Zygocactus Truncatus (Christmas Cactus)

Temperature:
55-60 F

Flat, green, pendent branches drip with double-skirted ballerina-like flowers of white through rose and orange-pink to brighten the greenhouse during the Christmas season.

Requires well-drained soil of equal parts leafmold, peatmoss, garden loam, and clean sharp sand. Keep in full sun and water regularly through spring. A cool location and a drying-off period through summer are absolutely necessary to assure blooms. I achieve best results by placing plants under the bench during summer, watering seldom until mid-October when I bring them up into the light and warmth of the greenhouse and increase watering.

Feeding with liquid manure every 2 weeks once active growth starts is beneficial, but this should be discontinued when buds develop. When blooming period is over, you will see that the plant has expended itself to the point of appearing shriveled. Give plenty of water and its normal fleshy appearance will be restored. Cuttings taken in September (they root easily in moist sand) make 4-inch flowering plants in about 15 months. Repot mature plants in spring after flowering only every third or fourth year.

Although the recommended temperature is 60 F, I have exceptionally good results on shelves in my 52 F greenhouse.