Host: Joanna Coles, Warren County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Guest: Kristin Hildabrand, Warren County Extension Agent for Horticulture
Topic: Holiday Cactus Care Tips
Joanna Coles meets with Kristin Hildabrand to discuss holiday cactuses and how to care for them. Holiday Cactuses are indoor plants for the holiday season. They can be received as gifts or purchased for their cheerful seasonal color. These are easy to care for and can be the longest-lived. There are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Cactuses, and they are native to Brazil. Holiday cactuses are categorized as Epiphytic plants, with their roots anchoring them to branches high up in the forest trees. One of the first things to consider with caring for a Holiday Cactus is light. This plant prefers bright, indirect light or the light shade and are short-day plants. Some people have had great success taking their plants outdoors in the frost-free period. A shaded porch is another ideal location; south exposure is best if they are not in direct sun for more than a few hours in the morning. Holiday cactuses prefer to be cooler at night with daytime temperatures of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. With soil, look for a cactus potting mix. They don’t have to be re-potted as much as other houseplants. They are epiphytic. Overwatering is the number one plant killer. Allow to dry out between waterings. For blooms, ensure more water is available to the plant. Use a good-quality, balanced soluble or granular fertilizer, such as 10-10-10. Fertilize during the active growing season. Stop fertilizing in September to reduce vegetative growth and help stimulate bud formation on solid stems; resume after the blossom period.