| Description | A very popular epiphytic cactus grown for its beautiful flowers that bloom at Christmas time and also may bloom later on in the spring. Can be difficult to get to bloom since it needs to have a resting period, proper temperature and the right day length |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | All Plants, Cactus, Indoor Flowering Plants |
| Hardiness Zone | tropical |
| Sunlight | moderate to bright, never direct |
| Moisture | evenly moist to slightly dry during the spring and summer into early fall, cut back as the temperature starts getting colder and during the winter. |
| Growing Media | average house to well drained |
| Temperature | As the flowering time approaches these plants need a cooler temperature. As low as 55 degrees up to the low 60's. This will help insure bud formation. |
| Flowers | colors are: reds, pinks, white, etc., a short day blooming plant, blooms around Christmas time and for us around early April, pendant with flaring petals and may or may not be zygomorphic (irregular flowers) |
| Stems | flat jointed stems called cladode, may or may not have teeth, some have bristles on the tip, green in color and easily breaks at the joints. |
| Dimensions | Can be kept in the same pot for extended periods of time and the plant will remain small. Or put in a larger pot and the plant will become larger. |
| Propagation | rooting pieces of the jointed stem |
| Native Site | An epiphytic Cactus native to Brazil. |
| Misc Facts | syn. Zygocactus truncatus. |
| Author's Notes | This plant likes to be moved outdoors in the a moderately lit area during the summer, than put in a bright cool window in the fall. I have read stories about people having this plant living for over 40 years. There are many cultivars of this plant and seems to be a lot of confusion over the genealogy of this plant. |
| Notes & Reference | #18-Houseplant Encyclopedia (Nico Vermeulen), #20-Exotica (Alfred Byrd Graf), #18-Houseplant Encyclopedia, #21-Indoor Gardening (Chicago Botanical Gardens Staff) |
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