- Origin from eastern Brazil
- What conditions does the Christmas cactus need in the room?
- Fertilize a little and water carefully
- Christmas cacti are slightly poisonous
The Christmas cactus is native to rainforests. Its original place of origin is Mata Atlantica, a rainforest with a tropical climate located in eastern Brazil. The varieties we offer at Christmas time are almost exclusively hybrids and crosses.
The Christmas cactus originally comes from the tropics
Origin from eastern Brazil
Originally, the Christmas cactus is native to the rain forests of eastern Brazil. There are six different species, some of which are already threatened with extinction. That is why crosses and hybrids are offered almost exclusively for indoor culture in Central Europe
After its discovery, the multicolored flowering plant, which belongs to the cactus family, went on a real run of success…
In order for a Christmas cactus to bloom and thrive in the room, the conditions at the place of origin must be considered when caring for it. Only when these are met will the Christmas cactus bloom.
What conditions does the Christmas cactus need in the room?
In the rainforests of Brazil, the Christmas cactus grows under trees and feeds on the humus left by the leaves. The Christmas cactus does not always get a lot of direct light through the tree leaves. Therefore the humidity is very high.
In order to offer the Christmas cactus the right conditions in the room, you must ensure a bright, not too sunny, draft-protected location. The humidity must not be too low. In addition, the cactus does not tolerate waterlogging, but must be poured depending on the growth phase.
Fertilize a little and water carefully
At the place of its origin, the Christmas cactus does not receive very many nutrients, so that it gets along well with nutrient-poor substrate. Too much fertilizer is harmful.
It is essential to avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to diseases or the plant dying.
Christmas cacti are slightly poisonous
The Christmas cactus is one of the mildly poisonous indoor plants. There is little danger to an adult, but children and pets can be poisoned if they eat parts of the Christmas cactus.
Therefore, place a Christmas cactus in such a way that children and pets - especially cats - cannot reach it.
tips
The Christmas cactus owes its botanical name Schlumbergera to the Frenchman Frédéric Schlumberger, who made a name for himself as a cactus breeder and collector. It is called the Christmas cactus because its flowering time coincides with the Christmas season.