Wednesday's Story

The southern light…

In the winter, warms my indoor “garden”. Compact as it is, there is something so fulfilling about watching each plant grow from a variety of forms: the pear shape of an amaryllis bulb; the flat, broad leaves and tentacle-like roots of an orchid; and the interconnected, flat, spiky, green pads where the tiniest of buds appear, transforming this cactus into something I never could’ve guessed possible.

A true reminder that anything is possible.

Find this flower and others in our floral print store.

points of interest

Well known and loved for its stunning (and typically pink) bright flowers during the holiday season. Stems are segmented and flat with scalloped margins. Blooms form only at the stem tips, unlike other members of this cactus family. Narrow-petaled, trumpet-shaped blooms occur in late winter on epiphytic, erect, then pendant plants. Commonly grown as a houseplant; Christmas cactus grows naturally on trees in tropical rain forests.

general care

Pot in gritty, humus-rich, acid-neutral, moist, well-drained soil, sited in dappled shade. Water moderately and maintain humidity during growth, but keep barely moist after flowering. Fertilize with high-potash liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks when in growth. Deadhead to encourage branching.

friday’s flower fact

Using darkness and temperature, Christmas Cactus can be forced to bloom during other times of the year.