![]() ![]() Repotting your plant annually after flowering is beneficial for many types of tropical forest cacti. Plants that are potted in the wrong mixture will initially do well but may later suffer from root rot associated with excess water retention in the soil. You will notice that while this mix is fast draining, it will hold more moisture than a desert cactus mix. In general, mixing one part perlite (for drainage) with one part potting soil, one part peat and one part coarse orchid bark (for structure and nutrition) creates an excellent soil for most tropical forest cacti. Many commercial cacti and potting soil mixes rely too heavily on peat, which holds moisture in the soil longer than is desirable for these plants. Tropical forest cacti prefer a rich soil with excellent drainage. Spray tropical forest cacti daily to compensate for the inhospitable dryness of a Northeastern home. ![]() Do not expose them to temperatures below 50☏. (See Encouraging Your Holiday or Easter Cactus to Flower below). To form flowers some need to be moved to a spot with lower temperatures (below 65° F.) for a month or two after flowering and again before setting buds. They are less actively growing in some parts of the year but, unlike desert cacti, do not take a single, long winter rest in a much cooler space. Tropical forest cacti like warm household temperatures all year, though some need a rest periods after flowering and while setting buds to re-bloom. Do not overwater if your plant begins to turn yellow at the tips you are giving it too much water and causing the cellular structure to rupture. After flowering, water only enough to keep soil barely moist for a period of three to six weeks. During the pre-flowering period, reduce watering, letting the top ½ inch of soil dry out between waterings. Watering frequency should vary as your home heats up and cools down with the seasons. Water frequently in spring and summer, keeping the soil consistently moist but not standing in water run-off. In others, a period of relative darkness is necessary to encourage buds. In some cacti, prolonged sunlight triggers flowering and you may need to simulate brighter conditions to get your plant to bloom. Rotating the plant is beneficial but not essential. Morning sun only is ideal, though they will survive less than ideal light exposures. These plants prefer a medium source of light year-round and will die if exposed to prolonged, direct, summer sun. Imagine the understory, filtered light of a tropical forest cacti’s natural habitat. These cultivation rules for the popular holiday and Easter cacti are described below under Encouraging Your Holiday or Easter Cactus to Flower. Keep in mind that some variation in light and temperature routine during the year is recommended if you are growing tropical forest cacti for their flower display. There are many botanical synonyms in use for these cacti as well, particularly Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri and Epiphyllopsis rosea. These plants have more rounded teeth to their leaf margins. Hatiora gaertneri and Hatiora rosea are both sold as Easter cactus or spring cactus and typically bloom in spring but under the right conditions may bloom again later in the year. Compounding the confusion, there are numerous botanical synonyms also in use for these plants, with many nurseries continuing to use the Zygocactus genus that has been out of botanical use since the 1950's. buckleyi by the sharper points to their serrated leaves and their yellow anthers. Holiday cactus is an apt name, as these plants tend to bloom from November to January. More recently, Schlumbergera truncata in particular has been widely produced and sold as Christmas cactus, holiday cactus or Thanksgiving cactus. The true Christmas cactus is Schlumbergera x buckleyi which typically blooms in December, has purple anthers (the part of the plant that contains the pollen) and has been available for many years. ![]() Some of the tropical forest cacti have become very popular as houseplants and are widely sold though often under confusing names. They are usually leafless, composed of flattened or tubular segments and kept for their attractive flowers more than their architecture. Tropical forest cacti are succulents, with areoles containing often-tiny bristles, but differ considerably in appearance from desert cacti. ![]() So despite the humid, tropical conditions of their native habitats, these cacti are adapted to grow in a media that is prone to dryness. Tropical forest cacti (also called jungle cacti) typically originate as epiphytes or lithophytes, growing in a pocket of moss or debris in the crook of a tree branch or a rock. Schlumbergera photo courtesy of Flickr cc/ JAM 343 ![]()
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