What Is a Flowering Cactus?

Types

• The two most popular types of flowering cacti are the Christmas cactus and the Easter cactus. These cacti are named for the seasons in which they bloom, although the Christmas cacti can bloom as early as Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving cacti also bloom between Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can tell them apart by looking at their stems. Thanksgiving cacti have toothed edged stems, while the stems of Christmas cacti have smooth edges. Another type of flowering cactus is the orchid cactus, which produces very fragrant night blooming flowers.

Culture

• Flowering cacti grow best in well-drained soil that contains a lot of organic matter. Good mixes should consist of 2 parts peat moss, 1 part garden soil and 1 part sand, or 3 parts compost, 1 part peat moss and 2 parts sand. These cacti prefer a minimum of 50 percent humidity and, during the spring and summer months their potting mix should remain moist, but not waterlogged. Fertilize once a month during the growing season, but don’t fertilize Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti after September, until they’re through flowering. Provide flowering cacti with bright, filtered light.

Flowering

• Flowers form when nighttime temperatures drop to between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but only when the plants are given 13 hours of uninterrupted darkness every day between September and November. Buds form no matter how short the day is if the nighttime temperature is between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut back on watering prior to flowering. Water and temperature can be increased once buds form. Flowering can be encouraged by using low-nitrogen fertilizer at the end of February and in early November.

Propagation

• Flowering cacti can be propagated by planting a section of the stem in moist perlite after pinching it off the parent plant and leaving it to dry overnight. The stem section should consist of two to five segments. After watering, place the container in a clear plastic bag. Seal the bag and put it where it will receive indirect light. Make sure the perlite stays moist. If too much condensation forms, open the bag and let it dry out before replacing the cactus. Roots should develop in about six to eight weeks. Plant your cactus in potting mix when the roots are about 1 inch long.

Problems

• Flowering cacti have few disease or insect problems. However, they may drop buds if over or under watered or if the humidity is too low or the temperature is too high. Leaf-like stem segments may turn yellow and drop if cacti receive too much sun or if they’re too dry. The plants are also susceptible to root rot if the humidity is low and they receive too much water.