A Christmas Cactus
	December Gardening Tips
	Want a break from the holiday hoopla? Even though it is December and nearly all your plants are dormant, some gardening chores need attention. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture recommends these December activities: >>>read the article

by Dr. Susan Hamilton

The easy-to-grow Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera bridgesii, is a wonderful plant to give and to receive. This handsome houseplant sends out sprawling chains of inch-long dark green, elliptical leaves linked together. In December it produces numerous blossoms measuring up to two inches either from notches in the stems or from their tips. The flowers are show-stoppers and are prized for their brilliant red, pink, yellow, orange, purple, or white color. The pendulous stems make this plant a great choice for hanging baskets.

Christmas cactus is native to Brazil and is a member of a group sold as holiday cacti including the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)and the Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri). When grown under normal night-length conditions, Thanksgiving cacti will flower near Thanksgiving, approximately one month before the Christmas cacti flower. Easter cacti flower primarily in the spring and sporadically throughout the year. All of these holiday cacti have similar cultural requirements.

While the Christmas cactus can adapt to low light, blooms will be more abundant when the plant is exposed to high light intensity. Keep your Christmas cactus in a sunny location indoors. Plants can be moved outdoors in summer, but locate them in a shady or semi-shady area. Too much direct sunlight outdoors can burn the foliage.

Well-drained soil is a must for Christmas cactus. Although you could mix your own soil, using a commercially packaged potting mix formulated for succulent plants is easier.

When it comes to watering, keep in mind that this plant is not a true cactus and is not quite as drought tolerant as its name infers. However, as a succulent, the Christmas cactus can store a reasonable quantity of water in its leaves. Water thoroughly when the top half of the soil in the pot feels dry to the touch. The length of time between waterings will vary with the air temperature, amount of light, rate of growth and relative humidity. During the summer, water so that the soil is continually moist. When fall arrives, water the plant only well enough to prevent wilting.

During the month of October, give the plant no water and make sure it is getting cool night time temperatures (50- to 60-degrees F). This drying period combined with cool nights will force the plant to bloom. Cautiously resume watering in November, being careful to not keep the soil too wet. Around Thanksgiving buds should develop, promising blooms for Christmas.

When your cactus finally blooms, nothing is more disheartening than to have the blooms drop. Common causes of bud dropping are over watering, exposure to cold drafts, a position too close to a hot radiator or vent and lack of sufficient light.

After your plant completes its blooming, prune it to your liking. Remove a few sections of each stem by pinching them off with your fingers or by cutting with a sharp knife. This will encourage the plant to branch and have multiple stems. After pruning, let the plant rest by withholding water for about six weeks. Once you resume watering, new growth will appear and this would be the ideal time to repot the plant. It also signals the time to start applying a weak solution of liquid houseplant fertilizer every two to three weeks.

Contact: Dr. Susan Hamilton, 865-974-7324 or Patricia McDaniels, 865-974-7141

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Dr. Susan Hamilton is an associate professor of ornamental horticulture in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences and director of the UT Gardens. The UT Gardens are located on Neyland Drive in Knoxville. They are free and open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.