Easter cactus

krystyna1937

11 years ago

Hello. I'm new to this forum but a migrant from Bonsai.
I've been given a pot of rather tightly packed Easter Cactus. I understand this is a cousin of the Christmas Cactus and I'm quite familiar with that plant. I once had one of those that kept blooming year after year until a move to a new home overwhelmed it.
This one arrived in a plastic pot with very wet soil. It has already dropped quite a few of its white blossoms and some of the buds. I'd like to move it to a clay azalea pot but this is probably the wrong time of year. I have a north facing balcony with some sun in the late afternoons and I live in Western North Carolina where the climate is temperate with pleasantly low humidity.
All advice will be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (3)

FrugalFanny
11 years ago
Welcome Krystyna!

I'm no expert on these since I've only had mine for 1 year, and the other for about a month. What I do know for sure is that they are similar to the other holiday cacti in care, being epiphytic cacti, but they are a little more finicky than their other holiday cousins. They need a little more water than the others, and indirect lighting. I think there are probably other conversations on here that have to do with this if you do a search, and others will probably chime in here as well.

I attached a link as well that should help you get started.

FF

Here is a link that might be useful: General info and care
krystyna1937
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, FrugalFanny. I visited your link and see I've been making wrong assumptions. This plant isn't as easy as a Xmas Cactus but it is very pretty so I'll follow the instructions. Oddly enough, it revived this morning after I pinched off wilted flowers and put it on a shelf under a grow light but the links says it prefers less light so I'll find another spot in my apt.
How about my repotting idea? When is a good time? Will the clay pot be too porous since the plant likes moisture?
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Never seen a CC (Schlumbergera x buckleyii) for sale. For some reason this year, EC's are at BBS's, readily available nationwide. Very cool! By CC, do you mean TC (Schlumbergera truncata - that stores sell 'en masse' during the holidays?) Since they are sold with labels that say "Christmas cactus," it would be natural to call them that, and one really needs the botanical name for comparing these plants. I've had an EC for about 2 years and it has bloomed numerous times, both while outside and inside, which I'm told isn't uncommon. OTOH, going by what I've read in anecdotes on these forums, since I just managed to get a cutting of CC via trade less than a year ago, would rarely bloom more than once per year. For that reason, I'd choose EC, but - why not get both and pot together if space is an issue? However, the link I've included below says TC and CC are supposed to bloom twice per year. Rare is a discussion about that happening, maybe because most peoples' plants need to come inside to much less light, IDK. I couldn't possibly choose between TC and EC, you shouldn't either. Although they are called cacti, know all 3 of these are epiphytic jungle plants, and really don't like bone-drying or baking in intense mid-day sun at all. So... you need 3 plants... Here is a link that might be useful: 3 holiday cacti, care and recognition
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Karen that could totally be it! You’ve probably solved it! Not only did it potentially get fried under some stupid heat lamps I had to use very temporarily on my greenhouse until I got my thermostat/heater situated, it also doesn’t have shade in there. It didn’t really before and I never had this issue, but with that being said I feel like it gets more sun than ever now in the green house. I’ll try the bottom shelf, or maybe ever some shaders. I do remember reading they are forest plants—however I guess where in the past I never had any issues treating them the same with my others and in fact getting beautiful blooms, reviving from dead, and a huge amount of new pads, I never really treated him much different but the greenhouse experience I am definitely still learning :)
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Spiders don't cause spots - spiders make webs to catch their pray. Usually flies or other bugs. I understand you are scared of them - many ppl are - but they are (unless some poisonous ones) quite beneficial. I do not get rid of them... Blasting plants with alcohol is not necessary, especially if there are no bugs one needs to get rid of - like mealy bugs, or scale. Mealy bugs are white (I don't see any in your photo), and scale are brown, raised oval bumps. BUT they do not need force to be removed: best way to find out if those bumps are scale is to use q-tip moistened in rubbing alcohol. Swipe directly over bump/scale, and it dies on direct contact with alcohol - do not 'blast' whole plant with it. You should be able to wipe scale off with the q-tip. If you have to use force to scrape brown spot off, it could be a scab that formed after mechanical injury, or - more likely - oedema/edema bumps. Oedema is not disease, but physiological disorder. It happens when plant takes in more water than it can transpire, so check your watering and humidity. You shouldn't try to remove these bumps or you'll cause more physical damage. Spider mites are very tiny, almost dust-like bugs, and if you have them - there are more than 1...so, probably, just a paranoia :)
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FrugalFanny
11 years ago
No problem! I have not re potted either of mine yet because they are doing well in their current situation, but I probably should soon because the soil is deteriorating. I'm a little nervous to do it though because they are known to be finicky.

Try googling "repotting easter cactus". You will get a lot of good info (lots right here on GW).

I know that sometimes "low light" can mean different things to different people. My easter cacti are thriving next to an Eastern exposure window that gets good morning light. I keep the mini blind down, but with the slats open. This gives them nice filtered morning sun. For the rest of the day they get bright, indirect light from a skylight on the other side of the room. So, just because it says low light doesn't mean the same thing as shade.

Remember to give it a rest now it's finished blooming, like it said on that link.

Mine are in plastic pots but really I think plastic vs. clay is a matter of preference and watering habits.

Also keep in mind that they are epiphytes (if you don't know about these, they're really cool! So take some time and look them up), so they don't want a ton of soil around them and, while enjoying some moisture and higher humidity, they don't want to be sopping wet. That's an important distinction.

Good luck with your further research, and let me know what you find! I'm always looking to learn more about these beauties!

Best luck,
FF

Here is a link that might be useful: One of the GW links

Easter cactus

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FrugalFanny

krystyna1937
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Easter cactus

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krystyna1937Original Author

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krystyna1937
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