 |
Cacti - Forest & Dessert Types
Christmas Cactus (Zygocactus truncatus) Resting period: February and March
Easter Cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) Resting period: January
Epiphyllum Resting period: January and February
Temperature: Ideal temperature range is 55 – 70 F During resting period (see above) keep at 50 –55 F.
Light: Choose a well-lit spot, shaded from direct sunlight for most varieties. Epiphyllum thrives on an east facing windowsill.
Water: Increase watering when resting period is over and buds begin to form. Treat as an ordinary house plant when flowers appear and during active growth – water liberally when compost begins to dry out. Use rainwater if tap water is very hard.
Air Humidity: Mist leaves frequently.
Repotting: Repot annually shortly after flowering has finished. Epiphyllum is an exception – flowering is encouraged by pot-bound conditions so do not repot annually.
Propagation: Cuttings of most varieties root easily. Take stem cuttings in summer, using a terminal "leaf" pad or stem tip. Allow cutting to dry for a few days before inserting in peat-based compost.
Cacti – Desert Types
Temperature: Average warmth from spring to autumn. Keep cool in winter – 50 – 55 F is ideal but no harm will occur at 40 F. Windowsill plants should be brought into the room at night if the weather is very cold and there is no artificial heat. The hair cacti (Cephalocereus senilis and Espostoa lanata) need a minimum of 60 F in winter.
Light: Choose the sunniest spot available, especially in winter. In the greenhouse some shading may be necessary in the hottest months.
Water: Increase watering in spring, and in the late spring-late summer period treat as an ordinary house plant by watering thoroughly when the compost begins to dry out. Use tepid water. In late summer give less water and after mid autumn keep almost dry – just enough water to prevent shriveling.
Air Humidity: Do not mist in summer (exception – Cleistocactus). The main requirement is for fresh air – open windows on hot summer days.
Repotting: Repot annually when young; after that only repot when essential. Transfer in spring into a pot which is only slightly larger than the previous one.
Propagation: Cuttings of most varieties root easily. Take stem cuttings or offsets in spring or summer. It is vital to let the cuttings dry for a few days (large cuttings for 1-2 weeks) before inserting in peat-based compost. Another propagation method is seed sowing – germination temperature 80 – 80 F.
|