The Easter cactus
The flowers associated with Easter are many. Lily is the most common flower of them all. The Easter cactus is a very popular and it blooms in vibrant colors which bring out the beauty of nature in such abundance. The blossoming of flowers is the visual symbol of the spring season. The new flowers signify new life and fresh growth. It coincides with the resurrection day of Jesus Christ and is therefore named Easter cactus as it blooms in this time of the year. These beautiful flowers are included in the Easter celebrations to relate to the events in the Bible to be reminded of the Godly qualities that are important to lead a good life.
The story of Easter Cactus
The origin of Easter cactus is Brazil. They usually grow on trees. The scientific name of Easter cactus is Schlumbergera gaertneri. It belongs to the same family the Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus. They are collectively called Holiday cacti. Botanists call them as zygocactus. They bloom wonderfully when the days are short and nights are long. They are named according to the season of the year when they bloom naturally. The Easter cactus is the natural plant that blooms in spring and was considered to be a symbol of rebirth. The Easter cactus flowers are red in color and grow from the tips of leaves. The flowers may exceed 50 in each plant. They bloom during the day and close in the evening. The Easter cacti have jagged notches looking like teeth.
The Easter cactus flowers have pointed margins whereas the Christmas cactus flowers have rounded margins. The Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus plants bloom twice in a year, namely between October and February and also between March and May. Many people mistake them for Easter cactus. These cactus plants are hybrids and have a unique flower arrangement. The cultivation of these cacti started in the early 1800s and gained acceptance everywhere. The Easter cactus requires more humidity and moisture than the other varieties such as the Christmas cactus and the Thanksgiving cactus. The ancestors of these cacti actually grew on the branches of trees in the rainforests of the south eastern part of Brazil. They are spread far and wide beating all estimates. From the shape of the flowers it is clear that they are pollinated by the hummingbird. The long lasting flowers are pale pink, purple, lavender, orange and white in color and they are waxy in nature.
The Rose pink Easter cactus
The other variety of Easter cactus is the Dwarf Easter cactus, which produces rose pink flowers. The rose pink cactus flowers have deep pink colored throats. The filaments are deep pink and the anthers are yellow adding to the dramatic beauty to the flowers.
The Rose Easter cactus was discovered in Brazil in the year 1911. The scientific name of Rose Easter cactus is Rhipsalidopsis Rosea. Other earlier varieties f cacti were called Jungle cacti as they grew on the trees in the jungles. The Easter cactus tends to trail and cascade with flattened segments. It starts to train after the growth to a height of one foot.
Growing the Easter cactus
The Easter cactus can be easily grown from its cuttings. The segments should be cut and allowed to dry for a day before planting them elsewhere. They should be planted in soil with a limited amount of moisture. After two to three weeks it starts rooting. The cuttings can be transferred to pots during April and May. They can be trimmed so that branching starts at this stage. Depending on the time of the year, its needs change of light and heat. It should be protected from fog during winter and it can be exposed to outdoor atmospheres during summer. Some enthusiasts make them hang from a shady tree so that it gets sunlight indirectly but there is plenty of shade to avoid excess of heat. Too much sunlight will cause the color of the flowers to fade. They survive on evenly moist and humid conditions and fertilizers once in a month. They should be brought indoors when the autumn frosts begin. They should also be kept dry and the frequency of watering should be reduced. During the indoor care, it should be kept moist and the temperature is mild during the daytime and slightly cooler in the nights.
The plant starts to have buds in February. The cool relatively dry atmosphere helps the Easter cactus to develop buds in plenty. The day temperature should be around 70 degrees F. The lowering of temperature in the evenings and nights helps the plants to bloom. Once the buds have started blooming, the plants can be moved to a brightly lit and warmer place. It should not be watered in excess. Fertilizers should also be stopped as it would hinder the flowering process. The warmth should be maintained during the flowering season. The Easter cactus blooms normally during April-May. The soil should be peat based and quick draining so that the plant gets enough water and excess water is allowed to drain.
The Easter cactus needs bright indirect light for blooming well. It can survive for short periods in dark indoors and it cannot stand direct hot sunlight as it would get burnt. These plants keep flowering when exposed to prolonged cool temperatures around 50 degrees F. After the flowers fall, the plants can be grown as house plant. They keep growing in sandy soil with fertilizing once in a month. The Easter cactus may not bloom for any reason after all these careful steps. It is worthwhile not to be discouraged, as the Easter cactus is still a magnificently attractive and cheerful plant for growing at home.
Easter is an occasion to celebrate with colors. This is the time to celebrate new life. The Easter cactus signifies new life with its colorful flowers announcing the arrival of the spring season with bright and beautiful blooms. In the Christian homes, the whole atmosphere gets charged up with brightness and cheer to celebrate the rebirth of Christ.
The celebration that includes stories, games and fun activities all connected to the even of Christs last days and resurrection to imbibe the Godly qualities in the children and teach them the goodness of forgiveness over punishment and birth over death as taught by Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate Easter with the cheerful Easter cactus!
Other Articles
