The primary purpose of growing house plants, like Christmas cactus in most cases, is successful flower production. Surely, many times, when a prized plant bursts into beautiful bloom, the rest of the household is subjected to a flurry of excitement by a “green thumb” window gardener who seems to think the event is no less important than if the stork had just arrived.
To such an enthusiast, house plants can be interesting, captivating, and even aggravating, as well as beautiful. I think the highlight of the window gardening experience comes when the gardener discovers that one of many plants has assumed a personality.
Christmas Cactus
As with human beings, plants have personalities quite different and apart from all other plants. What distinguishes the personality of a house plant? Many things, of course, according to the whim of its gardener, but who is it that could challenge such a whim when the claim to personality rests on the fact that the plant has reached its thirty-second birthday?
This plant we are writing of is a Christmas cactus in its thirty-second year, seemingly a great-great-grandfather, and of an age that even the romping house dog as well as the boisterous adolescent is taught to respect its exalted position in the household.
Visitors who view this large cactus in bloom are curious as to what methods were used to grow it into such a vigorous, free-blooming specimen. There is no secret but there are some interesting details of this plant’s beginning and its care over the last 32 years.
Potted Cactus
It is potted in a five-gallon water pail, and it has not been repotted in the last ten years. It is so large and thick in its present pot that one can hardly find room to poke the hand down near its base to check the moisture of the soil.
When the subject of repotting is discussed, it is decided that as long as it rewards us with blooms every year, it is best to leave well enough alone. So, repotting is not attempted, or contemplated at this time.
This beautiful cactus, which could see a half-century of existence, has seen abuse, neglect, petting, and pampering. Its existence began like many others of its kind, a small cutting from a larger plant, made by an 11-year-old Ozark lass.
This one did not even have the benefit of a special rooting medium. It was merely stuck into a small pot of earth. Little did this youngster realize that her “little sprig” would materialize into a patriarch sort of plant that would live through good and bad times.
Cactus Winter Care
The winter care of this cactus during its first 26 years was probably to its liking. The womenfolk had little time to pamper the few houseplants they had around a small farm home. During winter the plant was placed in a southwest bedroom next to an outside west door which was never opened.
The top half of the door consisted of a glass pane which allowed just enough light to suit the Christmas cactus. The room itself was unheated but received some heat through a curtained doorway from the adjacent room which contained a pot-bellied wood-burning stove.
The daytime temperature probably varied between 50 to 60 degrees, while the night temperature dropped much lower. The plant, no doubt, saw many a night with temperatures around 45, and probably even lower from time to time.
These cool temperatures and good light (but no sun) encouraged the plant to produce many blooms early in the season, approximately at Christmas.
The care of the plant during the hot summer months makes one wonder how it ever survived. The cactus was placed on a west porch in full sun in the afternoons and evenings, and many times it was moved onto the open lawn in the hot sun.
The watering of the plant, the year around, was a “catch as catch can” affair, happening only when one of the ladyfolk took a notion. As for fertilizing, well, what Ozark farm wife in those days ever heard of, or thought of, fertilizing houseplants?
The only additional nutrient the plant received in 26 years was probably enriched garden soil at infrequent repottings, not more than three or four times in all these years.
Then, From Farm to City
Care of the plant over the last six years has been more orthodox, although not always according to Hoyle. Circumstances made it necessary to move the cactus from the hill country to the city dwelling of the woman who, as an 11year-old, started the cutting 26 years earlier. At this time the plant was having fewer and fewer blooms each winteródown to a scant few.
Feeding and Watering Program
Under its new city care, the plant is on a regular basis. Feeding and watering program, such being done according to its growth activity and blooming period. In summer months it is placed in the shade beneath a pussy willow tree or a small walnut tree.
In the winter it is placed in the basement where a gas furnace keeps the temperature between 55 and 60 degrees. Last season the fertilizing schedule was changed to agree with that extended to other house plants, every two weeks except in dormant or resting periods.
Nothing but liquid manure and fish emulsion fertilizer are used. Under such care, the cactus again provides many blooms each winter although not as early as before, probably because of the existence of some artificial light it receives after sundown.
Tardiness in Bloom
Last winter its blooms did not begin opening until February 21. I believe this tardiness in bloom was caused by the fact that when it was brought into the basement on the first of September it was placed on a stand at the edge of a fluorescent fixture which was lighted until 9:30 p.m.
After a month it was moved from this light, but still it received faint artificial light until well into the evening. This artificial light delayed the blooms, but certainly not their quantity or quality.
44659 by Eunice E. Bearce