The Christmas Cactus

There's a lengthy and loving tradition with Christmas Cacti in my family that is recorded through photographs back to my grandparents. I encounter many images of myself in front of my parents' hale and hearty Christmas Cactus as I look back on my childhood pictures. This cactus without exception bloomed at Christmas and Easter and still does! I commenced my research of the Christmas Cactus magic after both of my parents passed away in the late 1990s.

My oldest sister took the grand cactus that was 50 years old! That first Christmas without my parents, their beloved cactus blossomed even more spectacularly than usual. The spirit from all those years of love and care that my parents had provided to each other and our family came through this plant. It was then that I determined I needed a slip of this cactus to carry on the family Christmas Cactus tradition in my own home.

As I began my journey into world of the Christmas Cactus, I discovered how relatively easy it is to start a plant from a slip and grow it into a thriving thing of beauty. The perfect time to take a slip is after the cactus has finished blooming. A mature plant usually needs a good pruning after each blooming to keep the blossoms all around the plant as the flowers form at the end of each stem. These pruned stems are perfect for starting new plants that can be ready as flowering gifts by next Christmas! Once you have your slips, they can simply be rooted in damp sand. This also makes them easy to mail or transport. Allow your chips to dry out a couple of days after pruning, prior to placing in the damp sand. You are ready to plant the slips once a good root system is established. Plant a few slips in a pot with a good-draining potting soil. I use the potting soil made especially for cacti. Place your young plants in an area that gets bright, filtered light. Keep your fledgling plants evenly moist when watering, and wait until the soil is dry in between watering.