Christmas is almost upon us , and our kin calendar is filled with school parties , gift exchanges and holiday to - do ’s . My married man , in a festive mood while he snitch for our groceries , blame up a few plants , as well . I come into the kitchen to come up a prominent Christmas cactus ( Schlumbergera ) train up most of the real land on the riposte . We already have one , but this was a different semblance , so he could n’t resist it .
Christmas cacti are typical from what you get in the desert because they ’re actually a rainforest kind originating in Brazil . They can be either epiphytic — meaning they live in the canopy on Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree branches — or lithophytic — meaning they grow on stones . There are six different species , four hybrids and many , many cultivar that have been created over the years by a human desire to use this plant for its cosmetic blooms in greenhouse culture .
Both of my cacti areS. truncata , so far as I can tell , because they have the taloned leaf pad , which earned this plant the common name “ crab cactus . ” The other big group you ’re potential to see for sale at your grocery isS. x buckleyi , which alternatively of claws has smooth - sided leaf pads . AllieKF / Flickr
My original cactus is a bit of an singular duck’s egg . It blossom at both Thanksgiving and Christmas . They ’re really only signify to bloom for one or the other . Typically if you ’ve got one that blooms on Thanksgiving it’sS. x buckleyiand on Christmas it’sS. truncata .
Either way , the Christmas cactus has been a tradition in my household for many years . Although it seems that there may not be any more of a connection with Christmas than the fact that the growers in Europe have intentionally cultivated these beauty to bloom during Christmas time , here are a couplet of stories that tie these houseplants to the vacation time of year .
An Improbable Bolivian Missionary Story
One news report suggest that the flush of the Christmas cactus to a Bolivian missionary . At Christmas clip , the missionary was becoming uncertain that the locals were hearing his subject matter . As he beg in front of a mere alter , the villagers came carrying beautiful , blossom boughs of Christmas cactus that they had collected from the jungle to decorate the chapel . While this is a lovely level , it does n’t quite employment . Schlumbergeraare found in Bolivia , but they would be blooming in May rather than December in the southern hemisphere .
Down Under
As another nice story goes , in the Southern hemisphere folk who do n’t have access to evergreen plant decorate the Christmas cactus instead of a tree . This tradition can be verified , but it is not actually theSchlumbergerathat they decorate .
Making Your Christmas Cactus Bloom
If you ’re like me , you ’ll have a member of this genus in your home every year . I do n’t care which colour it blooms . There is just something so sunny about the bright tinge bloom contrasting with the succulent foliage . If you ’re have hassle getting yours to bloom , there is a unproblematic solvent : Next year , set up it outside on the pack of cards in partial refinement and pass on it alone . When the first hoar threaten , bring it in and begin to irrigate it on a regular basis . I promise you ’ll be reward with beautiful blooms throughout the holiday time of year .
AllieKF/Flickr
scott1346/Flickr
