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Holiday cacti are a relatively popular group of houseplants. They are easy to grow and include Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus and Easter cactus. Each was named for the approximate period of time it blooms indoors in the northern hemisphere. All three species are native to a small part of tropical Brazil and grow in shaded areas on tree branches and mountain slopes between cracks in rocks. They have beautiful flowers available in shades of pink, red and white. Flower color of newer hybrids sometimes includes yellow and fuchsia.
Even though they are true cacti, they are native to rainforest and are not drought-hardy. Given this, they should not be grown in a commercial cactus potting mix but in regular potting soil. Allow them to dry out moderately between irrigations. They should also be kept out of summer sunlight. However, they do tolerate some sunlight during the winter.
Historically, it took some guesswork to determine which cactus you had by waiting for them to bloom. However, most now available from retailers are hybrids and bloom more profusely for a longer period of time. Two methods exist to induce blooming. The first is similar to the process of getting poinsettias to color up. The plants must be exposed to nightly darkness lasting from 12 to 14 hours for four to five weeks.
This is the process commercial greenhouses use, but it is often impractical for others. The method easier for homeowners is to expose plants to nightly temperatures between 55°- 60° and daytime temperatures between 60°- 70°. An ideal location for this is an old drafty window or a deck door. After 4 to 8 weeks, flower buds will start to form. If buds have only formed on the side of the plant exposed to colder temperatures, rotate the plant 180°. This will cause flower buds to form on the opposite side. This process can be repeated for most of the winter.
Fertilize holiday cacti with good indoor plant fertilizer according to package instructions from April to October. If the holiday cactus has bloomed profusely the entire winter, half or third strength applications on a monthly basis of a houseplant fertilizer may be needed.
