Cactus

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Gardening for the Holidays

CREATING a lovely site for YOUR  CACTUS

 Thanksgiving cactus, False Christmas cactus, Holiday cactus
 (Schlumbergera truncate)

 Thanksgiving cactus, False Christmas cactus, Holiday cactus
 (Schlumbergera truncata) 

Schlumbergera truncata resembles other species of the genus Schlumbergera in that it has leafless green stems which act as photosynthetic organs. The stems (cladodes) are composed of strongly flattened segments, which have two or three "teeth" of varying shapes along their edges and at the ends. The ends of the stems are "cut off" (truncated) rather than pointed. Individual segments are about 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) long by 1.5–3.5 cm (0.6–1.4 in) wide. You will see the Christmas cactus in the stores in a small pot. The stems will be almost upright and this is to protect the stems and blooms from damage during shipping.  This is what my cactus looked like a few years ago. This cactus is actually a Thanksgiving cactus because it blooms a bit earlier than the true Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesi ). The Thanksgiving cactus have a pointed leaf and the Christmas cactus stems are more rounded.

The cactus is very easy to care for after it completes it's show. In March I place it on our porch. It faces southward but protects plants from the burning afternoon sun. You will need a site rich with sunshine but mottled to prevent burning. Ideal temperatures are between 55 and 68 degrees. I water once or twice a week in the summer. The Christmas cactus is native to South America. It grows in trees, and is considered an air plant, where it receives mottled sunlight. If we are expecting a freeze  in zone 7b-8a I bring it inside.

If the stems are layered, the flowers will cascade as in this photograph.

Propagation

Plant the "stems" directly into a slightly acidic, well draining soil and allow the soil to dry between watering. Growing and flowering instructions change dramatically depending on latitude. You will want to check with your local Agricultural Extension Office for specific instructions to ensure flowering in December. I don't normally place potted plants on furniture without a saucer to catch water but this is a temporary site for the picture. You do not want a saucer under your pot because the roots will rot readily. The flowers are available in red and this magenta pink. I like to place the pot at an eye level location to show off the flowers when they are in bloom and this also serves to keep it from spirited wagging puppy tails. 

Color

The flower on this cactus is a vibrant magenta. I have added a seafoam green wrap, as a complementary color around the pot to make the colors pop. The combination is very pleasing.

Here, I have placed the cactus with a Mid-century modern ('50's), seafoam green opalescent Fostoria Heirloom epergne. The seafoam green is a great complement to the magenta bloom.

The buds are prolific at Thanksgiving time and many of the flowers are  in full bloom at this time.

Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesi )

I like to include live plants with Christmas decorations. After the cactus has completed it's bloom cycle I let it rest in a protected site with good sunlight but protected from the cold. In March, after our last frost I put it back outside on the front porch with a southern exposure. 

The Christmas cactus includes many cultivars of the genus Schlumbergera. There are a number of cultivar groups, including the Buckleyi Group, whose cultivars show inheritance from Schlumbergera russelliana (pictured). 🌵🎄

Illustration by Walter Hood Fitch for "Curtis's Botanical Magazine", v. 66 (1839-40), freely available in BHL thanks to Missouri Botanical Garden  https://s.si.edu/2EwjIy0

"Curtis's Botanical Magazine" is the longest running color-illustrated periodical. It was first published in 1787 by William Curtis as an illustrated gardening and botanical journal. In 1826, William Hooker, the first official director of Kew Gardens, became the editor of the journal. During this time, William hired the artist Walter Hood Fitch to serve as the magazine's principal artist.

In 1865, Joseph Dalton Hooker became Director of Kew Gardens and editor of "Curtis's Botanical Magazine". In 1877, after contributing over 2,900 illustrations to the magazine, Fitch resigned following a dispute with J.D. Hooker. Hooker's daughter, Harriet Ann Thiselton-Dyer, served as the magazine's illustrator until Matilda Smith was hired as the official illustrator. Smith eventually became the first official botanical artist employed by Kew, the first woman to be appointed president of the Kew Guild, and the second woman to be elected an associate of the Linnean Society of London. She continued as the magazine's chief illustrator until her retirement in 1921. Many of Smith's illustrations were lithographed for publication by Fitch's nephew John Nugent Fitch.

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