Is it bear or bears? And how to grow a Christmas cactus

I live on Kodiak, the second-largest island in the U.S. Did you know that it’s mostly a wildlife refuge for coastal brown bears? What does that have to do with Christmas cactus? First of all, Merriam-Webster set me straight. Again. Because the plural of cactus is—are you ready?—cactuses, cacti and yes, cactus.

I agree with cactuses and cacti. But not ‘cactus.’

It’s just like when people return to our B&B after a bear-viewing excursion, they’re gushing and excited about seeing these giants up close and personal.

“We saw three bear!” they exclaim.

What’s with that?

Yikes. Several years ago, I started hearing ‘bear’ used in reference to more than one bear. It raised the [bear] hair on the back of my [bare] neck. More on that later.

Now to Christmas cactus…

October is when we Alaskans turning more of our attention to indoor activities. And for many of us, this means we start noticing our houseplants for the first time since March. One plant in particular, the Christmas cactus, is a tabletop icon in Kodiak. You may have noticed an increasing number of posts showing giant and bold-bloomed Christmas cactuses on Facebook.

It’s no wonder. What makes these plants icons is their ability to bloom when everything else outside looks brown and reserved, save for Sitka spruce. It’s for that reason that Schlumbergeras became such a popular ornamental plant in the mid-1800s.

But not all Christmas cacti bloom when we expect them to. That is, in time for the holidays. Here is a sampler of disgruntled cactus owners:

“My cactus never blooms.”

“Why are the blooms yellow, not red?”

“Why do the buds form and then drop off?”

“Why do the leaves shrivel up like prunes?”

Ah, misunderstandings. George Bernard Shaw once said,

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

 

So, we seek out information, often going online. That’s where we can get into trouble.

“Beware of the half-truth,” I read the other day. “You may have gotten hold of the wrong half.”

Case in point: The Christmas cactus

For one thing, a Christmas cactus (in the genus Schlumergera) isn’t a cactus at all. This innocent plant, that quietly suffers on many a shelf and table, wishes it could be back home.

And what is home to a Christmas cactus, you ask?

Not the North Pole. They live in the humid, tropical jungles of South America. Christmas cacti are not from the hot, sandy desert, folks. They perch on trees (epiphytes) or grow on rocks (lithophytes). Now you understand why our dry interior spaces spell misery for these poor plants.

The dangling, tubular flowers of the Christmas cactus, also known as crab cactus, begin as buds that ‘set’ in early autumn for a blooming period around Christmas. These flower buds start to form as autumn progresses with longer, cooler nights.

So here’s the problem: As the cool weather kicks in so does the heating system in most homes and office buildings. The resulting hot, dry air can destroy buds and cause emerging flowers to simply fall off before they get a chance to show their stuff.

How to give your Christmas cactus a bloomin’ chance:

Container and soil: Christmas cacti grow well in most container soils, so long as it drains well. Which means making sure that your pots have drainage holes.

Dry or moist? Keep the soil moist (somewhere between bone dry and soggy). But you want to think like a plant, not act like a clock. If, when you touch the soil with your finger and it feels dry, soak the soil until water runs through the pot’s drainage holes. Toss out the water in the tray (and into the compost bucket, by the sink, right?) so the plant doesn’t sit in it. And make that your soil doesn’t get too dry while buds are forming.

Promise that you’ll mist your Christmas cactus with water several times a week. This makes it feel at home by increasing the humidity levels around the plant, and it helps keep the leaves dust-free. If your cactus is especially dusty, give it a shower.

Light: Keep plants in bright, but indirect light. Tropical forests have dappled, not direct, light. Also, rotate it every week or when you water so that it gets even light.

Bloom time: When the buds of your Christmas cactus look as if they’re about to burst open, make sure you water the plant regularly and keep it cool.

Troubleshooting your Christmas cactus

If your cactus is not blooming: It may be due to the amount of daylight they’re getting or the temperature.

To trigger blooming: Nights need to be at least 14 hours long and days between 8 to 10 hours for six weeks.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, “Flowers will only form when the temperature is between a cool 50 to 55°F (10 to 13°C).” Hmmm. Good luck with that. And if your Christmas cactus drops its buds one winter, don’t worry: it should bloom the following year. That’s the theory.

On the other hand…

Blossom drop: If your Christmas cactus is exposed to stress, the plant will probably react by dropping its blossoms. Stress can come in the form of a sudden change in temperature, as in transporting it from house to another, or if the soil is too soggy or it dries out to the consistency of a cow pie in the desert.

Pests: These plants may be susceptible to mealy bugs and, if over-watered, root rot. If you have problems, cut out infected areas and repot in clean soil.

Re-potting: Some sources claim it’s best to transplant every year after blooming. That’s open for debate because these plants prefer to be on the side of root-bound. Like wearing tight shoes. But if you DO transplant your Christmas, wait until they are finished blooming and only to a pot that is slightly larger.

So, what IS the plural of bear?

Okay. I looked up ‘bear’ in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Guess what? The plural ‘bear’ is ‘bears.’ Score! A tiny victory.

Then I scrolled down and read through the definitions of bear which included: “Something difficult to do or deal with.” Such as, “it’s a bear to clean a dusty Christmas cactus.”

But oh, it makes a Christmas cactus a merry one!

Christmas cactus cheers to you,