During the upcoming holidays you may receive a gift as a gift Christmas cactus. As you should take care of it so that it can resist without problems and keep you company for a long time with its incredibly beautiful and colorful flowers, capable of brightening up any room.
First of all you will need to know that the Christmas cactus it is a plant species native to Brazil, botanically named Schlumbergera and belonging to the family of Cactaceae which usually grows in tropical woods, even attached to trees, being a plant that prefers shade and humidity. For this reason, the internal environment of our homes in the winter period with the heating on becomes an ideal climate for thriving compared to other cacti originating from deserts which require little water and a lot of sun or heat.
When does the Christmas cactus bloom?
The Cacraceae may present different flowering periodsbut what characterizes the Christmas cactus is the fact that its flowers bloom just when the winter holiday period is approaching and it is from here that the name given to this spontaneous plant in Brazil and other areas of Latin America, but which was imported into Europe as a houseplant, was nicknamed.
You will be able to admire the Christmas cactus flowers between December and January. Their colors can range from pink to red and from purple to purple redto. To ensure that the flower buds do not wither before blooming, the Christmas cactus must be carefully kept indoors. shelter from both air currents and heat sources. It should therefore not be positioned near a door that is opened often, nor too close to a fireplace, stove or radiator.
Where to place it
The ideal temperatures for indoor Christmas cactus is 20°C. To prolong the flowering of the cactus in the winter period, it is necessary to place it in a bright room. Later, during the summer, the Christmas cactus can be placed outdoors, in a partially shaded position, so that theexcessive exposure to direct sun does not result in burning of the leaves. In autumn, from the beginning of September, the plant can be moved home. The reduction in the normal hours of daylight and its exposure to the sun allows its flowering to be delayed until the Christmas period.
One of the ideal positions to place the Christmas cactus in your home in December and January is internal window silla, so that the flowers can enjoy daylight to bloom over the course of the winter.
The elevated position of the plant is essential if you have them pets such as dogs or cats. The ingestion of some parts of the plant can cause diarrhea or vomiting in pets, it must therefore be positioned so that it cannot be easily reached by pets. If any problems arise, you should contact your vet immediately. (Read also: the most poisonous plants for dogs and cats that you may have in your home or garden)
When to water the Christmas cactus?
The Christmas cactus it is native to South American tropical forests and for this reason it prefers a humid climate. This is why we need to pay particular attention to yours wateringboth during summer and winter. Especially in winter it will be necessary water regularly and little at a time, avoiding the formation of stagnation in the saucer, but at the same time maintaining the always moist soil. In summer we proceed in the same way, with the possibility of also spray a little water on the leaves using a nebulizer. The best summer time for watering the Christmas cactus, which requires small amounts of water at a time, is in the evening. In particularly arid climates, try to keep it in a room with a small humidifier or lots of other plants.
Avoiding water stagnation and resorting to regular but not too abundant watering is important especially during flowering. Excessive watering can cause root rot capable of causing the death of the plant, which can also be caused bymushroom action, unfortunately not perceptible from the outside until the first damage appears. The flowering of the plant can sometimes extend from December to February. In any case, once flowering has ended, watering can be reduced. Throughout the life of the plant, watering must be carried out only when the soil appears dry on the surface. It may be sufficient, in winter, to water only once or twice a week.
The Christmas cactus loves soils with an acidic pH and which possibly contain peat. It is optional to resort to using natural fertilizers during flowering to provide nourishment to the plant. Fertilization must be suspended when the flowers are no longer present. If you want to fertilize, it is best to do it in the spring and summer months when physiological growth is underway.
How to Propagate and Multiply Your Christmas Cactus
Propagation by cuttings
If you want to propagate your cactus it is absolutely possible to do it at home using the previous year’s stems dried a couple of days before planting them. In particular:
Propagation by hand pollination
Another way to reproduce your Christmas cactus if you have at least two plants with different colored flowers is to use manual pollination. In particular, you need to use a small brush to collect the pollen from one and place it on the other and wait for the plant to bear fruit. The latter will have small seeds that can be planted in spring.
Natalina diseases and parasites
The most frequent threat to Natalina is represented by water stagnationwhich can cause root rot or encourage the development of fungal infections. Rot manifests itself with a progressive weakening of the plant, limp and yellowing leaves, and, in the most serious cases, an unpleasant odor coming from the soil.
This problem manifests itself with the yellowing of the leaves, the appearance of soft parts on the plant and, in the most serious cases, with the spread of an unpleasant odor from the soil. When such a situation arises, it is essential to act quickly: the plant must be removed from the pot, the damaged roots must be carefully removed, and repotting must take place in fresh, well-draining soil, with a good system to avoid accumulation of water.
Another problem that can affect the Christmas cactus is the attack of parasites, in particular scale insects and aphids. Mealybugs appear as small white cottony spots that attach to leaves and branches, while aphids are tiny black, green or yellow insects that find refuge among branches and flowers. Both parasites suck the sap from the plant, weakening it and slowing its growth. In the presence of these pests, action can be taken by removing them manually with a cotton ball soaked in water and neutral soap, or by gently washing the plant. In more serious cases, it may be useful to resort to a natural treatment based on neem oil.
Lifespan
Christmas cactus seedlings can have a very long life, which can even reach your 20s or 30sallowing the care of the plant to be passed down from one generation to the nextan aspect that makes it an even more symbolic gift at Christmas. The original Christmas cacti are obtained from a cross between Schlumbergera truncata and Schlumbergera russelliana, occurred for the first time 150 years ago.
The legend of the Christmas cactus
There Schlumbergera it is the hub of fascinating legends and popular traditions. These stories, without historical or scientific basis, contribute to making the plant even more special, enriching its meaning as a Christmas gift and symbol of positivity.
The legend of the Brazilian forest
One of the best-known legends transports us to the hot and humid forests of Brazil, the place of origin of Schlumbergera. It tells of a young boy who lived immersed in this suffocating environment, praying every day that the spirit of Christmas would bring a sign of freshness or a touch of moisture to ease his fatigue. His prayers seemed to go unheard, until, on Christmas Day, he awoke to find that the forest around him had exploded into a myriad of extraordinary flowers, resembling Christmas bells. There Schlumbergerawhich grows clinging to trees, had miraculously bloomed during the night. The boy interpreted this wonder as a divine gift, a sign of hope and blessing.
From this legend comes the tradition of giving the Christmas cactus as a symbol of love, understood in its purest and most universal sense. It is a gift that expresses gratitude, affection and the desire to convey luck and well-being.
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