for 3 weeks. You will observe that the leaves wilt slightly. Resume watering so that the soil on the surface is moist, adding fertilizer liquid once a month. Flowering will thus be stimulated for the winter period.
Use of the Christmas cactus
Often alone in a pot or in a suspension to take advantage of its drooping stems covered with flower buds, the Christmas cactus also comes in beautiful indoor flower arrangements. During the festive period, it combines with a few Christmas balls and other candles to create a festive centerpiece.
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[EN VIDÉO] Interview: which cactus can live the longest without water? Succulents, especially cacti, have the ability to live without water for a long time, sometimes even for years. This ability allows them to grow in the most arid areas of the globe. Futura-Sciences interviewed Jean-Marie Solichon, director of the exotic garden of Monaco, to tell us more about the subject.
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