Christmas Cactus Named For Blooming Season
Looking for a small gift for the holidays that can continue to thrive for years, consider giving a Christmas cactus that originates in the desert. How the succulent plant got its name is often confusing to some, but it quite simply, it takes it name from the time of year during which it is expected to bloom. Similarly, the Easter cactus gets its names due to its blooming between the end or February and the middle of April, typically when the Easter holiday is celebrated.
There is no religious connotation in naming it the Christmas cactus, other then when it blooms and retailers have taken the chance to sell them while they are in bloom. The very name Christmas cactus many people may think it is bred to be sold for the holiday. As an indoor plant in colder climates, the cactus can grow quite well with limited attention and the species is bred to remain small, as opposed to many wild cacti that can grow to 10-feet tall or more if left in the wild of the desert.
Most Christmas cactus have relatively few care instructions but even though they grow in the desert, will require watering occasionally. Perhaps the best method to determine when to water them is to check the weather in the cacti's native environment. When rain is predicted, water the plant.
Cactus Considered Camel Of Plants
The Christmas cactus is a succulent plant, meaning it has wide leaves used for storing water. They are a member of the same family as the aloe vera plant, which also retains water for them to sustain several days or even weeks without water being added. They make excellent additions to cactus gardens and fit into cactus gardens as well with other plants with varying bloom seasons.
Cacti are nocturnal breeders and bloom in the dark. They are pollinated by night-flying insects and rodents so there may be signs of insect activity after dark. Indoor plants however, are rarely attractive to insects away from the native desert environment. Planting Christmas cactus along with other seasonal offerings can provide color in the indoor garden throughout the course of the year.
There colors of the Christmas cactus blooms can vary, but red and green are common, lending more credence to their name. Just be careful when handling a Christmas cactus as though they may be small, they can still create a good pinch if handled improperly.
