Answering Questions: Christmas Cactus Out of Sync
“The Christmas cactus from my grandmother is getting ready to bloom, what did I do wrong? – Martha
Hi Martha, I also have a “Christmas” cactus blooming right now, I’m embracing the blooms and calling it my winter cactus. These hardy tropical plants need a little help to bloom on cue here in Missouri. Back in their native Brazil, they have weather triggers to get them to bloom in December, the beginning of the South American summer.
Your cactus may be the older, true Christmas cactus if it came from your grandmother. Most cactuses sold on the market today are actually Thanksgiving cacti, which explains why they tend to bloom end of November.
To determine what kind of cactus you have, look at the green fronds. The original Christmas cactuses (Schlumbergera bridgesii) have smooth, round edges while Thanksgiving cacti (Schlumbergera truncata) have pointy, jagged ones.
Mine started to bloom because I had it outside on my back porch last fall. Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are called “short day plants” meaning in order to produce flower buds, they require fewer daylight hours and/or cool night temperatures. Our fall shorter days and cooler nights signal the plants to produce buds.
To get your Christmas cactus to bloom when you want the blooms, locate it indoors in a cool, bright location where daytime temperatures are 65-70° F and evening temperatures are 55-65° F. If plants are exposed to cooler night temperatures of 55° F, plants will bloom in approximately 5-6 weeks, sometimes regardless of the day length.
“Char, I’m looking for a source for old-fashioned marigolds. Bill says the new ones don’t work as well as the old ones. Thoughts?” — Ardith
Source for Old Marigold Seeds
Hi Ardith, from what I have read marigolds have been hybridized to the point where they are not as effective as they used to be to deter bugs. I now use annual basil to line my garden beds and include pots of basil between other potted plants to deter insects. Try Baker Seeds out of Mansfield for heirloom marigold seeds. www.rareseeds.com.
“Hi Charlotte, I enjoy our blog and newspaper articles so much! Do you happen to have a recommendation for a native plant catalog that shows how to handle monarch seeds and other wildflowers? I haven’t been able to get too many wildflower seeds to sprout…” — Anne Marie
Native Plant Catalog with How to Guides
Hi Anne Marie,
Glad you enjoy my writing. That’s a very good question because many wildflowers do need special care before they will grow, something people don’t realize when they pick up wildflower seeds.
My favorite native plant catalog with how to guides is the Prairie Moon Nursery’s Native Gardener’s companion. Not only do they have lovely photographs of wildflowers, a must for any reference catalog, but they have added “how to” guides including a very helpful guide to growing wildflower seeds and how to expose them to cold temperatures before they germinate.
They also have a very nice guide on planting for monarchs.
Charlotte Ekker Wiggins is a beekeeper, gardener and sometimes cook. Published by El Dorado Springs Sun once in print and online with author’s permission. Copyright 2017, all rights reserved. This column may not be reprinted, republished or otherwise distributed without author’s permission. Contact Charlotte at gardeningcharlotte@gmail.com.
THE CACTI KNOWS – My heirloom Christmas cactus is still blooming almost a month past Christmas.
SHOP FROM HOME – Find a nice variety of heirloom marigold seeds at Baker Seed out of Mansfield, Mo.
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