How to Care for Holiday Cactus

 

  

This time of year, you’ll find many holiday-specific plants, including Cyclamen, Poinsettia, Amaryllis, and of course, holiday cactus. Each kind of holiday cactus typically flowers around the holiday it’s named for; Thanksgiving cactus in bloom now, followed by the Christmas cactus later in the season, then Easter or Spring cactus.  Known collectively as holiday cacti, all three are native to Brazil’s natural forests.

An easy way to identify each cactus type is to look at the end of the stem. Thanksgiving cactus stems have claw-like edges while the Christmas variety is rounder.  

 

 

If you have a plant that came from a cutting off your grandmother’s fifty-year-old cactus, it’s most likely one or the other.  

  

 

 

While there are only a few varieties in the original group of cacti, several cultivars have been developed which has expanded the range of colors available.   

  

When it comes to caring for your holiday cacti plants, it’s important to know how they grow in their natural environment. Holiday cacti grow at elevation and in the forest shade, hanging from their perches on trees or cliffs. They’re not exposed to direct sunlight nor high temperatures. In your home, they’ll do best when located in a place where they will receive bright, indirect light, daytime temperatures in the 70’s and nighttime temperatures in the 60’s.  

 

 

Holiday cacti don’t like drafts, so place them away from heating vents, fireplaces or doors that open to the outdoors. During the bloom season, feed your cactus every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer such as 5-10-5. When it comes to watering, check the soil moisture with your index finger. If the top inch or so is dry, then it’s time to water. Holiday cacti like high humidity and an easy way to increase humidity is to place small pebbles in a saucer, add water and set the plant on the saucer. Make sure the pot is sitting on the rock, not in the water.  If the plant begins to drop buds, it’s a sign of overwatering, insufficient light, or low humidity. 

Holiday cacti prefer to be root-bound and can easily go three or four years without repotting. When you decide to repot, choose a pot one size larger and use potting soil that drains well. Holiday cactus will stay green year-round. Continue to feed your cactus plant every two weeks with a 5-10-5 fertilizer. With a little care, your holiday cactus will produce beautiful blooms for many years to come.  

 

 

How to Grow and Care for Amaryllis

  

Along with poinsettias and paperwhites, amaryllis help us celebrate the season with their long-lasting, colorful blooms. They’re easy to grow and don’t require a lot of maintenance. They do require six to eight weeks to bloom, so now’s the time to start them. Amaryllis bulbs are available in many beautiful varieties, including various shades of red, white, pink, and salmon.  Amaryllis bulbs are sized from small to X-large. As a rule, the larger the bulb size, the more blooms it will produce. Once you've chosen the bulbs you want to start, it's time to pick out a container. Amaryllis can be planted in soil or forced in water. If you’re growing in soil, choose a heavy ceramic or clay pot, because lightweight pots may tip over under the weight of the blooms.  The container you select needs to have good drainage and be the right size for the bulb you’re planting.  

  

Amaryllis like to be snug in their pot, so select a container that's about an inch or so larger than the bulb and is deep enough for the roots to grow. Next, add damp potting soil to the bottom third of the pot. Place the bulb in the center of the pot and spread the roots out so they fan out from the center of the bulb. Do the best you can with the roots. You're mainly trying to keep them from bunching up under the bulb. Fill in around the bulb with more damp potting soil. Leave the top third of the bulb uncovered. Water thoroughly and place the bulb in a warm, well-lit location.  

  

 
 

 
 

Once the flower stalk begins to appear, you can start feeding your bulb with a 15-30-15 fertilizer. After that, fertilize every two weeks and water frequently enough to keep the soil moist.  

  

Amaryllis can also be grown in water. Select a container that doesn’t drain, add stones or gravel to the bottom of the pot and place your amaryllis bulb in the center of the container.  Add water to the container until it just touches the base of the bulb. Choose a warm, bright location for your bulb and maintain the water level throughout the growing and blooming cycle. It should be noted that amaryllis grown in water are difficult to get to rebloom the following season.  

  

In addition to water and soil, waxed amaryllis bulbs are available. Waxed bulbs contain all the water and nutrients required for them to bloom. Simply place them in a bright, warm spot in your house and enjoy the holiday color.  

  

For colorful blooms throughout the holidays, plant an amaryllis bulb every two to three weeks, starting now.   

  

  

As the flowers start to fade, cut them off. This is to prevent seeds from forming. Wait until the flower stalk starts to turn yellow before removing it. When you do cut off the flower stalk, be careful to not remove any leaves. You’ll want to leave the leaves of the amaryllis intact. The leaves are needed to create energy for the bulb, so it will rebloom. Place the amaryllis in a bright indoor location and water regularly, along with your other houseplants. Fertilize monthly with a 15-30-15 plant food.  

  

Amaryllis can be taken outdoors once there is no longer a risk of frost. Place them in a location where they’ll receive morning sun and afternoon shade. Continue to water and fertilize the potted bulb as needed. Spending time outdoors will allow the bulb to gather the energy needed in order to rebloom.  

  

For amaryllis to rebloom, they need to be exposed to cool temperatures.  In mid to late August, stop watering and move the potted bulb to a cool (45 to 55°F), dark location for eight to ten weeks.  During this time, do not water the plant. Check the bulb periodically and remove any leaves as they turn yellow.  After the ten-week period, move the potted bulb to a warm, bright location and resume watering. If the bulb has stored enough energy during the summer, it should bloom in 4 to 6 weeks.  
 
If you purchased a waxed bulb, it will be necessary to remove the wax and the wire stand. Once this is done, and the bulb is still firm, it can be planted and cared for like other amaryllis bulbs.