October 14, 2011

Zygocactus

When one thinks of holiday house plants, something like cactus doesn't really come to mind. However, Zygocactus is quite different from its prickly pear cousins. A native to South America, everything about it differentiates it from the rest of the holiday fare. With brightly colored blooms, unique foliage, the nature of its habitat, and even the unconventional timing of its blooming period, Zygocactus stands apart from the rest.

Sometimes called Christmas Cactus or Thanksgiving Cactus, Zygocactus is a small genus of about 10 species. All 10 appear to be from Brazil, or more specifically the Organ Mountain range north of Rio de Janeiro. The Organ Mountains, or Serra dos Órgãos, are named as such because of the peaks' resemblance to towering organ pipes found in cathedrals. Upon these precarious and jungle covered mountain tops Zygocactus makes its home.

Like a number of other plants featured here, Zygocactus is an epiphyte which means it grows on other plants. On the mountains of Serra dos Órgãos this usually means in the nooks and crannies of the trees that form the jungle's canopy. This seems very unusual for a cactus, but there are actually a number of genres of cactus that have adapted to the wet conditions of the jungle by hitching a ride on bigger plants. Some include Rhipsalis, the Mistletoe Cactus, and Epiphyllum, the Orchid Cactus.

The most interesting thing about Zygocactus is the reason it has become known as Christmas Cactus. It's fair to say that the overwhelming majority of flowering plants bloom after the winter such as in the spring or summer. However, Zygocactus only begins producing buds and eventually flowers after being exposed to a period of coldness, which means that in the Northern Hemisphere it blooms right on time for late fall and early winter. So while most flowering plants are still dormant Zygocactus is busy producing colorful pink, red, and white blooms.

While Zygocactus has very different care requirements from its desert bound relatives, it's still pretty easy to grow. It prefers indirect light like most houseplants, and indoor temperatures are perfect for optimal growing conditions. Since it's an epiphyte it's a good idea to plant it in soil that drains well, and to keep that soil moist but not soggy. The only trick is to remember that a dip in temperature is what causes the plant to start forming buds and eventually bloom. Zygocactus can handle nighttime temperatures as low as 40°F, and so if you expose it to something between that and room temperature for a little less than three weeks you should begin seeing buds. Flowering will follow in another eight weeks.

You can find 4 inch and 6 inch Zygocactus at BloomRite® Gardens now for $3.95 and $8.75 respectively. 4 inch Zygocactus is sold in flats of 15 plants.