Question: I have a large healthy healthy-looking Christmas cactus. Its flower buds fall off, and only two or three remain to open fully. What can I do to prevent this? – J.K., Naugatuck, Conn. Answer: Overwatering, especially in the fall as plants come into bloom, will cause the Christmas cactus to drop its buds, as will insufficient water. … Read more
The most important disease-causing problem for the Christmas cactus plant is caused by a fungus – Fusarium oxysporum. Stem lesions are water-soaked initially and rapidly enlarge to reddish-brown areas which appear sunken or mushy. The fungus spores love this environment, and it is easy to find the dusty yellow-brown covering of spores. Splashing water moves … Read more
Plant enthusiasts love having a range of flowering plants that bloom at different times of the year. This is perhaps why Schlumbergera (shlum-BER-ger-uh), the so-called holiday cacti, especially the Christmas cactus, are so popular. Christmas cactus care is easy. This succulent begins blooming between late November and early December, providing colorful flowers into early Spring. It’s often … Read more
Botanically, Christmas Cactus is, indeed, a true cactus; but for its well-being, it really should have been given some other common name. The word “cactus” brings visions of extreme heat, sand, and dry air to many people. Consequently, these would-be gardeners give any and all cacti the growing conditions they assume (incorrectly, by the way) … Read more
Pedilanthus is an unusual plant with a monstrous name popular in window garden collections. The plant Pedilanthus lithymaloides [ped-i-LAN-thus] and don’t worry about the rest of the name. It is also known as Euphorbia lithymaloides. I have grown the plant for three or four years, and recently I’ve been seeing it in other collections. Not … Read more
The Gloxinia Flower! It is a triumph to plant thick, dry, brown, and barren-looking gloxinia tubers and watch them produce a luxuriant plant with layers of large, oval, velvety leaves topped with a crowning glory of immense flaring, tubular flowers in rich patterns and glowing colors. That’s what happens when you grow gloxinias, tuberous-rooted relatives … Read more
Gardenia plants are both the delight and despair of indoor gardeners. When Gardenias are happy – in bright light and acidic soil – they are shapely evergreen shrubs with: But when your Gardenia may fail to flower, and may even suddenly decide to turn their leaves sickly yellow for any of several slim excuses. This … Read more
Ceropegia plants are a completely fascinating family (Apocynaceae) of dangling or climbing succulent plants from South Africa. The stems are long, wiry, and sparsely set with pairs of plump, precisely-shaped leaves so that the foliage effect is open and airy. The waxy lantern flowers are almost unbelievable – intricately formed like miniature urns, parachutes, balloons, … Read more
Once upon a time, a plant genus called Pothos (POH-thos) had a bit of an identity problem. Not only did one species get renamed to Epipremnum aureum while still being referred to as pothos, but many people began to believe these indoor plants were the only pothos out there. But the remaining pothos plants aren’t … Read more
Over 125 years ago, an interesting little plant was introduced to British collectors as “Usambara Violet,” botanically Saintpaulia ionantha. Today it is lovingly known throughout the world as African-violet. Today the descendants and hybrids of this plant number in the hundreds or thousands of varieties. African-violet clubs at one time outnumbered the total of all … Read more