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krystyna1937

Easter cactus

13 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.

Comments (3)

  • 13 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

  • 13 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?

  • 13 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