Evening star., 1949-09-18
CHRISTMAS CACTUS.
fFrom E. G. L.. ArlingtonJ

For Mrs. M. r. D.. Silver Spring:
This is copied from an answer
to the same question on the same
subject asked in the RICH some
time ago.
This is in answer to a query
recently about a Christmas cactus.
I am quoting from the book En-
JOY Your House Plants by Doro-
thy Van Pelt Wilson, chapter g.:
The Christmas Cactus for Christ
mas Cheer
'The cactus plant we have long
treasured comes not from the
desert. but from the mountains
of Brazil where. like the orchid.
is grown on the branches of trees.
This is the Christmas or crab cac-
tus tEpiphyllum truncatum) q
constant beauty which blooms
almost before its slip days are
over and continues each year to
grow in grace, dignity and f1ori-
ferousness. In December or jan
uary it regularly puts on a show
to challenge every other denizen
of the window garden with some
two dozen fuchsia-like flowers
dripping from all the leaf tips
which cover the 5-inch pot. We
are told that a really ancient
plant may produce hundreds Of
blooms and our own experience
makes this seem quite beiievable
heresay.
This is plant which. like q
weary child. never wants to rest
so you must be the one to deter
mine bedtime and yourself draw
the shades. We get the best Of
blooms on ours by arranging an
absolute sleeping period through
the entire month of October when
the plant is set in a dim, cool
place and watered not a single
drop. In November, then, we water
it a little and by the end of the
month move it to the window gar
den. at first back a little from
the sun but fully in 1t,
When fresh new-tip growth
indicate the Christmas cactus is
again fully awake, we water it at
first weekly. then as growth in
creases about every other day,
never more and sometimes rather
less, depending on the brightness
OF the weather. AS the buds form.
watering is always checked little
because a too-wet condition
ioosens them. About half a cup
OF weak liquid manure is given
every 10 days from the time
growth is we'll started after rest
period until the buds show color.
This means from about Deem
Der l until near Christmas or
maybe January if budding is late.
After Towering is over, watering
is again decreased. IF by chance
you should overwater it and so
cause limp growth and discolored
tips, you can rejuvenate your
plants by cutting back to firm
growth
Reporting is a rare necessity
since close compacting of soil 9rd
roots stimulates blooming and
extra food needs are tended to
yearly by the manure doses. When
a larger pot is required, however,
the shift is made in late spring
just before the cactus is placed
on another bracket, out Of. the
wind on the shaded porch. pes %
New plants ?. can, be readily
started then. too, from old arms or
growth containing new tips. Cuts
are made at the joints where small
aerial roots are already in evil
dence. The new plants soon take
hold in small pots of regular soil.
These youngsters have often
bloomed for us their first Christ
mas"
The clipping from RICH is from
Mrs. F. G., Washington, so I really
think it should appec' under her
initials again. I WIS so thrilled
at finding some information on 1.
this cactus that I have saved thisAs
clipping since early this year. I does
hope that it helps others too. ].