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information: Next to the Poinsettia... Christmas
Cactus are the second most popular indoor flowering house plant for the holiday
season. When shopping for a Christmas Cactus select
one with lots of tight buds similar to the pictured plant. It
won't be long and the tightly budded plant will be flowering in
all its glory.
Christmas Cactus are easy to keep... in fact I'll
bet you have a grandmother that has had her plant in her house for over 20
years. Place your Christmas cactus in any well lit area. Check your
plant for water every couple of weeks... but don't let your
Christmas Cactus become "bone" or "dust" dry.
It is not a real Cactus. Indoors feed your
Christmas cactus bi-monthly with a balanced liquid plant food
while actively growing. Discontinue feeding with your Christmas
cactus is flowering.
To coax your Christmas Cactus to re-bloom indoors you'll need to chill it. About 6
to 8 weeks before your want your plant to flower place it in a
cool or unheated area of the house at 55 to 60 degrees and leave it there for
two weeks. Don't let your plant freeze outdoors. After two weeks
replace your Christmas Cactus to its original location. As early as Thanksgiving
or as late as Christmas... your plant should flower again.
"Christmas Cactus" are available in small 3" and
4" pots, along with larger plants in 6" and 8"
upright containers, as well as 6", 8" and 10"
hanging baskets... all in a large variety of colors.
Related Articles: Flowering
Christmas Cactus
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