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| Schlumbergera | Common name; Christmas Cactus |
An epiphytic, free flowering succulent that grows to around 300mm (12") high and 400mm (16") across and is suitable for pots or hanging baskets.
The narrow 50-70mm (2"-3") pink to deep red flowers appear from November to January.
The flowers normally last for three or four days.
Week 15; Pot up plants into 150mm(6") diameter pots filled with an open compost mixture of equal parts (by volume) loam, peat, leaf-mould and sharp sand, add 30gms (1 oz) bone-meal per gallon bucket of mixed compost.
Place pots in a well lit spot, avoiding direct sunlight, spray the plants with clean water regularly.
When flower buds form, feed once a week with half strength potash liquid feed, do not allow the compost to dry out, or this will cause the flower buds to drop.
Maintain a minimum winter temperature of 13°C (55°F)
Plants may be placed outside in a sheltered sunny spot throughout the summer to ripen the growth, returning them indoors in September.
Week 26; Take cuttings by severing the stem at a joint.
Allow the cut surface to heal before inserting into pots/trays containing a 50-50 peat and sharp sand mixture.
Grow on, in a cool greenhouse or on a windowsill until rooted, then pot up into 75mm (3") pots of potting compost as described above.
Avoid placing them in direct sunlight.
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